Just wondered if there are any handy hints on getting a playful 10 month old puppy to come(despite doing wonderfully at home and training classes) when she has met another dog to play with. The usual scenario is I stop and chat with the other dogs owner and when the time comes to part Molly invariably follows the other person and I call come, run in the opposite direction, and as a last resort get out of sight, this often works and she comes running, but in the meantime the other person has had to hang about while I try to get her. Perhaps I should just put her on the lead before walking away? Any advice would be gratefully accepted.

Hi Peaches,
She's a definite TT ;) ;)

If Carol w sees your message she might be able to advise you better but the first TT breeder I met told me NEVER let a TT off the lead because they'll only come back if/when they want.

Because of Toby's past I'm able to let him off the lead at the park because he's too scared he'll lose me to go far. But he did run once when he got really scared by a boisterous standard poodle and that was nerve racking till I managed to find him so I'm always careful and usually put him on the lead if I see dogs he doesn't know/like.

Toby's breeder also told me she's had TT's for years that she still wouldn't trust off the lead so I think it's a TT thing. :) :) It's a shame because we never had to put our Goldens on the lead at all and I feel like their missing out on something if they're not able to run freely but I'd rather have a safe dog on the lead than an injured or lost one off it.

HTH, Dot

Hehe.. same... I loved being able to let my GSD off lead in the park so she could play with other dogs, but would never have risked it with the Chihuahuas.

Hi Dot, thanks for your reply. To be fair to Molly she has been off the lead on the downs since she was 11 weeks old and is brilliant, she never goes far from us and it is only when we meet up with another owner and dog that she hangs about with them longer than I would like. Do you think at 10 months she should still be considered a puppy, I am starting to wonder if she should be more sensible than she is! Does Toby jump up at people by the way?This is another trait I have been working on ever since day one with very little success. Bye for now Jane

Hi Jane,
I would say Molly's still a baby. It's good you can let her off. She sounds great. What colour is she? When I first got Toby he was very wary of people but now he loves everyone sooooooo much he does jump up at people.
The way to stop it is to get people to ignore Molly when they first meet her. That worked with Toby but it's difficult getting people to ignore him because he's cute :D :D people make a lot of him so when he meets someone he's thinking "me, me, pet me". If he starts getting too excited I get folk to ignore him and he calms down. I know I'm soft with him because I'm just so glad he's got over the fear he had of folk.
It maybe would help to put Molly on the lead just before you're ready to set off again after talking to someone so that you're in control and she gets used to going when you tell her. Toby just sits when I talk to folk but he comes with me no bother. Again I think it's partly fear that he doesn't want to lose me !! See, he knows I'm a softie :D :D :D
Dot

Molly is black and white, shall I email you a picture of her?

Oh please. Toby's black with a little white flash on his chest. Well, I say black but it's really turning grey so he's mostly grey grey now.
If you send me a picture of Molly I'll send one back of Toby if you want.
Thanks
Dot