Marleys re call is good apart from when he sees another dog, he has to go and say hello BEFORE he will come back, to date this hasnt been a problem but today I got shouted at that my dog should be on a lead by another dog walker.  Marley went to say hello (hes only 5 months and very friendly, so wasnt a threat) and the man started shouting at me as Marley didnt come back when I called him and was playing with the other dog for a couple of mins, I havent got a clue why this was a problem but the man was very un impressed, he sat in hiis car giving me the 'Vs' for about 5 mins after this as well!!!   I mean Marley does come back but he does go and say hi first, SO:

1)  How do I stop this?  (Ive tried calling him back before he spots the other dog but hes clicked on to this now so loos around anytime I call him to check for dogs!)

2) What was so wrong with Marley going over to the other dog today?

angelz, I test my dog's recall gradually and shout her back lots of times on our walk to give her a treat and she knows she always gets a treat if her lead goes back on so coming back to me doesn't mean spoiling her fun.  TBH it took a long time to reach that point.

For me there is a problem with your dog running up to other dogs as if he did it to my dog and was playful when mine wasn't in the mood i.e. 90% of the time, she would have had a go at him.  I don't think I would have sat in the car giving you the V's though lol but would have asked you to introduce your dog to mine in a controlled manner rather than having a youngish pup launching over at us.

Yes, I do call him back lots of times throughout the walk, sometimes he gets a treat, sometimes a love and sometimes I will put him on his lead for a while then let him off again, he always comes back just not when he sees another dog.  This has started to worry me as he could run up to a dog that doesnt want to meet him and get bitten, I never thought it would be an aggresive owner though :-)   he doent run over and pounce like I have seen some dogs do, he runs up then slows and approaches submissivly.  I wonder if I whistle train him and only use it on these occasions and always carry a special treat whether that would work?

> 1) How do I stop this? (Ive tried calling him back before he spots the other dog but hes clicked on to this now so loos around anytime I call him to check for dogs!)

You've accidentally taught him to look for other dogs.

Don't call him only when other dogs are around, practice when dogs aren't there and use rewards that he thinks are extra exciting (games, treats, toys). Let him play with other friendly dogs as a reward for doing something (sit, down, heel, recall).

> 2) What was so wrong with Marley going over to the other dog today?

As a rule if another dog is on lead (even flexi lead) or walking to its owners heel off lead don't allow your dog to go up. The dog or owner might be scared of other dogs, dog might be aggressive, poorly, old and weak. The dog might be new and the owner being extra careful. There are millions of possible reasons.

If its running free and you read its body language as being neutral or friendly then let Marley socialise but be ready to intervene. I'm sure its obvious but if the dogs body language is scared or threatening don't let him go up to it.

The dog walker you met today might have been having a bad day, not sure from your post if his dog was under close control giving off "don't let your dog come over" signals. The only thing I can see is perhaps Marley was off lead too close to a road or car park which is scary if he has a bad recall.

You'll always meet a few anti social owners who expect all dogs to be on lead except their own.

Sounds like you're doing the right things but Yes! Carry special treats which he would do anything for.

Whistle training might help but he might learn it as a signal for there being a dog about too.

You know-I was thinking that, Im sure my voice has a little bit of a panic tone in it when I see another dog so he knows the difference between normal re call and my come back as theres another dog recall!!!!  :-)  Think he will click onto it if I use the whilstle for those times aswell, hhhmmmm, how do I make myself more interesting than a new dog?

Today we were on a beach so it wasnt near a road, the owner drove to the far empty end of the car park especially to stare and put the Vs up at me which I found bizzare but I didnt think about the other dog being ill or something like that and I wouldnt want Marley to scare someone (although the thought of Marley being scary makes me laugh, he still flings himself n his back when ever he meets a person!! plus he is only 5 mnths old)

Just another thought,
If there is a dog that has dog on dog aggresion and the owner is a sensible dog owner then they wil put the dog on the lead  when they see another dog approaching.
Yes the guy was in the worng to be so aggresive, but your also putting your pup at risk letting it (and that is me knowing you are trying to get it back) approach other dogs that are on the lead.
You will have to get your dog back before a dog is in eyeight otherwise you are at risk of your dog being attacked by and on lead dog.
As unfortunatly not all dogs are happy with over exhuberamt pups coming up to them and saying hello (mine being one of them which I didnt know about until he snapped at a pup, I paid the vets bill and now make sure he is not leaded near pups :) )
Lea :)

Tansy was a nightmare learning recall...I thought she would have to stay on a lead forever. She could NOT be trusted not to run up to other dogs, dance round them and generally be everything that is frowned upon by other owners. Eventually though, she did learn by frequent calling back whether or not other dogs were around. She is now more interested in playing ball than annoying other dogs! Her recall is really good. Not perfect I might add.... not if she is having a mad chase with a doggy friend... but otherwise she is really good. Just persevere, and your baby will get there in the end :-)
However, Tansy is a small cross breed terrier, and she does NOT like other dogs jumping on her, no matter how friendly they are, and she does growl and nip them, even pups. (as she hides behind me)
It is a difficult subject in alot of ways as your pup needs to learn doggy body language too.
I for one, found this aspect of training REALLY hard, and despaired at times, and I don't like her nipping pups now, but if they come bounding over to her, all I can do is warn the owner she may nip.(or play...depends how she feels) Your pup will learn from other dogs reactions, but lets hope he doesn't meet a biter in the meanwhile!

If he likes toys use the ball if my girls dont come first time I bounce thier ball (remember to always have a few balls handy) and they much prefer a game than meeting another dog , you actually have the advantage of age as he is at the stage where you can easily turn this around make a game of it play with him be fun to be with then he wont want to wander you can then use the treats but sausages and liver cake tasty treats rather than biscuits .
I have 3 dogs all off lead from puppies watch me constantly in the park have no interest in other dogs even when they want to come over and join in (they get snubbed I'm afraid) as they much prefer to be with me and my hubby.
Practice recall in the house throughout the day even when they are laying quietly in thier bed give then a treat make a fuss of throw him a toy to catch.

I am continually working on my cairn's recall and I keep him on a long line as I know he will go to say hello to any dog around and I am always worried that the other dog may not be friendly. If there is another dog around then I know I am going to struggle to keep his attention. I do however keep working on it, using treats and games, but if the other dog is allowed to come over to mine then it makes it all the more difficult. I have felt annoyed a few times particularly if I have Toby in a sit and I am trying to keep his attention while a dog passes and another dog has come over and the owner has made some comment about how their dog just wants to say hello.

I have found recall one of the hardest things to train my cairn but I live in hope that one day he will get it right all the time!!

It sounds like you are getting there with Marley, keep it up, hopefully his recall will soon be reliable.

jane