Just thought I'd say hello and hopefully get some advise off of you all at some stage.
We have a lovely Gordon Setter called Oscar who is just over 9 months now!
We got him at 8 weeks, He was toilet trained inside 2 weeks which we couldnt
believe!! and he picks up basic training quite easy! but only in and around the house!
when he gets to the woods or the park he's good as long as there are no other dogs around,
the second he spots a dog he's off and goes totally deaf. I'm guessing this is quite common??
he's great with other dogs & just wants to play,we always let him play but when the time comes to go home
he will do anything to avoid capture! he loves his treats but will happily go without to aviod getting caught.
It is funny to watch him dancing,dodging & weaving (he's good at it too). but sometimes I really need to get him home.
I know there are a few "Gordon" owners here also others setters,
any advise from anyone would be great.
I've got lots of other questions to ask,but will leave it at this for now.
Thanks

sounds like a normal Gordon behaviour to me!  My oldest at nearly 4 still has a good look around when I call him to put him back on the lead, so see who he's missed!   If he's anything like mine at that age, he would leg it and do a full circuit of the field before coming back with a big grin on his face.  he would also completely ignore food or toys! 

the best way to get round this (sort of as they're so smart!) is to call him back to you several times during your walk and take hold of his collar or put him back on the lead for a short period of time, before letting him off again. however, my oldest sussed this out quite quickly and would do lovely recalls during the walk and then sod off as you called him at the end of the walk, so I started to vary at what point I put him back on the lead and that generally worked.  I also found that as he got older, he got more engrossed in smells, then I would use this opportunity to put him back on the lead. 

He will grow out of it, and get better (honest!!)

Where did you get him from (best pm me the details!!)  Are you planning on showing him?

any questions just ask.  I'm sure Rachel (rachelsetters) will be along as well with some words of wisdom (hers are brilliantly behaved - unlike my hooligans!!)  I've got 2 gordons at the mo (working on a third ) one of which I show (used to show my oldest until he lost a leg) and Rachel has 3!

Jill

i had a gordon setter he was my 1st show dog,he and i at a great jounrey in the show side,
we both help each other out.
but sadly at 5 years old he had of  cancer he broke my heart so badly that why i couldnt have another gordon setter,

he was a one off,
his breeder move away aboard and wasnt going to kept her affix she ask me at the time if would like to take it on.

i agree to that so the name glenturret was in gordon setter but know in flatcoated retrievers and spanish water dogs

so i still got a part of him,in name always,he lived with shadow the fcr he to at the same time as copper had cancer both die with in 10 day of each other sole mates the were,

Briedog

I know what you mean.  They are such special dogs, Gordons and have their unique way of getting right under your skin.  what a lovely tribute to your gordon and his breeder to take over the affix. 

I dread the day when the cancer gets too much for archie and we have to call it a day! 

they are soo special

Jill

when you say about call him back and but him on the lead,

first i would traing him with treat so he coming back for some thing nice first before putting straigth on the lead ward him first,

as they are gundog i would use a whistle, and treats.

copper use to run off do a lap around the feild then come back,i think that is a gordon setter but he learned and trained with a fcr so i think he was more of a fcr than a gordon

good idea to start whistle feeding him. and when you are getting the behaviour you want in the house start practising outsinde in the garden then away from home. If you wnat the behviour to work around distractions then you need to practice around similar distractions. Dont you have a good dog training club near you?

Thanks for saying they are well behaved Jill - well 2 out of 3 hey!!! :)

As Jill said I have 3 of these wonderful dogs as well as a very old Irish lady (13) and Charlie (3) an English.

So true how they become so much part of your life - same with all the setters I think - reason for a Gordon was we lost Jazz our English far too young to cancer and I just couldn't bear to get another - until 6 years later!  When we got Charlie.

At 9m Oscar is at that age when he is going through that "never been trained" in anything stage and also trying his luck to see what he can get away with.  So yes it is typical behaviour - made me smile at that look of just checking - so true Jill!

They are actually quite intelligient - I would suggest you go back to basics like when he was a pup - reinforcing the recall at every opportunity - at home in the house, when on walks - have the tastiest treats and just call back give a treat and release back to play - just so he doesn't think recall is end of fun!

Recall and have a game then release to play.

I use a whistle and whistle fed my youngest - and I have to say he responds much better to the whistle than me just calling him - and as you know Gordons like to gallop therefore it is far easier to hear a whistle than a voice - especially in the wind.

I use three toots on a gundog whistle - and to whistle feed you literally prepare dinner - dog can be there - and before you put the food down toot on the whistle - the dog then associates whistle = food!

I also use one toot just to gather them up sometimes that we are going in a different direction.

Out on a walk now my Gordons check back with me regularly now as a result of my recalling just to give a treat so I would say it works.

My English on the other hand far more challenging but at 3 he is finally getting better but has many more selective deafness episodes than the Gordons.

Sorry to go on but thinking as typing!!!  

A couple of other things to try and practice to get him used to coming from play at home is with another family member get them to play a fave game with him (have a lead trailing just in case he doesn't respond) and if you are using a whistle use that or your recall command - if he doesn't respond give him a gentle tug on the lead and make LOTS of fuss - praise as soon as he looks at you - remember treats are key - and great treats not biscuits.   

You can also (whilst on the lead) throw a treat away from you and tell him to 'find it' (don't throw too far initially) then once he has gone for the treat call him back - LOTS of praise and treat again!

I also used a FIND IT game - which I would play at home initially - and it literally was to show a treat and get them all excited as to which way I was going to throw it - by saying ready, ready ready and then as I threw it (again not too far initially) would encourage and say FIND IT.  Did this several times then release from play.  As they got to know the game I would say READY FIND IT and they would come bombing to play!

Good luck and I am sure you will have much fun with your boy!

Sorry for rambling - I do like to chat about Gordons and Setters :)  Any questions on anything I have waffled about just hollar!

Think the FCR and Setters do seem to have similiar 'bounciness' about them don't they Teri!

yes they go well together

but not for my nerves,they keep you on the ball all the time.

one day when i got time to groom and trim a gordon for showing again i will have a male again,
copper use to take allday to get him realy for a show,but hey when he did go he did well.

You are so right about the grooming for a show!

I went to a show on Thursday and have one Monday and Connor is a mess again already - can't wait for the summer when we hope to have mud free walks again!!!

Hair seems to grow overnight at the moment!

hey Rach I'll swap with you! 

I'll do ALL of yours and you can have Bert! He hasnt much coat really!!  I swear I can see his coat growing!

Jill

You win!!!  Will keep my three for your one :)

Are you sure?  He doesnt have that much coat! 

Thank you all for your advise, there are lots of things to think about & try.
I'm off to get him a BIG whistle today.