We own a very lively and exuberant 14 month old lab (working dog) of good pedigree. His training is progressing slowly and surely in the right direction and has included a number of 1 on 1 sessions with a professional trainer. However in recent times he has shown a worrying tendency to chase deer in the local park - which is not very good for the animals or the dog or the mental state of its owner! The situation is fine if we spot the deer before him and slip the lead on and in these circumstances he happily walks with us and does not strain to be let loose, albeit he is alert and watching them.

I would appreciate some guidance or tips as to how I can nip this in the bud before it becomes a problem. I would also welcome brief hints as to which is the best training book/video that I can use to supplement the work done to date. In case it helps in giving advice, he still has his "tackle" and a number of people have suggested that we do the deed as we were not intending to breed from him.

Many thanks in anticipation

Teaching him the "Leave it" command would help you out in this situation. Just work your way up from food and a leash, to food without the leash.
You can also use it with your human dinner on a plate within nose distance ;) Eventually, try it out on the deer with the leash and hopefully then the deer without the leash ;)
It's one of my girls' most useful commands.
hth
toodles

Hi Guest

It is just a case of repetition and almost brainwashing so that when he hears the word "Come" he comes without thinking about it first - if he thinks first he will probably run off.

Christine