Kette, my very well behaved Lab, has suddenly decided that she is allowed to ignore me when she spy's another dog in the woods. She will repond to a come call etc and a no if I don't want her to run off, except when she sees another dog. She runs up has a sniff, decides if they are worth playing with, chasing etc. It doesn't matter if I say No, or call her to me, she will hesitate and then will take off. What to do. Becides this she reponds to all voice comands.

Any advise would be appreciated

Debbie

(Reason my member name appears as Kette is I made a mistake when loggin in originally and can't work out how to change it. Silly me)

Hi Debbie
I will watch this space with great interest as I have exactly the same problem with Rory!
Fingers crossed we both get it sorted.
Regards
Sue & Rory the Leonberger

Hi

Well I have a few ideas.

The best thing is to make yourself MUCH more interesting than other dogs/distractions. So play with your dog, go ondiffernt walks so the dog does not know where you are off to next, do a bit of trainng, and use tasty treats to reward your dog for a quick recall. Not just boring old biscuit, but somethingexciting, a cube of smelly cheese, a bit of sausage or liver.

If your dog ignores you,don't keep on calling. This will teach one thing: that it is OK to ignore mum, as she always comes to me eventaully. Instead run away, hide, make the dog look for you. You ca call once or twice to get the dog's attention, but nomore. Ideally the dog should be slightly upset that you have gone. This is not a bad thingas then they will learn tokeep an eye on you.

When at home, get them used to one word ie. "Come" and reward them for coming back to you in the house. Call them for games, dinner and all the things they like best. If they take 10 minutes to come, don't reward them as youo are after a quick recall, not a saunter at their leisure!!

Make your voice exciting and interesting - would you go to mr Monotone when just over there is Mrs Cor What's This with a nice piece of sausage and a tug toy!?

Rewarding with food doesn't mean that you have to walk arond forever with greasy sausage i nyour poclets! The idea is to turn yourself into a gambling machine rathe than a vending machine, so after your dog is effectively "trained" you then pphase down the rewards until you are onlh rewarding for an excellent recall, or simply because you love that dog! So you may only reward once out of 6, but that once is a lovely super yummy treat, the jackpot! And you yourself don't become boring and predictable.

With dogs that don't respind to this try using a trailing line attached to the dog, and tread on the end when you are calllng him/her, so that he cannot go elsewhere and does come to you, then give a treat. Also remember to hide on walks and be unpredictable so that they look for you. If you go on the same walk every day the dog will feel confident and not be too bothered.

Anyway just a feew ideas. Maybe other posters cangive of their experience too, lots of heads are often better than one aren't they!?

Best wishes
Lindsay

Thanks for the advice Lyndsey. The recall at home, no other dogs about etc. Is always instant. We vary where we walk already (as I would get bored with the same patch of woods). Being a Lab any food is exciting so will arm myself with treats. Will up the training and see if it helps.

Debbie

Hi again

Well good luck! As you say the Labrador love of food cold certainly help here!

Try as well to make a consequence of her running off with other dogs, so that if she does then eventually decides to wander back in her own time - HELP! You're not there!

Over a course of atime most dogs do start to keep much more of an eye on you.Also make your dog work for you, for every fuss, pat, or treat, ask the dog to do something for YOU, even if it is only a sit or give a paw.

Sounds as if you are doing a lot of things right anyway, some dogs are much harder to get back than others. This is one reason why when socialising it's a good idea not to go to a place which allows puppy "free-for-alls", as the main thing the pup learns is that other dogs are really great (more fun than mum) and that they don't have to go back. The ideal pup class will allow pups to play but under control so that owner is always in charge and can control the pup back.

Do let us know what happens when you up the traiining, I am sure things will improve.

Best wishes
lindsay

i once had this problem with my boxer i shouted her once if she ignores me i turn on my heal and walk away she tends to ,panick the turns on her heal to follow me when i see her doing this i shout "oh you good girl whos clever with lots of praise"" it works for me..

it seems your having the same trouble as me.They see a dog ,maybe 500 meters away,sprint up to it,just for a sniff.Ocaisionally mine will come back.this isnt a major problem if your just walking yuor dog,but on a shoot it can be most embarrasing.do you have a 15 foot lead?This is a good thing for controlling your distances,after a period of this, hopefully she will only feel safe at your side.i have a black lab dog who responds very well to the whistle,but he is always interested what other dogs are doing,personally,i love to see him socialising with other dogs,labs need it,as long as the other owner agrees,let them streatch there legs.hope ive helped?you never stop learning,i need advice as mine is a very (klingy)dog,always has to sit on or near you,bless him,but will howl when cant have his own way.

Welcome to the forum Stilemant :-) Leigh

If you can't get a hold of a 15ft lead try a horsey lunge line (15-25ft) costs about the same as a good dog lead and all good saddlers keep them - works just as well. Used to have the same problem with my lab - she's six and used to suffer from selective hearing i.e. would respond to come when it suited her and never hear me call leave it if someone had dropped something tasty on the street for eating. The disappearing roudn the corner thing definately works she now never goes more than six ft ahead and looks back to me to ask if she can go play before she dives off to some other dog on the horizon. Always make sure you can still see your dog when you go hide.

K