Hi,

Bosun is a male staffy - 9 months old, I only have one problem with him. When I let him off the lead for a run he is great and will never wander more than a couple of feet away from me, the problem starts when I want to clip his lead back on, he will stay just outside grapping distance and bark continuously, he puts his head down on his front paws and bum in the air - barks and springs around me like Tigger!

I have tried everything, if I say no sternly he barks all the more, I've tried talking to him in a gentle and calming voice, even his favourite treat -cheese does not work :(

Then after 15-20 minutes he gets bored and just stands still for me to put lead on :rolleyes:

Debbie

Hi Debbie,
Just a thought, but when you have eventually(!) managed to put his lead on again, do you go straight home? If so, you might like to try getting his lead on earlier in the walk, giving him a treat, then a minute later letting him off again. Repeat three or four times, and he won't think that 'Lead on' = 'End of fun'.

Worth a try.
:)

Its about halfway through his walk, but I dont let him off again, will try doing that tonight, thanks for the advice

Hi

Have you tried running off in the opposite direction? I did this with Willis as a puppy and he panicked and shot after me every time. Now, I call him once, and if he doesn't come I take one step back and he legs it towards me and knocks me over :rolleyes: :D

i agree with jeangeini

try it that way. the other way is to walk/run off in home direction and now and then call him to you.

thoughtout the run also call him into you but not put his lead on, just give him some fuss and or treat then let him go again. so altenate on goin on the lead and hvaing abit of fuss then goin back off again.

i hope you get it sorted

Ice

I hope this works, Its so embarrassing :o

...especially when they don't follow you....and you have to run back to them :rolleyes: :D

HI i'm new to this board and i apologise if i have intruded someone elses thread but how do i start my own thread? It's not letting me, it just says "you are not logged in"

Well off to the park we trudge last night - Bosun was not impressed as it was raining, had to drag him out the house!

Lets just say it was an experience!!!! Firstly he never wanders more than a couple of feet away, so running in the opposite direction is hard as I'm usually tripping over him, but he is crafty enough to keep away from my hands! he prefers to run in circles round me and he does not bark until I try to clip his lead on, the first attempt took 15 minutes to capture him, so then lots of praise a little treat and a little walk on the lead, then I let him off again, this time it took 20 minutes to get him :( -treat, walk and let him off again, by now Bosun was all for this game and the last attempt took 35 minutes He had even started to foam at the mouth, if I ignore him he jumps up at me, if I say no he barks louder and if I try to talk gently he just goes on barking.

We then went for a long walk with him on the lead and he is great! apart from being a cissy about walking in puddles....

Have you actually trained him to do a controlled recall ? So that he knows that when he comes back to you, sit in fronr of you have the lead put back on & then be released again. Have you done any formal training with him at all or attended a good training club ?

I was taught to do happy recalls put the dog on lead & then release & play Never had any problems with any of my dogs over the years

Yes have attended a training class and Bosun if fine with most things will come back to me and sit in front of me quiet happy UNTIL the lead is shown!

I would back to basics then & you could use a very short light lead & leave it attached when doing the recall training & instead of having to put the lead on you simply keep him in a sit by telling him your stay command get hold of the lead do a bit of heelwork then play with him

You need to do this in a controlled environment & not where he can be distracted like the park etc I take it you no longer go to a training club ?

Trouble with recall is that most people do a recall then immediately release instead of doing a little heelwork then play so that the dog knows what is expected

Also doing recall after recall can lead to boredom I was taught to use titbits but not give it until I had hold of the collar or had the lead back on or the dog sat at heel depending on the stage of training the dog was at

I would never run away from the dog but kneel down & have no eye contact & when the dog came back & was on lead then loads of praise I only ever had to use this with my rescue dogs that I had not had from being a puppy, never had a problem with those I have had from being a puppy

Thanks for the advise, I have been using a long lead lately, so whether this has set the change, will put him back on the short lead.

We do not go training anymore, the course only run for 10 weeks and there is a waiting list if I want to go again, but we do still go to ringcraft which is a lot different.

So don't show the lead - keep the lead in your pocket - offer the treat with one hand, and take hold of the collar with the other (preferably in a way that the dog doesn't see it coming) then take the lead out of the pocket. If you do this on a variable schedule, so the dog doesn't know which times are going to mean going on the lead, and the ones when you recall him and DON'T put him on the lead are the more frequent, he won't be able to second guess you.........