Had Morse out with a Working Trials trainer yesterday and he made a complete **** of me by running all over the field, slouching around and generally telling his loving owner to get lost. The trainer was very positive and honest ( shes a saint this lady) and its back to basics AGAIN. I have been too easily pleased and ready with attention/praise/rewards and have been mucking about for 7 MONTHS. Little disobediences have caught me out and added up to a big disaster as he COULD DO ALL OF IT a fortnight ago! . Off on a walk this morning and determined not to allow pulling - 2 hours later reached our destination, and after running free for an hour the little swine refused to come when called and sat looking at SB as if he spoke Swahili! So we turned our backs and went off to the car. Morse trotted after me and was received in silence.Sorry for moaning, I am hoping someone has shared this experience

What breed is Morse.

I think it is called 'Adolescence '.....we have all been there, you have a few more months to go yet I am afraid. :( :D:D

Grin and bear it, the work you have put in is not wasted it does come back, believe me.

Sandra

Thanks Sandra and Robert I shall Grin :D and persevere.

He's English Pointer with a dash of Greyhound.

Hi Lorelei
I know exactly how you feel, Heidi shows us she's not working by retreiving perfectly up to the point where she presents the dummy, at that point she takes off on her heels taking the dummy with her, plonks her self down 10 yards away after a few circuits of the field, and then thats it, nothing will entice her to do any thing, if you move towards her she goes and lies somewhere else, if you walk off she just lies there watching. Sometimes she will respond to 3 pips on the whistle, but only to do a fly by at great speed.
Its so annoying but I try and not to show I'm annoyed and and just pack up for the day, I just try and keep in mind that she does things because she wants to and If I try and force her to do it she may just decide never to do it again, and at the end of the day its all a bit of fun for me and Heidi, and I suppose like us they have their off days too.

Robert

I can totally sympathise!!! My collie who is nearly 2 years has only just become reliable with her recall, she was a complete nightmare to train, and she still pulls like mad. I now have a retriever who at nearly 8 months is an adolescent nightmare and its only just beginning. Recall? What on earth is that???!!! I can actually call her name and she will completely ignore me, but even if i walk off she doesn't even notice and just carries on. If i take them out together its a total nightmare and leaves me physically and mentally drained for the rest of the day. Look on the bright side, at least you only have one, not that it makes the frustration any less does it?! ;-)

Its just that I had thought it was starting to click, was actually getting compliments on his good behaviour, and then it fell apart. Still smarts ! This is why we have 1 dog and will only have one until this is sorted. Do you think your two have learned bad habits from each other, or do they have different naughtinesses?

STOP PRESS Old Silverback has just returned from walking Morse and reports NO PULLING and walking TO HEEL on lead - Ill just say that again, NO PULLING, WALKED TO HEEL. This was on his half check not the GL. He tried it once and a stern stare from SB had him scuttling into heel position. All that fuss this morning is working then. :)

I think they do contribute to each other, sometimes i think Meg tries to get Ellie into trouble. Megan was getting really good when we got Ellie, but trouble is they can be so good one minute and so bad the next. Its funny though, because megan is terrible on the lead (she is scared of cars and probably always will be) but Ellie walks quite nicely on the lead, apart from when she sees something exciting, like all pups really. Yet Meg is good as recall but ellie is awful. They seem to have opposite problems. Typical though, they are little angels at training classes but at home and on walks they can be evil!!

I too have reached the conclusion that our dogs, like our children, live to embarrass us. Have to admit this was perfect timing by Morse though, Lorelei. Have shown this to Sian to ward off her pleadings for a second dog already. I'm sure you'll have him back to normal in no time ;). Off for an off lead walk with Sparky today - first time offlead since the op, so I suppose the long line will be out!
Tracy

Yup I was got good as they say:) How is Sian getting on with Sparky these days? I had to laugh on Sunday when I read that guest post and read the riot act when I saw Weimeraner puppy wanted - SF was innocent funnily enough!:D. There is no warding off pleadings for more dogs BTW, it just goes on and on and on until you tune out. Morse is behaving better thanks. Came when called first time today and has been walking without pulling on his half check. The GL is going at the end of the week and I will have the battle of wills won by Wednesday - he knows what I want to see, but thinks I should accept his sloppy effort. Nae chance.

So how long was Morse on the GL for? Just bought the next size up for Sparky - no sign of him stopping pulling if anything remotely interesting is around, but does Ok on a quiet road walk. Sian missed training this week, had her parents' evening at school (2 hour job), so couldn't go, but is all fired up ready for Wednesday night. She's been doing so well - up early - doing all the feeding/treating etc., I just hope he behaves for her!
Tracy

In July it was suggested as the half check plus changing direction etc didnt seem to work, so 5 months. Hes not an overtly dominant dog but he is stubborn and wily, caught him trying to dig under the stairgate tonight ( missing Rugrats no doubt, SF has a lot to answer for!). Really the GL made it possible for the kids to walk him and stopped me worrying about his neck being damaged by his constant pulling.

Of course he'll behave for Sian on Wednesday :) be positive woman!