Anyone got some advice please.  Possibly Kerioak ?
I have two Dobes, the elder one is a male and has a super temperment.  This morning whilst out for a run in the fields I spotted a neighbour out with her 2 Labs (on leads)  so I got hold of my boy till she was well out of sight - or so I thought.  Next thing he'd shot off, jumped the fence with the puppy bitch in pursuit and all hell broke loose. One of the Labs got away from the neighbour and to cut a long story short I ended up wading in and splitting the two of them up (No mean feat trying to hold 2 big dogs apart) After lots of yelling etc at the dogs sanity was restored with no damage being done. He has pretty good recall except where other dogs are concerned? but when in this type of flight no amount of shouting will bring him home. I veiw this a completely my fault but I dont want to not be able to let him off to run, so any suggestion of how I could approach this would be welcome. Ps have tried the long line leads and he just busts them.

She

Hi, if you read the thread on extending lead problem it may help to answer your problem. :-)

The only thing I can suggest is lots and lots of recall training under all conditions that you can envisage and if he is inclined to fight, which I can't work out from your message, then muzzle him - at least he cannot hurt other dogs when muzzled.  Do you go to a training class - can you walk with anyone from the class.  One of the instructors I used to go to had a mid-week walk in various woods where we would do a training walk - all the dogs off lead (if safe) with recalls, stays, heelwork etc and this was the most useful class I ever went on as it was *real*

If the long line was thick enough he would not be able to break it without chewing - try an agricultrural merchants or somewhere where they sell ropes of various sorts and pick one that will not hurt your hands, get a decent sized catch to go on it (or take one off a lead), you can seal the nylon ropes by burning them so they melt.  This is what I have done for my tracking line.

She, have you tried a horse lunge rein ? On ebay they are very cheap and have the features Kerioak describes. I have a heavy cotton one which does not burn my hands, is heavy enough to slide slowly through grass until I can step on it to arrest the culprit and is worth its weight in gold for those days when Morse is hearing the call of the wild. Sending sympathy to you as I know what its like to get caught out just when I thought wed cracked it. 

That sounds just the thing I need, thanks - Off onto ebay now to look.
Thats what I love about this site, lots of inventive ideas.

Bidding on Ebay in earnest, 55 mins to go. Keeping fingers crossed. Thanks again for the idea.

Thanks for those suggestions, I wouldn't say that he is inclined to fight, it seems to be how he associates things, for example when I take him to shows he very rarely shows any aggressive tendencies towards other dogs, much the same at obedience classes. Just got to wondering if he's regarding the area where I exercise them as his territory as its one of our regular haunts?  Went and spoke to the lab lady after I had posted, thankfully she was very understanding.  Learning experience, I intend to be much more vigilant in the future.

Hi She , i once or twice have had the same problem ,running off at full speed ,but that was before Ebony came along.I was never worried that he would fight because he would rather run away than fight.He has got better with the recall with age but he is a mummy's boy and now won't go too far without me.

Ella.x.

I hope that my boy gets better, my shoulders are still aching from holding him and the Lab apart.  I take that you also have a dog and a bitch?  I will probably be asking for lots of advice on here when she comes into her first season ( Ellie is 5 months)  as I have never kept a bitch before.

Hi Sheila

Is he entire - I assume so since you mention showing him?  Can you keep the two apart, preferably at least two doors or high gates between them - start practicing now and get your family involved as well :)

Why two doors?  Well, if he decides he wants to be a daddy then you will probably hear him as he fights his way though the first door and can hopefully stop him as he reaches the second :)

Some dogs show no or little interest until the height of a bitches season, especially if they are experienced, but others will scream from day one!  You think I am joking when I say scream - well, perhaps a little but constant whinging and whining is no exaggeration and you get a little tired of it day after day (after day, after day, after day).

Oh, the joys of having a male and entire females.  Much as I love my lad I don't think I will have another one when he is gone - please remind me of this if I ever mention I am thinking of keeping another male :D

Hi Kerioak,
I am in the process of getting a kennel erected in the back garden, I've not yet decided for which one yet!  He's not in the least bit experienced, whenever there is a bitch in the local vicinity in heat he is not even sure which end he wants to climb on, yet I've no doubt if presented with the real MCoy so to speak he would soon work it out.
As for whinging, I am dreading that - he's a whinger now. I keep reassuring myself by thinking "Oh well its only 3 weeks"
Ellie is the first bitch I have ever owned and I must admit I am now a convert - just so loving and affectionate. Anyway I will keep you up to date in due course ( after the Vallium wears off)

Hi She
Yes I do have a dog and a bitch and his name is Zak also but luckily for me hes neutered and when Ebony had her first season he was very well behaved but I could tell when her mating time was as he was a little frisky with her but no more.
I have to say that Zak is more affectionate than Ebony,he comes for cuddles and kisses and is happy being near me ,on my knee etc. but Ebony is very independant and although she is very fussy when saying hello she  is then happy to lay away from me and doesn't always follow me like my shadow (Zak)

Ella.x.

Hi Ella

Ellie is very affectionate but she is quite happy to sit in a chair if I move from room to room, but Zac follows me like a shadow also.  Must be a male thing? Plain nosey.

She