I've been stupid ... yesterday whilst out walking my 6 month GR I let him off his lead - this is only the second time I've done it, the first time he was so good I think I was lulled into a false sense of security.  Anyway he spotted an ewe and young lamb and that was it - off to chase.  Despite calling his name in my best calm voice and holding out his fav treats I might as well have not existed.  5 mins later after running around in circles in ditches and rushes and mud i managed to grab hold of him (luck more than anything else)  I'm afraid I was so frustrated I smacked him.  If he'd come to me I'm sure I would have contained myself but bcos I'd had to physically catch him I was so cross and seeing him worry this poor little lamb made me see red.  A couple of times today he's sloped off when called and seems worried that he's gonna get a smack.  He's NEVER been smacked before - how do I get him back to the way he was before the chasing incident?

You need to calm down deep breathes relax a bit now its all over just play with him and lots of cuddles it is so easy to lash out when you have been frightened ..better to count to ten and deep breathes when the feelings well up.

You need to practice recall in the home I train my dogs from very young calling them to me numerous times a day 'no matter what they are doing' when they come load of praise and a treat then say 'go play' use tasty smelly food proper sausages (i dont use hot dogs) meatballs from tesco are great very smelly and they love 'em rather than cheese or bis as they are not as tempting.

I would then use a long line in the park contiually calling him to me  for a treat.

I'm sure some will be a long with more advice soon!

Roni

Hi,
You know now anyway I guess, but for gods sake, don't let him off anywhere where you can see livestock or he'll be shot!
Longline and treats as suggested and pref in an open area away from other distractions. I am a great believer in starting them young, so they just stay with you as they get older and don't learn to run off. I hide behind trees and long grass and make a game out of finding me, so then they learn to watch me and not wander off. Even so all these tricks don't always work and as they grow to Kevinhood, they pull fast ones, wave the finger and generally mess about, so you have got to be 1 step ahead all the time. In an emergency, i find sitting down and looking at the ground works a treat, although if yur dog was in prey drive, even that won't work. Keep at it and don't give up, it'll get better and then you'll wonder what all the fuss was about.

I had this problem with my goldie, not with livestock, other dogs on a few occasions. Curiosity got the better of him, his head would go down and he would be off, no amount of calling would make any difference. So the only method we found to work with him was to get him to sit and stay till we attached the lead. Now if he sees another dog he does this without command. Is he a male dog by any chance? Tyler will come when called now if we call him in an excited voice, but it's hit and miss so we found this method better. I can understand how you got angry but this will only hinder your training, i used to shout and wondered why he didn't want to come back?? because there was nothing in it for him only some fishwife shouting and bawling, now i am very calm as realise being angry doesn't help me or him. Good luck with your training i know it's difficult but you will get there, i honestly thought we never would.

You will need to go back to basics with the recall training.  Use a long line to teach this when out as well as doing short recalls at home, and everywehre you can think of.

It would have been better if he had been let of lead when he was tiny so that he didn't want to be away from you, waiting until he is a teenager means he is at a naturally less co-operative stage.

Never ever let him off where livestock are, as farmers are quite at liberty and frequently do shoot dogs, especially at this time of year.

Thanks very much for all the replies everyone.  I've been practicing recall this morning with treats and he's fine with that - but when he was digging up plants in the garden this morning (he knows he shouldn't) he wouldn't come near me - as if he thought 'oh oh, I'm in trouble again'.  Guess I'm back to basics.  I thought not to let him off the lead until his recall was reliable (oh the irony!) but with hindsight it would have been better to let him off before he was as confident as he is now.  I was actually walking him on my own land at the time - the ewe and lamb shouldn't have been there, but that's just by the way - I just didn't  want you all to think I was a total plank :-)

Just one other thing -try to avoid ever calling him when you think there is a good chance he will NOT come. The more times you call him without him coming, the more he will learn he can ignore you. So intially call only when you have his attention. :)

Also try super tasty treats, something he isn't used to getting (liver, sausages, that sort of thing), and use them for recall only. And MEGA praise each time he does come, really make yourself look like a fool, act like you've won the lottery. Goldens appreciate that! :D

Just one other thing -try to avoid ever calling him when you think there is a good chance he will NOT come. The more times you call him without him coming, the more he will learn he can ignore you

So what do you do to remedy when you've already made that mistake??? :)  My 11 month goldie is very good on recall when not distracted by other dogs but hopeless when he is.  I've tried going back to long lead training but he is now so strong, I can hardly hold him when using it (obviously don't want to use a headcollar with the long lead).

Any advice please?

You could start using a different word to get his attention (my own dogs will come for a variety of words, not just their names but such as dogs, come, plonkers! etc), but otherwise you still do the same -like I said there WILL be times when he has his attention on you and will WANT to come (make use of every time, say he wants his dinner and is going to get it, use that as a recall. If you have a toy he wants and is going to come to you, call him -even if just a few feet. If he is walking towards you for a cuddle, run and call. Indoors, in the garden, everywere), and that's the times you call. This is offlead, of course. At other times you go down the long line route and that way you can MAKE him come when called. The main thing being, don't let him fail, make sure he succeeds as it will help. :)

Thanks Goldmali for the advice - I will certainly use it. :)  The only problem with the long lead is that he takes off anyway and yanks me off my feet!

I've just bought some cocktail sausages from Tesco to try to entice him back more readily :D. 

I was actually walking him on my own land at the time - the ewe and lamb shouldn't have been there, but that's just by the way - I just didn't  want you all to think I was a total plank 

I think what happened is quite understandable but want to point out, dogs who recall really well will need to also be taught a reliable chase recall (ie trained to come away from thrown toys, moving objects etc) - my dog is trained a very good chase recall but I'd never let her off near sheep, although she is good with horses, donkeys, cows etc :P There's something about sheep that seems to set off primitive urges in some dogs...

Good luck
Lindsay
x

Don't beat yourself up, at this age and for maybe another 2 years it is going to be hard, constistant work to get your pup to recall when something far, far, more interesting is in sight.

For the next two years you basically have to keep the recall in training mode and never let it up your pup and adolescent dog will feel the pull too great with regards to other animals dogs included, you are basically trying to stop him acting on his own instincts which is a hard task for anyone to stop.

Luckily we can do it with long line leads, treats and consistant recall training.

Once he gets over this age you can trust him to always recall if you have trained from young and he certainly won't be as interested in things that tend to move, a bit like 'been there, done it!':rolleyes:

Just be prepared for it happening. :-)

If he doesnt come when called in the house 'go get him ' silently dont speak to him or praise make him sit  or down wherever you called him from (in other words make him work for it then treat this then reminds him that if he does something good he will get something nice.

As someone said use another word I have been heard around my close shouting  'sausages' at the top of my voice when my dogs are in another part of the garden...neighbours must think I'm loopy ....but it works!!!

Roni

If he doesn't look like he'll come, then by all means go and get him, but be aware of your body language - drop your shouldars, don't look at him for long periods of time, don't approach him head on but approach from the side, perhaps circling around him - these are 'dog language' for 'it's OK, I'm your friend' ;)

When doing recalls around the house I had a treat hidden away but within reach. If he didn't come back he got the sucking breath ooh, the word 'wrong' and I'd wave the treat. When I got his attention I threw the treat away and explained that bad dogs who didn't come when called got nothing. (oh yes, he speaks fluent human ;-) ) You should see his face! Usually improved recall around the house dramatically and even when out if he messes up to the point of the sucking breath oh that usually gets his attention.

Milo just turned one so his hearing his a little selective - something about the presence of other dogs seems to just soak up the sound of my voice. We have been long line training the past couple days and it's blinking fantastic. Don't give up, you'll get there.

You want to say that it takes 2 years to train a recall?

*thud*

Katie

LOL.. at Katie

I couldnt loose my girls if I tried once I  have a ball in my pocket!!

or a ball and chicken!!!!!

nowadays I dont need the chicken unless you mean one of those 'orrible rubber ones LOL

yea try another word I use the word chocolate or sweeties at home to get them in and they do get some doggy chocolate for coming , although its not 100% for me as mine are going threw there teenage phase of ignoring you in the park i use the word this way . come and even oi if im being ignored . my pups know that if there being really bad and ignoring me Ill say right thats it and they come because they know Im not happy :D

Lol i shout oi as well when being ignored and that doesn't work either!!

....So much good advice - but wanted to say - don't beat yourself up. We've all lashed out occasionally in anger much as most would wish to forget doing so!

An old gundog crone I adore once said to me when i was being terribly nice to a bitch of mine who was being an utter cow -:

"Darling, treat them like children. Never hit them except in anger, and when you do, strike to kill!'

She was kidding - mostly.... ;-)  ;-)

Lastly, I have seen many a 6 year old be so taunted and lured by instinct to chase sheep that they at that age are blind to screams yells and treats. Nothing but a brick wall would have stopped them. So a 6 MONTH old stood no chance against his instincts.

I'd avoid walking that way again for the sake of the farmer and his stock and your dogs safety;-(

Di

"strike to kill" love it!