Recall

I have used a very long trailing lead, clipped to a well fitting harness.
The pup can run around without knowing it’s on , when a potential situation arises where recall can be ignored by the pup you can step on the trailing lead or pick it up and reel them back in to sit and be rewarded.

This trailing lead wearing over a few weeks if you are vigilant and prepared to get your hand’s mucky from a filthy lead will remind your dog it’s not worth disobeying you, especially when a tasty treat is being offered.

Another thing I’ve found is the dog wonders how on earth you are doing it, and with mine (pointers) they are quite prepared to submit to what they see as special powers!

Once they start returning to your whistle (or whatever) every time leave it off.

Repeat if they revert to ignoring you for another few weeks.

I’ve done this for my last three, and it works every time. For my last bitch three sessions on it between six months and two years did the trick.

I’m sure others will have tried and tested methods.

We are thinking of renaming our little Romanian rescue dog Eventually as that's when she comes back.

I've got one very old Romanian rescued dog, whom I've only had about 18 months. He trots to heel off lead fine, and comes when called, although never right to me. I assume 13 rough years could do that to a dog. That'll do.

I have one nearly nine year old Romanian rescued dog, whom I've had for nearly five years. He is bright and willing but off the lead he hears "Here!" as "It's fun time! Run as fast and as far as you can! Head for traffic!"

Will definitely try the trailing lead method... ??

Maybe we should learn the commands in Romanian Ailidh

Word of advice - get the brightest colour you can do everyone can see it including you!
I actually made mine from a bright blue rope bought in Aldi, an old dog lead clip and cable ties.

Great advice 3dognight. I was also advised to make the treat extra special ... something not given at other times. Works so well that my cocker has taken control and will sit down and watch me walk away in order to be called for her treat.

I thought we'd got this cracked once, but selective deafness has crept in at around 15 months. Our pup is very sociable with other dogs but usually comes back when we call him. Recently, however, he gets too engrossed in the game or exciting smells and refuses to listen however much we call, whistle or walk away. DH has to go and put the lead on to drag him away. He is having his dangly bits cut off on Monday, (dog, not DH), so we are hoping it might make a difference.

No idea what this thread is about
(Signed)
Rosie ??

Clicker worked well with ours, although a whistle does the same thing. Click at home and reward when they instantly respond. Then lead training as mentioned. I bought a long line from the supermarket. TBH though sometimes she would go and check something out before she comes back. However she's getting on now and recall is not a problem.

With previous dogs I started off by, when they were in the garden, blowing a whistle and giving them a super treat when they came in. Found a football whistle was good as other dog owners were using dog whistles. But I didn’t persevere with the current one and her recall is non existent. We socialised her so much as a puppy that her love of other dogs overrides everything else. Am going to try again by going to an enclosed field. I think some dogs are just more challenging than others! I’m always worried about dogs getting tangled up in long lines and they give you a horrible rope burn if you’re not careful. In general though we only let her off lead when there are no distractions as there are lots of deer and barbed wire round here.

Having had working gun dogs, we’d train to a whistle. Garden work at first, yes on a long rope - one long blast is for stop/sit and look for instructions, then 3 short toots to return. Use treats at first by all means, but be active - if the pup doesn’t stop/ignores you when it’s got the gist, use a gruff voice, grab it, make it sit and blow the long whistle at the same time. However, training should be fun as well as serious, because the dog’s life could depend on it. We always end with some thing the dogs enjoy like a bit of a rough and tumble or a treat if one hadn’t been used during the training session. Another key is little and often - they’re easily bored/distracted.

Thanks everyone. I think the long training line is worth a try. She's just so excitable and full of energy. I'm hoping she'll calm down as she gets older.

Just be careful with your hands using a long line. I grabbed one once and got an awful rope burn from it.

Thank you Georgesgran for the one long, three short whistle tip. You've made my week!
We went for a 2 hour walk on the moors today and practised several times. DH said we sounded like the maritime "abandon ship" signal!
Anyway, later on, there was a muddy bog that the pup always rolls in, so we whistled, he looked across at us, we did the 3 little peeps, he looked back at the bog quickly, but then decided to return to us. Amazing! At the end there was a rider on a horse and we did the same thing to bring him back immediately.
? hopefully he will remember it again tomorrow!

Woof, woof, thank you Gg it was worth it for all the tasty treats!

sodapop

Maybe we should learn the commands in Romanian Ailidh

Not if you suspect the dog had been badly treated in Romania.

My father picked up a German Shepherd whilst stationed at RAF Sylt in 1946 - a beautifully mannered and obedient dog, as long as you spoke English or Danish to it, but it went beserk if it heard German, which it presumably associated with the master or mistress it had run away from.

Kept on a lead, he could be calmed down if anyone spoke German, only growling at them if they came too close.

WAAFs who were only permitted off-base if in pairs, where allowed to go out alone, if they could borrow Donkey from Flight Surgeon Dr. McX.