Please can anyone help us with a recall problem. We have a two-year-old spayed bitch, who is perfect in everything, apart from when she refuses to come back to you when off lead. It is not every time she does this, you can take her out for a few days, or a week, let her off and she comes back. Then the next time you let her off there is no way she will let you get close enough to her to get her lead on. It is as though it's a game, but then she knows she has done wrong, as when you do get her home she goes under the table.
We have tried coaxing her with titbits, squeaky toys, hiding from her, playing ball, ignoring her and walking onwards, but nothing seems to work. We have a long line which we have used, and that is not a problem, she goes to my husband and myself, as good as gold, and as I say it is not happening all the time, it's as though she knows she has us where she wants us.
The dangerous part is that if we go out of the park, we are next to the streets, and if you try to go to get her lead on she runs into the paths of cars. We have also tried sitting, waiting patiently. but have done that for almost two hours at times, until someone helps us get her. If it wasn't for the fact we live in a village, it would be dangerous.
We hope someone, or a few people can give us some help. or suggestions, or anything they think of that we may try to stop this dangerous thing of hers, as I said she is great in all other ways.
Stan Tennant
It sounds like your dog has started a bit of a habit. I think the behaviour will also be partly down to how much
pressure you put on her, in other words how much of a hurry you are in.
Always take her out for a walk with plenty of time to spare, you don't say what breed you have and correcting this problem does depend on breed as some are quicker thinkers than others. I'd start by allowing extra time to walk her. How ever much time you are walking her for try to increase this by an extra 20 minutes if you can. It is also really important to walk her somewhere different most of the time. This way a habit will be harder to form. On a good day you need to put her on and
off her lead several times, randomly throughout the walk. Always finish your walk in a different location, even if you park in the same place you can put her lead back on at random times and random places so you are entirely unpredictable.
If she does mess you about try not to get wound up, try to do some training with her instead and when she does return stroke her, touch her collar but let her go again and repeat a few times before placing her on the lead.
It's always a good idea to combine exercise with training so try to add this to your daily routine and make it part of her walk.
Amy Hatcher, Canine Behaviourist & Dog Obedience Trainer
I think you need to go right back to basics i.e. obtain a perfect recall in the house, then move on to an escape-proof garden, followed by an enclosed park when it is quiet and there are minimum distractions etc. Keep her on-lead in other locations in the meantime. Find out what her absolutely favourite treat / toy is, and only produce it when recall training. She has learned that she does not have to obey whatever command you have been using ("come"?), so it might help to use a different one. A one-to-one session with a good trainer would identify what you have been doing wrong (often very difficult to do yourself when very emotionally involved), provide you with a plan to follow and give lots of moral support! Please don't risk her being injured by a car or causing an RTA - you would never forgive yourself. It would be very sensible to insure her, if you haven't already done so. Best of luck.
ReplyDeleteA few more thoughts...do you interact with your dog as you walk - or just amble along together in companiable silence (as many owners seem to do)? The more time she spends doing constructive and enjoyable things with you, the less opportunity she has to disappear! Make frequent stops to play a game or practice training. Each time you stop, first call her to you and get hold of her collar! Keep the game or training which follows brief (keep her keen for more the next time you stop!)and lots of fun. Vary your walks (and the direction which you do them in) as much as possible, and put her back on-lead in a different place each time, to help prevent her anticipating the end of her 'freedom'. Teach an 'emergency down'(followed by a wait, so you can walk up to her) - this may work when a recall doesn't! Teach her to look at you on a regular basis when you are walking, which is very easy to do with a clicker. The instant she looks at you (don't give a command, just wait until she chooses to do it)click and treat. Do this every time she looks at you to start with, then gradually reduce the frequency so that she has to work harder for that treat!
ReplyDeleteGood advice from Claire. If you can try to book a few training sessions with a good trainer who uses positive reward based methods.
ReplyDeleteAlways use a long line near a road - never take risks with any dog's safety no matter how well trained they are.
ReplyDeleteYou need to be clear that your dog does not know what she has "done wrong". All she knows is that you are appearing agitated and upset and she is avoiding this. This will destroy any recall training.
Your dog has learned that the 'lead=end of fun' and possible even that 'coming to you=end of fun' so you should aim to grit your teeth, re-teach happily and consistently using the long line to reinforce. Gradually shorten the long line and then finally, off lead. You do not need to use food as the sole motivator in my opinion. What happens when the dog decides they do not want the food? 100% reinforced repetition would work far better in this case. Call the dog - pick up the line - draw the dog in - sound happy! BE NICE! - send the dog away - call the dog... etc Your dog will learn that to earn the freedom they so desire, they have to earn it by at first coming back and NOT just at the end of a walk.
Once again I must stress, never, ever let your dog roam off lead near a road, no matter how well trained they are.