14 month lab problems

[Jurrasicway]

Can anyone give me some pointers please.

 

I have a 14 month lab who has come on quite well. He is my first gundog and I have read books and took advice from this site to train him. Things are going well and he will do all I ask of him UNTIL -------- there are other dogs around. All he wants to do then is play. Yesterday I was in a field and he spotted two other dogs about 300 yards away and he was off. He would not come back, even to the whistle when he is normally very responsive. This has happened on about 4 occasions now and I am in a bit of a dilemma. Once I have called him back and he has (eventually) responded, how do I discipline him without him thinking that I am telling him off for coming back to me.

 

Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can cure this without creating further problems? For info he was castrated at 12 months old.

 

Any help would be appreciated

 

Thanks

[J@mes]

we have the same with ours at 11 months, very difficult to stop and would appreciate any advice - the missus takes her to "puppy training" and the trainer says "don't let her off until her recall is 100%" which is not helpful because she knows when she is on the lead and will come back no matter what but if she is off lead and sees something fun, chances are she's away!

[al4x]

when you get really fed up an electric collar will work, some won't agree but you will stop it straight away. Its fine saying don't let them off untill they are 100% but they know when they can get away with it, if the basics are there and they are just deciding to ignore you periodically it sorts it out straight away. My GWP is great fantastic most of the time knows exactly what you want her to do but will just decide her way is better. Get the collar out and not only does she get excited thinking we're off somewhere fun but then behaves spot on with no need to use anything but the beep on it she has just had a refresher course and actually a few days with it on and she then starts being spot on without it

[robc89]

Quite keen to here the suggestions, My lab is similar age, just started doing NTTF 8 week course, seeing a bit of difference in him already. He has never been in a hurry to rush to me if something interesting is going on, such as another dog or a chicken lol

[Jurrasicway]

Thanks for the collar tip. As no one else has replied looks like it is the only option. Thanks again.

[labman]

a few things that worked for me ,

 

1,use your recall whistle at feed time morning and night every day , he will soon get the jist

 

2, if you recall him when your out and he doesnt come back straight away - get out to him and grab him by the scruff giving him the recall at the same time- that way he knows hes a bad lad

 

3, check cord

 

regards

[labman]

a few things that worked for me ,

 

1,use your recall whistle at feed time morning and night every day , he will soon get the jist

 

2, if you recall him when your out and he doesnt come back straight away - get out to him and grab him by the scruff giving him the recall at the same time- that way he knows hes a bad lad

 

3, check cord

 

regards

 

just read the post again , if he comes back say second time of calling DO NOT give him a rollocking , just lots of praise - you have to get out to where the dog does the crime to give him a rollocking otherwise he learns nothing and your training just becomes more frustrating

 

hope that helps

[Magus69]

Look up a GOOD gundog trainer in your area or even be prepared to travel a bit and go see them you will get much more out of it than zapping your dog with a collar system.

The problems with dogs are almost always down to the owner rather than the dog. I don't know if there are any professional trainers on here but I know I'm not one so when I had similar problems I went to the best and got almost instant results at a fraction of the cost of a training collar system.

Mike...

[butcherboy]

An electric collar to cure a pup running off to see other dogs Someone is having a laugh!!!

 

First, if the dog runs off and ignores your recall STOP blowing the recall !!! You are just re - enforcing the fact it has ignored your command. Instead trying moving your legs in the direction of the dog & get hold of it. Then take it by the scruf back to the spot it ignored you. Don't just stand there waiting until it eventually comes back.

 

With very young dogs you can try running away from the dog & see if it comes after you. Unlikely though if it's playing with other dogs.

 

Have you socialised the dog properly? Let it have free time with other dogs when you are NOT training but ensure you train away from other dogs until he is rock on his basics.

 

The dog is still young so don't stress too much.......you'll get there.

[blacklab]

I would still walk / run away from the dog, using the recall whistle, when he eventually returns DONT chastise him but give lots of praise, if you shout or punish him in any way he will start to associate the recall with punishment. he is still young and will grow out of this. It is always better to train with no distractions if possible.

 

Lee

[Jurrasicway]

Thanks for the advice again guys I really appreciate it.

 

The fault does probably lye with me. As this is my first dog and all training routines are from gundog training books. I must admit that not one of the ones that I have read ever mentions an electric collar. I think that the best thing is to find a gun dog trainer to help me out.

 

Just while I am at it here is another problem. I blow the stop whistle and he stops (up to about 50 meters), even in full flight, the frustrating bit is that he will then sniff around and look at me out of the corner of his eye. When he does eventually decide to look at me he will walk towards me about ten paces then sit. The time lag from blowing the whistle to him sitting is about 20 seconds (an age when you are waiting). However if I am stopping him to send him left or right he takes the hand signal immediately.

 

Does anyone have any ideas on how to make him sit more quickly? I already blow the stop whistle when walking him on the lead which always has good results in a sit within three seconds

 

:lol:

[al4x]

Ok collars you either love or haven't used and make up in your mind how people use them and what they do.

 

I've used one and my GWP is having a refresher course at the moment and personally if anyone else has a way of stopping a dog at distance in full flight I'd love to hear it. She knows everything and has a stubborn streak and yes I could keep her on a lead and not go to certain areas and it might get better slowly. She might also stop pointing rabbit holes and making you go and get her but I'd not bet on it, however I don't zap her regularly in fact I've had the collar on her for a fortnight and used the minimum shock probably twice and that was when she was running in on ducks and on a hare. Because you can beep the dog prior to any other action that is all it takes to shake her attention the first few days she was being beeped fairly regularly but now second week up she is checking back on every command and reacting far faster rather than that look to see shall I obey or not and hasn't even been beeped in the last few days. I walk in a game rich area and I use it much like a long lead, it means you don't have to reprimand the dog and any action is taken when she is disobeying rather than when it is too late. In your case of running off with other dogs a quick beep and she will turn on a sixpence and come to heel no matter how much she is playing. It may not be the ideal solution but to suggest all you do is zap the dog all the time is entirely wrong it is a last resort , I tried it as it was either watch her chase a rabbit onto a road or keep her on the lead all the time. This way she is much happier and actually gets excited when the collar comes out which shows how cruel they are

[Beds]

I had a simular problem with my young Lab, but not with other dogs, but with hares or rabbits, she would spot one and that would be it, off she would go at 400mph over 5 fields, shefield, wakefield, huddersfield etc!

 

As already siad in previous responces, collars! you either love them or hate them.

 

However, i have to say if they are used as a last resort and at a bare minimum they work very well. My Lab who is 2 this weekend, will now spot a hare or rabbit 50 yards away and stand and watch it until it goes out of site and no longer run in.

 

I used it as a last resort if she did not respond to the whistle I would have the collar on the lowest setting and when she ran in after the peskey rabbit/hare, ensuring I blow the whistle stop command at the same time as using the collar she would stop I would then blow the recall and she would return at the same speed as she she left my side. A little koy at first on return, but after some praise for returning she would be ok. I wreckon this was not done no more than 6 times. To ensure she remained by my side i would walk her to heel in fields knowing we would see the pesky things and reiteriate the heel command with lots of praise after the hare or rabbit had gone. Towards the end of last season she would flush out hares etc without chasing after them and stop to the stop command using the whistle.

 

This was my first dog too and believe you me, i understand how frustrated you get. I could spend hours writing about her first retrieves and other antics she got up too, but if you persevere combined with lots of praise and trust in your dog she will eventually do as you ask.

 

I used a Cancom 200.

 

Hope this helps

 

Good luck.

 

Andy.

[daft dog]

It may not be the ideal solution but to suggest all you do is zap the dog all the time is entirely wrong it is a last resort , I tried it as it was either watch her chase a rabbit onto a road or keep her on the lead all the time. This way she is much happier and actually gets excited when the collar comes out which shows how cruel they are

 

Well put! same reason i use one.

[butcherboy]

He has a young dog that is running to play with other dogs NOT chase game.

 

That's why there is no need for an electric collar for this behaviour.

[al4x]

thats all well and good but if the dog is going to bolt 300 yards and ignore everything then its only so long till that is accross a road. I have no problem with dogs playing and mine will more than most but won't bolt for other dogs that has to be stopped and what you would find is the collar would stop it ignoring commands which then translates to also stopping on the stop whistle. If the alternative is not being let off or trying to walk where there aren't other dogs then I know which option I'd take. Once they start ignoring commands with one distraction it soon gets worse. Some dogs are particularly friendly I know mine is and very well socialised yet still gets excited at dogs she knows and sees every day.

[rimfire4969]

An electric collar to cure a pup running off to see other dogs Someone is having a laugh!!!

 

First, if the dog runs off and ignores your recall STOP blowing the recall !!! You are just re - enforcing the fact it has ignored your command. Instead trying moving your legs in the direction of the dog & get hold of it. Then take it by the scruf back to the spot it ignored you. Don't just stand there waiting until it eventually comes back.

 

With very young dogs you can try running away from the dog & see if it comes after you. Unlikely though if it's playing with other dogs.

 

Have you socialised the dog properly? Let it have free time with other dogs when you are NOT training but ensure you train away from other dogs until he is rock on his basics.

 

The dog is still young so don't stress too much.......you'll get there.

 

 

You have to enforce the recall and not let the dog keep ignoring it. I have used the above method with my dogs, more work than a zapp with a collar but it has worked for me. Each to their own, i prefer not to use a collar, but that does not mean i would not if i saw a need.

[mudpatten]

The root cause of your problem is that you are not the centre of your dogs attention. The other dogs are more interesting and exiting than you are.

 

Try this. Reduce the dogs food allowance slightly just before your training so he`s a bit hungry. Carry some food treats and bait/feed him with them on the heel and recall exercises.

 

If using a training area where there are no distractions is not possible, the second you see the other dogs bait him in with the food, put him on the lead and walk him over to the other dogs, and in a disciplined fashion,on your terms, release him to play with the other dogs.

 

When you`ve decided either you or he has had enough bait him in to hand, put the lead on and walk away whilst continuing to bait/feed him at heel.

 

You might also want to consider meeting up with the other dog owners at a prearranged time/location so that he does`nt have to run away from you.

 

Once you`ve established a routine which does not involve him running off, reduce the frequency of food treats until they become very rare indeed, just to maintain his interest.

[Jurrasicway]

Thanks to all for the advice. I will try to persevere without a collar for the next 4 to 8 weeks and try to "introduce" him to other dogs on my terms. If not then I will get a collar. I would really like to crack this before beating season starts.

 

Thanks to everyone who has posted on this thread

 

[mudpatten]

Can you let us know what you try and how successful it is. Always good to get some feedback.

[Jurrasicway]

Can you let us know what you try and how successful it is. Always good to get some feedback.

 

Hi - Was out this morning, 6:30am bright and breezy when two dogs appeared in the lane . Normal scenario is Archie stands up straight with tail up and fixes his 50 yard stare on the other dogs. Today I gave five pips on the recall whistle and he turned to look at me . As soon as he did this I showed him a bag of doggy treats and shook them, sounded the recall again. He came straight back to me and hupped at my feet facing me . I gave him a treat and as soon as he had it in his mouth he shot off to say hello to the dogs before I could do or say anything (crafty little *** B) ). However, it did work and it was PROGRESS......! Hopefully things should get better as long as I have a bag of treats with me and fuss him at the same time as treating him. After a time I am hoping I will not need them.