Dawsie Posted May 2, 2018 Report Share Posted May 2, 2018 I was given a 4 year old male Cocker from a well known shoot about 5 months ago, lovely dog, obedient, good to the whistle and good worker, my big problem is I cant take my eyes off him for more than a couple of minutes, because if I do, he's gone! I work all over the country in forestry/private woodlands and take him to work with me every day, for the most part he's fine and stays close but as soon as my back is turned, he scarpers, it's like he's just waiting for the opportunity, one second he's there, then the next second he's gone, and I mean not just 30 or 40 yards, he goes for miles................... In the last 5 months I have had to collect him from 8 different dog rescue centres around the country, apart from the embarrassment (and annoyance) on average its costing me £35 each time, I'm reluctant to return the dog to the shoot from where it came but I cant go on like this. I've spoken with my two local vets about his behaviour, (especially the fact that he is constantly scent marking) but they don't seem to think that having him neutered will make any difference. Any realistic advice would be much appreciated......................... Thanks for reading Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billytheghillie Posted May 2, 2018 Report Share Posted May 2, 2018 one of those metal corkscrews things and a decent length of lead on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigbob Posted May 2, 2018 Report Share Posted May 2, 2018 dont let him off the lead till he answers to the recall , hes getting to do what he wants just now hes the master Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotslad Posted May 2, 2018 Report Share Posted May 2, 2018 Aye either leave him in the motor or corkscrew/tie him to a tree. Nt a good time of year to be having a dog running loose, only a matter of time until a farmer quite rightly 'cures' it for u If u do 'free' sit him any time he moves u have to catch him and put him back on the exact spot so he doesn't gain anything to moving and learns to sty still. Dunno wot job u do but often even well trained dogs are a pita when ur trying to bash on and get work done, and to be hones tthe dogs probably enjoy being left in themotor more too as they then don't have any temptions. I'd also say he's can't be that good on the whistle or sitting either, a lot of this will come down to going over basic obediance on lead until ur both sick of it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted May 2, 2018 Report Share Posted May 2, 2018 Agree with the above. Put him on a lead when your otherwise engaged. Obviously ingrained in the dog now so little chance of a 'cure' so to speak. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
decoy1979 Posted May 2, 2018 Report Share Posted May 2, 2018 I guess you've found the reason you were given him in the first place. Good luck trying to correct him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawsie Posted May 2, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2018 Sorry, maybe I wasn't clear enough, he is very good to recall, the problem is when I don't have eyes on him for a couple of minutes and don't realise he's gone, that's when he does a runner and its a long distance runner! I do have him in the back of the truck with the with a grill to stop him getting out sometimes if I need to concentrate on some piece of work, but I don't like him closed up for long periods. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inthedark Posted May 2, 2018 Report Share Posted May 2, 2018 12 minutes ago, decoy1979 said: I guess you've found the reason you were given him in the first place. Good luck trying to correct him. This ʌ You'll probably get used to it, but I doubt you'll cure it. I've got a Springer with the same outlook, it's a sneaky little ****** but it can find absolutely anything so I keep forgiving it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mochastorm Posted May 3, 2018 Report Share Posted May 3, 2018 Each time he goes on one of his doggy adventures he self rewards, and it would appear that he is a regular little adventurer. The alternative for him is to sit behind the grille on the back of your truck. I fear it maybe too late to correct him. This is not a criticism, but if you can’t give him 100% of your concentration, and you can’t while your working, leave him somewhere secure. You can’t really mix the two. If you can still work him when you are not distracted then be happy with that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotslad Posted May 3, 2018 Report Share Posted May 3, 2018 I'd agree with the above. If ur dog was 100% on either stop whistle or recall he would come back/sit instantly so u wouldn't have this problem, and i doubt a generally obediant dog would bog off in 1st place, he should sit on the spot for as long as he is told too. It really would be worth u geing proper professiomal help and really listening to wot they say, as others have said it is quite well engrained now so will be hard to break/retrain. 1 rather random thing that might help would be some sort of modified placeboard training, instead of lugging boards about try a hula hoop typpe thing, sit ur dog in middle the tie to a tree on a long line, the hoop should acts as both a pyhical and mental barrier and also shows u where to move dog back too.Intially u will need to be really on the ball and any time the dogs moves an inch move him back and keep doing it, no matter how busy u are (why bringing dogs out when ur busy is a pain) From a professional point of view it might not be helping ur job/rep either having a wild dog, if i was a landowner i wouldn't want someone coming on my ground with a dog that bogs off, bad enough with dog walkers never mind paying somone to come on with a dog like that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remimax Posted May 3, 2018 Report Share Posted May 3, 2018 (edited) 21 hours ago, Dawsie said: I was given a 4 year old male Cocker from a well known shoot about 5 months ago, lovely dog, obedient, good to the whistle and good worker, my big problem is I cant take my eyes off him for more than a couple of minutes, because if I do, he's gone! I work all over the country in forestry/private woodlands and take him to work with me every day, for the most part he's fine and stays close but as soon as my back is turned, he scarpers, it's like he's just waiting for the opportunity, one second he's there, then the next second he's gone, and I mean not just 30 or 40 yards, he goes for miles................... In the last 5 months I have had to collect him from 8 different dog rescue centres around the country, apart from the embarrassment (and annoyance) on average its costing me £35 each time, I'm reluctant to return the dog to the shoot from where it came but I cant go on like this. I've spoken with my two local vets about his behaviour, (especially the fact that he is constantly scent marking) but they don't seem to think that having him neutered will make any difference. Any realistic advice would be much appreciated......................... Thanks for reading short term solution might be a Dog trace x20 tracker for you escape artist ,bit expensive in this country at £400 but can be had from lithuania with postage for £280. looked at everything on the market before buying one.forget the mobile linked stuff out in the field. well made simple to use bit of kit , fully waterproof & 50hrs tracking on a charge.updates ever 3 secs and has a geo fence alarm for sneaky slope off moments had an incident with mine 6 months ago after she went self employed for 30 mins , when she came back i said to myself that ain't going to happen again little bitch. i'm only a novice so its been a challenge but even the best dogs can go wrong i'm told . obviously the tech ain't going to cure the boging off but at least you can catch him in the act and possibly sort some correction. Edited May 3, 2018 by Remimax Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saltings Posted May 4, 2018 Report Share Posted May 4, 2018 you need to swop round from you keeping an eye on him to him keeping an you as you are the master that can cause you to you running off in the opposite direction hiding etc keep him guessing what you are up to please remember any attention for a spaniel is better than none fold your arms and turn tour back for wrong behaviour loads of praise for positive whatever he is doing make sure his attention is on you flailing your arms running away walking round him in a circle stopping when he breaks eye contact etc and only moving when he locks on to you what ever his must attention must be on you and only you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigbob Posted May 5, 2018 Report Share Posted May 5, 2018 Electric collar if he goes fifty yards give him a shock it's sounds drastic but your going to have to do something drastic its lambing season and you don't know what he's up to when he's away on his jollys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snow white Posted May 7, 2018 Report Share Posted May 7, 2018 Hi am reading that you work in forestree do you use chain saws my to springers will sit with me all day if i am pottering about but now sooner as chainsaw or edge trimer is out thay are back in the house could be he does jot like the noise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd90 Posted May 7, 2018 Report Share Posted May 7, 2018 Did you pay anything for it? Sounds like they have it away for this reason, did they let you know the dog did this before you had him? If not I’d think the previous owner has stitched you right up and I’d be taking it back! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cracker Posted May 7, 2018 Report Share Posted May 7, 2018 On 5/3/2018 at 01:56, Mochastorm said: Each time he goes on one of his doggy adventures he self rewards, and it would appear that he is a regular little adventurer. The alternative for him is to sit behind the grille on the back of your truck. I fear it maybe too late to correct him. This is not a criticism, but if you can’t give him 100% of your concentration, and you can’t while your working, leave him somewhere secure. You can’t really mix the two. If you can still work him when you are not distracted then be happy with that. Good advice - though exanding on the grille bit, why can't the dog be confined in the vehicle in a crate (with fans and proper ventilation, of course)? Not cruel just procedural safety. Also would like to know more on why and how the kennel came to place him with you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pigeonshooter22 Posted May 8, 2018 Report Share Posted May 8, 2018 (edited) Hes obviously sat there bored.. so ******* off off. Obviously never been taught sit/stay for long periods and knows he can get away with it.. can't really blame him. I'd get him on a long rope and tie him to the truck or a stake in the ground. My other halfs lab (as a pup) started to do similar, he worked doing land management and she disappeared for miles and was picked up several times. She was so obedient but one minute she'd be gone, only occasionally. He was lucky to get her back so he started to use a stake.. gradually weaned her off it. Shes 5 now and hasn't wondered off for years but hes a bit older so may never cure it. Don't let him keep self rewarding by letting him do it. Edited May 8, 2018 by Pigeonshooter22 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loriusgarrulus Posted May 8, 2018 Report Share Posted May 8, 2018 2 hours ago, Pigeonshooter22 said: Hes obviously sat there bored.. so ******* off off. Obviously never been taught sit/stay for long periods and knows he can get away with it.. can't really blame him. I'd get him on a long rope and tie him to the truck or a stake in the ground. My other halfs lab (as a pup) started to do similar, he worked doing land management and she disappeared for miles and was picked up several times. She was so obedient but one minute she'd be gone, only occasionally. He was lucky to get her back so he started to use a stake.. gradually weaned her off it. Shes 5 now and hasn't wondered off for years but hes a bit older so may never cure it. Don't let him keep self rewarding by letting him do it. Might be better with a light chain. Its suprising how fast they can chew through a rope when not being watched. I had a rescue border/jack who could go through a tape lead if you stopped to have a natter with a neighbour. He was found running loose in a bad way and obviously abused with a chewed end of a lead hanging off him by the dog warden before we had him. He had to have chain leads as we never got him out of chewing tape leads through. We got a good recall with him after 6 months when he realised we didn't beat dogs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deeksofdoom Posted May 8, 2018 Report Share Posted May 8, 2018 Why do you need to bring the dog to work with you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickeydredd Posted May 9, 2018 Report Share Posted May 9, 2018 22 hours ago, Pigeonshooter22 said: Hes obviously sat there bored.. so ******* off off. I don't think he is bored, just that he has a drive to go hunt/explore/whatever. He needs to be constrained from doing so when he wants to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandalf Posted May 9, 2018 Report Share Posted May 9, 2018 On 05/05/2018 at 01:46, Bigbob said: Electric collar if he goes fifty yards give him a shock it's sounds drastic but your going to have to do something drastic its lambing season and you don't know what he's up to when he's away on his jollys After forty years of gundog training (labs) I was dead against these devices. Then I purchased a nine month old who had never even been taken out for a walk. He wasn't maltreated - just ignored. Super friendly dog and good on all the dummy work etc but off the moment my back was turned or he put something up while we were walking or training. Got worse. Put him on a 50 yard rope and he had me off my feet a couple of times. Anything that moved and he was off after it. After ONE YEAR of this I was persuaded to try an electric collar. It was that or he had to go. Got one - PAC and not cheap. Read the instructions carefully. Put it on the lowest of settings. Zapped him just three times over a week. Now he is as good as gold. Different dog. Rarely goes on a lead. If he puts something up when we are out he just sits. Collar is packed away in a drawer and his training is going on by leaps and bounds. Just needed to be told that his behaviour was unacceptable. We are now the best of mates. (He is now steady with sheep, horses, cattle and other dogs). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigbob Posted May 9, 2018 Report Share Posted May 9, 2018 I got a loan of one for a lurcher she just didn't listen and took off put it on her neck and shes a different dog never had to use it LOL ****** knew what it was and yet she had never had one on before Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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