Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2006 12:54 pm Post subject: Terrier recall...ANY ideas please?
Not a labrador question but a J.R terrier question about my Flo.....
Flo is now nearly 8 years old. She is from working JR Terrier stock (my mistake..impulse buy from the exchange and mart..I knew nothing at the time about dogs ) I love her to bits and she is a smashing dog BUT, I can never let her off the flexi lead in woods or where there may be rabbits to chase. In the parks and at the beach she is as good as gold..no problems with recalls. The woods or anywhere where rabbits live is a different story. She goes into 'hard-wired hunting mode' and will just go on and on until she literally drops. The only way I can get her back is to ambush her and that is only after she has been going for over an hour or more. By this time she is covered in blood from running through the brambles, ears are torn and she then takes about 3 days to recover (she can barely move out of her bed). There is also the risk of her getting stuck down a rabbit hole...I've had to have the fire-brigade out once before to get her free.
I just feel so sad for her when I'm out with her and the rest of the gang in the woods that she can't join them in their explorations. Its not for the want of trying. Over the years I have tried starving her the day before and taking all manner of treats with me, endless recall practice, taking her ball (she's a ball fanatic but it doesn't compete with hunting bunnies) whistles, making myself the most interesting and interactive owner in the world (!) but nothing works. A trailing long line is no use as it would get tangles in the undergrowth.
She is a well-behaved dog at other times...I used to complete in agaility with her and she was good. I know its her instinct to chase but does anyone have any advice for me? She gets 2 good walks a day (one off lead in the park) so she is fit and well-exercised but I feel like she's missing out in life because she can't run free in the woods like the rest of the gang can.
All my other dogs have always been fine off lead right from puppyhood, but then flo is my only terrier.
Thanks in advance, Becs
I love the photo Becs, Flo looks really cute!
As for Flo's recall problem..have you tried dressing up as a rabbit and maybe keeping fresh rabbit in your pocket to make yourself really really attractive to Flo? If Flo thinks she's caught the biggest and bestest rabbit in the wood, the other smaller rabbits hopping about will seem like small fry. Just a thought and maybe worth a try! (NB: These things are always best recorded on video and played back on LF for constructive advice! )
Unfortunately, I have no other advice to offer, sorry! Good Luck!
____________ Kimberley,Sheppy and Amber
Amber/Shep
Glad I could be of service Becs,
The fancy dress shop should have plenty of easter bunny outfits at this time of year, choose carefully though...any sign of commercial tags flapping about or shoddy workmanship to the seams, Flo will know somethings up!!!! Good Luck!
____________ Kimberley,Sheppy and Amber
Amber/Shep
Hi Kimberley,
I've hit upon a snag.......
I mentioned to my OH about the 'bunny-outfit' and he's now giving me the eye and suggesting that we go off to the woods to practice being bunnies
I feel that, inavertantly, you may have added to my problems Kimberley!!!
i have a border terrorist and recall when rabbits are around or squirrels, ducks, birds, dogs,smelly poo etc, you can forget recall he goes deaf and dissappears in a trice. I tend to keep him on flexi in woods, whislt lab plays of leash he doesn't mind. he does get a free run in park late evening,.
some terriers can be brilliant off leash in woods, but the minute something scurries by off they go, and all thoughts of mum are gone. If you have another dog in with him then off they go too as he just got away with it, so can i attitude.
suggest you keep doing as you are and flexi in woods or in scrubby areas, loose in park enclosures.
Sorry but I had to smile at your predicament and am also sorry I cannot give you any worthwihile advice- apart from I think you'll have to keep her on a lead- In the scheme of things it would be for the best- in view of the state she gets herself into!!!
I knew I had chosen the better breed- Alan grew up with JRT's 4 in all and he says you'll be lucky to over turn her need to chase stuff- The ones he grew up with were embarrassing -not so much on Holiday where they were not known - butnthe local firebrigade only had to hear the name of the dog- I think they sent out the same people
I looked into letting him have one ( I'm the Labrador nut- maybe I'll let him have another Collie one day )- I think you have really put me off!!
At least the worst my two can do is bark at stuff and not get stuck.
.....shakes head sadly. You poor misguided woman Becs. Fancy thinking anything about being a Terrier is FAIR....
I was told two things about training Terriers to come back amid distractions of a nature like quality:
1) You can't.
2) For the sake of your own sanity don't even bother trying.
One friend suggested that another could only teach her JRT a recall by firmly tieing it to her largest strongest Labrador.
Sorry but you SO brought it on yourself - HUGE HUGE grin.....
Don't feel sorry for your JR. Tell her she will live about three million years longer than the Labs so to think of it that way. Remember JR's usually basically forget to die.
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) I love her to bits and she is a smashing dog BUT, I can never let her off the flexi lead in woods or where there may be rabbits to chase. In the parks and at the beach she is as good as gold..no problems with recalls. The woods or anywhere where rabbits live is a different story. She goes into 'hard-wired hunting mode' and will just go on and on until she literally drops. The only way I can get her back is to ambush her and that is only after she has been going for over an hour or more. By this time she is covered in blood from running through the brambles, ears are torn and she then takes about 3 days to recover (she can barely move out of her bed). There is also the risk of her getting stuck down a rabbit hole...I've had to have the fire-brigade out once before to get her free. 
)
