Letting puppy off the lead

DarrenB · Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2009 7:50 pm Post subject:

Hi,

Winston is now 19 weeks old. I had the same dilema. He will come back when called if there are no distractions, but if other dogs are close then he is off like a bandit.

I have a 10m lead which I walk him on in the park etc. This way he can run free etc and not feel he his on lead but if he runs further than 10m and doesnt come back when I call I still have control. We then have the ideal opportunity to train his recall which is getting much better, even with distractions.

I got my lead from my local pet shop, it was about £7.

Just an idea but it is working for us.

Silke · Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2009 8:05 pm Post subject:

Maybe see if you can meet up with the other labrador owner again so Missy can get used to playing off lead and it will get a bit less new and exciting? Buddy runs off lead with some nice dog friends in the park and in the mornings and as well as them teaching him to not run too far away, his recall around them is getting better every day (for now!).
The way we were shown to entice the puppy away from playing with other dogs in puppy class was to go up to them as they are playing, hold a nice treat right on your pups nose and then call them. It is then "their decision" to stop playing with the other dog and come and follow you, just a few steps at first. That only works of course if you can get close enough! Very Happy

Jomel · Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2009 10:18 pm Post subject:

Off lead straight away for us! As soon as Oscar was fully vaccinated, I let him off lead. We started with simple recall and treats (three of us in a triangle), however we only did this day one, after that I trusted him and always had a treat on hand every time he came back. He is 7 months (just), and he has only wondered off once (following another dog) The other walker just kept on going, despite me calling for Oscar grrrrrrrr!!! Anyway I find walks a pure pleasure..I can trust my dog off lead and I have been able to train him out of jumping on joggers and passers-by (a lot easier when they are cute puppies, rather than full grown dogs..people are much more accepting lol!)

Good luck!! You could use a long training lead that you can step on, when pup is going too far, but treats and constant recall from small distances worked for me. I also have several commands on walks which he responds to..i.e "this way" meaning change of direction, "come" meaning sit in front of me, "come on" meaning stop sniffing at whatever and follow me lol! "touch" meaning put your nose in my hand. Having more than one command for making him at least stop going in one direction and start heading towards me is good, because I don't start to sound like a broken record! Wink

_Jules_ · Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 6:04 am Post subject:

By far the best way to teach recall and to stay close is to get those pups outside and off lead as soon as they are jabbed, taking full advantage of them being a little nervous and wanting to stay close to you. This way you can back up that desire to stay close with lots of praise and rewards for it. If you take them out from day one to places where there are other dogs, then they quickly learn to recall even if there are lots of other doggy distractions.

All avoiding these situations does, by keeping them on lead or walking where there are no other dogs, is make them harder to control when they are older and more confident.

As others have said, now you have found yourself in this situation, you'll have to resort to training with a Long Line and try to make yourself far more exciting than the other dogs are. I would also start using a whistle, if you haven't already been using one. I would start using it at home in situations where the dog is already moving towards you and back up that recall with something really high value, such as cheese or hotdog, so they get to understand 3 pips=something REALLY nice. For the first few weeks, never blow it at the dogs backside though, only if it is already moving towards you....as just like calling when the dog is already running away, they can very quickly learn to ignore the whistle.

And lastly, can I just back up what Becs said.....NEVER chase your pups, whether this is at home or outside, as this teaches them nothing other than running away is great fun....or worse... that you are a scary person and one to be avoided at all cost. Put it this way, either way, you're not going to win. So if necessary walk calmly towards them, take their collar and move them away....And never shout or handle them harshly once you've got hold of them, as this will make them all the harder to catch next time.

gstuart · Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 6:48 am Post subject:

many thanks for the advice and help, i only chased her once in the garden when she had a snail and knew that was wrong.

Yesterday there was another lab, we were far away from any roads etc, i kept her on the lead till we got to the other lab which i had spoken to the guy before.

Made missy sit let her off making her sit for a bit, then allowed her to play.

I was amazed that as we walked around the park, she went over to other dogs i kept walking and she came bounding back to us.

One instance where she wouldnt leave a dog alone, i went over to her very caimly got hold of her collar said come as she walked next to me gave her a piece of cheese

I have been very tempted at times but never laid a finger on her or shouted at her.

She has to my amazement become far easier to control off the lead than on, i think she knows she doesnt have to compeet all the time.

I have also found some biscuits in a small tupperware container if i give that a rattle she comes running, in the garden every time if i give that a shake and say COME, she does.

She doesnt always come to me when she is in the park.

I did socialise her soon as she had all her jabs,the only trouble was other dogs were alot bigger than her and kept tryingbut with my other little pup who will have hers in a couple of weeks, i will certainly sociolise her too.

At the moment missy will sit for her food, not touch it until i tell her take, will sit, stay, easy to brush, able to dry her with a towel, brush her teeth.Travel in the car quietly, sit in the car when i open the door until i give her the command out.

I have tried to work very hard with missy,given her alot of love and affection but know i have to be the pack leader.

thanks so much again to all of your help.it has already helped me by letting her off the lead.

Plus i meant to say the guy with the lab kept calling him back and i called missy she followed the other lab, i then praised her alot with a nice piece of cheese

all the best

gary

julesonjon · Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 10:35 am Post subject:

I am a "novice" too but would agree with everything posted previously.

Sonny is MUCH better off lead than on! He also attempts to dislocate shoulders by pulling! Training is ongoing in this department!

He has improved but I am still unable to walk him as he shreds mty hands through the elad and my son just gets pulled flat on his face! Sonny is only just turned one but is strong as an ox!

The best thing is perseverance and consistency.

good luck - to us both!

gstuart · Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 11:27 am Post subject:

i must admit couldnt belive the difference allowing her off the lead in the park.

She use to pull on the lead but i just gave her a few jerks on the lead calling her to heel, and she walks really nicely

If however we are down the town and sees somebody she will sometimes try and pull , but if i jerk her quick enough calling her to heel she will leave.

Give her the command OFF when someone comes near so she doesnt jump up.done this from a pup

the recall however is my biggest concern as im worried that she may ignore me if she is near or going towards danger.

thanks for all the advice, will keep working on the recall

all the best

gary

gstuart · Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 11:23 am Post subject: update on training

hiya,

hope your all enjoying the warm weather.

Well missy is now 6 months old and candy is 3 months old, all vacinated up.

I've let candy off with missy and she will not leave her side.

Missy will outside with knowone around, sit , stay, down, come, paw, speak, have really worked hard on her with plenty of fun.

Even in doors got missy to sit, then gave candy the same command to sit, she didn't sit before i could say sit again to candy missy put her paw on her back and pushed her down, a total fluke i imagine, but wondered how much intelligence she has got.

Did missy think as soon as candy sits she will get a treat, maybe im reading too much into it.

Well missy has come along way, but the recall with other dogs around is still very difficult, i don't mind her going to say hello if another dog is near by but if she see's someone right across the field she's off, i have given the command no, and quickly said come, with that turn around quickly and say bye missy she then sometimes comes back sometimes not.

Left her on a long lead other times, let her say hello then said come if she ignores me gave a sharp tug on the lead saying no, then come she will come back.

Is there any other ideas, to get her to recall or is it a question of keep going at it with the training.

Once i can try and organise a get together near me with other labs may be able to get her to understand what i wish her to do.

My concern is as candy follows missy everywhere don't want her to get into bad habits.

I would really like to train both of them as much as possible, this may sound daft but my dream would for them to be both off the lead, not to run off after other dogs , so when we go for a walk it's a lot less stressful and less worry they may get into trouble, roads etc.

thanks as always

all the best

gary
well sorry rambling on as usual