Teenager running away

tazmaniandevil

Hi guys, im just after some advice on training and obedience. Vinny has always been off the lead when walking in the forests where i live. From the first week we got him we carried treats and always called him and rewarded him. He would always come back and never strayed to far away and was always making sure we were close by. I no that once they hit their teens all training and obedience can go out if the window which is kind of what im experiencing now. Its a big struggle to get him to come when called, frequently involving me running the other way so he chases me. Now he will stop when i call him, turn to look, weigh up his options and then carry on running. He totally not afraid to get far away from me now, often he is out of site a good few minutes before he comes back in the forest.
Im not sure how to deal with this, my breeder said at this stage he shouldnt be off the lead but he burns so much more energy when off and he loves it so much. I have lost all confidence in his recall now and im very aware that as soon as he spots something interesting he is off at full speed. My questions are, will this pass? Should i stop letting him off the lead? And how can i keep practicing recall if hes on the lead. Its not enough to just do it in the garden i need him to come when there is distractions

LokiLostCoast

I'd take treats with you to the park/dog park something smelly like chicken or cheese. Get a fanny pack or a dog treat pouch and take that with you. let him smell it but don't give it to him, tell him to go play for a bit and when you call him back bend down with the treat, call his name and when he starts coming towards you say good boy! Lots of praise and when he finally gets to you reach out when he's close to your knees and grab his collar and only then give him the treat. Do not give him the treat until you have your hands on his collar. Just keep working with him and he will get better. Distractions are always hard but if you have treats it makes it easier and after awhile you won't need to treat him every time.

philsergeant

This is typical Bullie behaviour for some Bullies, in my experience anyway. First they take time to learn what is right and wrong, well, what's pleasing and what's not pleasing (to you)... Or rewarding to them. They have no "God", so no reference to ultimate right and wrong. Then they learn what they can get away with, or what is worth your displeasure for the sake of their pleasure. Marco, for example, takes the ultimate pleasure in other dogs, more than treats or food, sometimes more than incurring my extreme displeasure. They definitely need off lead time somewhere, sometime, and I find open areas of country side where they are not in danger of traffic and hopefully don't bump into other people, mostly other dogs.   At least 4 or 5 times a week we go. Mostly I'm successful, but now and again we bump into another dog, typically also off lead and he takes off after them.  Isabella loves other dogs but (kinda) loves me more, so, when I call, she comes back or stops going after Marco.  Nothing serious has ever come of it, but I often end up seriously out of breath and know to make sure I carry some soft leads in my pocket.  Hopefully the fact that Marco has now learnt that he can get away with this bad habit will become corrected by the fact that I let him know that I am SERIOUSLY pissed off.... But, in truth, I think it's going to be a battle, as he knows that in my heart I really know that is just because he naturally LOVES other dogs (Isa loves other people more than other dogs) and there's nothing bad in that.
Bullies... gotta love 'em!

BulliesofNC

Have you considered using an electric collar for training purposes? Many swear by these collars and they are very safe and effective.

tazmaniandevil

I have considered a collar but they are very expensive here in norway. But if ever there was a breed that it was best suited to lol.
I always have a bag if meatballs with me but there is no food on this planet that is more exciting to him than other dogs. I always get him back tho so its not to bad. The dilema is tho, how do i let him no im pissed off without giving a negative effect. I no for sure that if he thinks hes in trouble it will be 10 times harder to catch him. I have to stay totally calm and happy or he will run rings around me not wanting to get told off. I was always told never to punish them when they do eventually come back but this in turn makes it almost impossible to show them that running away is bad

RoscosMom

I 100% recommend the electronic collar.  Rosco was trained on it for off leash trips and he responds very well.  There are times we call him "Eeyore" because he doesn't want to come back but he knows we called him and every single time he will turn around and come back (sometimes slowly when he doesn't want to but he heads right back).  It has been a wonderful thing for Rosco, we have it on a very low level and he responds immediately and comes when we call him.    Perhaps you can order it online?  We have a Garmin which has a long distance reach and is waterproof. 

philsergeant

My concern with collars is as follows.... One of the reasons ours love to run free is they can wrestle, and at 50 MPH when they grab at each other's necks they turn topsy turvey for three full rotations. At that speed it's like a train wreck that they love, with 3 somersaults and a slide for 20 feet across the wet grass... They love it and come back exhausted and can't wait to get off lead to start the whole ritual again. If I leave collars on, (which I don't) I fear that, in the flurry, one could get a tooth caught behind a collar (they love gnawing at the neck) and rip the tooth (or two) right out in the commotion?????