Off the lead training

[Chipsmum]

Ok so we know that chip does ok on a walk if he is on the lead but i really want to be able to let him off the lead but i am not sure if i called him he would come back when i called him especially if he sees another dog. He sometimes comes back when you call him other times he doesnt. Can anyone give me any advice on this?

Thanks

Michelle and Chip

[Caryll]

I would try him on a long line first. Then as the recall becomes more solid you can begin to let him off lead & recalling him from various distances, beginning with just a few feet & increasing.

[Otto 's Mutter]

Originally Posted by Chipsmum

Ok so we know that chip does ok on a walk if he is on the lead but i really want to be able to let him off the lead but i am not sure if i called him he would come back when i called him especially if he sees another dog. He sometimes comes back when you call him other times he doesnt. Can anyone give me any advice on this?

Thanks

Michelle and Chip

You need to make it worth his while to come back to you.

Otto was very good off lead until he was about 6 months then he just wanted to go over to other dogs to play. I did some long line training with him and also with a squeaky ball. He isn't perfect but he's getting there

[Stuart]

Try training with a whistle, often when a dog see`s somthing it likes and goes for it, the dog simply doesnt hear your recall, he is just too focused on what he see`s,..its not always disobeidience,..........a whistle seems to cut across their thoughts even when they see something they like, it often just jolts them `out of it` and the recall happens.

It will take time like everything else,.. but the whistle is well worth it

Yep, whistle. I use acme 210.5 gundog whistle as pitch is nice. 2 peeps for recall.. Saves me using my fishwife voice, lol!

[Stuart]

Mine is also a 210 1/2, Acme.. Ebay, long and black,.. and it does have a good tone,..I use one blast for recall, and have used it at close on a mile before now...

........and two very short peeps for keeping them closer to me,.. [for whatever reason ] like if they go over a rise well before I can get there, as is often the case,..they know to wait up

As you say it saves the voice,..and there are times in bad weather on the hills when shouting would do little good,..a whistle though... perfect

[Chipsmum]

Thanks for the advice guys will defo give the whistle a try. will check ebay. I want to be able to walk him off the lead cause it doesnt seem fair he is only off the lead in the garden at the moment. will let yous know how it goes.

Thanks again

Michelle and Chip

[Jude]

One of the most important things when training a puppy is to always set it up to succeed and for this reason I would not be letting him off lead at this stage until his recall is solid on a long line. It does not take long for a pup (off lead) to realise that it does not have to come back straight away when you call and you might end up calling it several times before you get a response, particularly if there are other more interesting distractions around. What does this teach the dog?...that it can ignore you until it is ready to do as you ask! IMO he is very young to be off lead out of the garden at the moment and I would invest in a long line and do lots of recall work with plenty of treats on the line and only let him off when he is coming back to you straight away at the first time of asking every time.

Originally Posted by Jude

One of the most important things when training a puppy is to always set it up to succeed and for this reason I would not be letting him off lead at this stage until his recall is solid on a long line. It does not take long for a pup (off lead) to realise that it does not have to come back straight away when you call and you might end up calling it several times before you get a response, particularly if there are other more interesting distractions around. What does this teach the dog?...that it can ignore you until it is ready to do as you ask! IMO he is very young to be off lead out of the garden at the moment and I would invest in a long line and do lots of recall work with plenty of treats on the line and only let him off when he is coming back to you straight away at the first time of asking every time.

This is good advice Young pups tend to stay close to you, but as soon as they get a bit of confidence and start exploring that's when you'll have problems if you don't proof the recall at an early stage.

Coming back on first command as Jude says has to be 100% before you let him off. Call his name in an excited tone and always reward him, either with small pieces of high value treat or a ball if he's ball orientated. If you mix up the reward then I think this proofs it better - that way the dog knows he's getting something nice, but doesn't know what it will be - how exciting is that!

[LOVEGSD]

I can't add any more than has already been said.....keep us posted on how you get on.