Am I expecting too much from my training?

JennBags

JennBags

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Wolfie is almost 6 months old now, she's ever so good, we've been going to puppy classes but getting a little bored with them now as whenever new puppies join, we're going back to the basics which we've got pretty well established. We have a really good sit, down, and recall, we've also got a couple of little tricks such as spin and shake paws. Her lead work is also good, in general she's an absolute delight to have around and to train.

However, when we go for walks, if she sees something she wants to chase, that's it, she's off. This morning it was bikes, she must have run 1/2 a mile after them/next to them before coming back. I have a whistle, which she responds to but not when she's chasing. We turn and walk in the other direction but she only comes back when she's ready. This really concerns me, and I'm not sure how I can improve her recall, or am I being too ambitious in expecting a 6 month old collie to be coming straight back when I call? I often call her back, treat her and let her go again , but it's like she's just not interested as soon as she is chasing.

Any hints or tips please?

A couple of pictures to brighten up the post :) this first one really makes me laugh

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She is in this one! A lovely evening walk

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I'd definitely keep her on a line until you get it sorted for her own safety and that of cyclists. I run my dog from a bike and have been chased in the past and it is really not pleasant.

You need to get her attention before she's off and running. Then it is far too late. Once she is off and running she has self rewarded and nothing you can offer will be of high enough value to her.

If you don't have recall with distractions then you don't have recall, sorry!
 
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Love that first pic!
I agree I am afraid you are going to need a long line. When I had a lurcher, so mad keen on chasing, if I got stop her before she went fine, once she was running I may as well save my breath. Also, if you keep calling when they are ignoring you you are teaching them that as well.
It hasn't been such a problem with the labs, of course.
I wonder if giving her some more specific, adult based training might help? At 6 months that is when I expect more from them. Just a thought, I am no collie expert.
 
long line for definite-everytime she runs off the harder it will be. Impulse control games-you want it almost hard wired in him to look to you before she does anything and you need to do the games for a few minutes, several times a day. Also reward her every time she checks in with you (food/fuss/game-whatever works).
 
I agree about keeping her on a long line.
Take her to the park or wherever these distractions are and work her as though you were at training class. Getting her to respond to you and ignore the distractions while having the long line for her safety and for the cyclists safety.
Once they are chasing, they will not hear you. Their focus is on the chase.
She should get it quite quickly once the option to chase isn't there :-)
 
measure daily food intake and feed by hand through out the day.
all food comes from you.
this has worked for a friend of mine.
 
Distraction works with mine, as she starts to lock onto horses I yell Frisbee, she goes and collect and brings it to me, works everytime but to start with you will need to catch her b4 she goes. I can also yell stop and she will stop but I really have to mean it.
 
Ok looks like a long line it is then, thank you all.

MotherOfChickens said:
long line for definite-everytime she runs off the harder it will be. Impulse control games-you want it almost hard wired in him to look to you before she does anything and you need to do the games for a few minutes, several times a day. Also reward her every time she checks in with you (food/fuss/game-whatever works).
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What do you mean by impulse control games? Throwing a ball and making her wait until we say fetch, that sort of thing? I'll work on that a bit more.
 
JennBags said:
Ok looks like a long line it is then, thank you all.



What do you mean by impulse control games? Throwing a ball and making her wait until we say fetch, that sort of thing? I'll work on that a bit more.
Click to expand...

yep thats one, although there are others you can do at any time that are easier. hold a piece of food/toy but only let her have it when she looks at you, build up to dropping food/toy and only letting her have it when she looks at you-build up the time between checking with you and reward. basically any games whereby she checks in with you first and then rewarded.

Also playing games with her when she's off the short lead (but still on a long line if out) so that you keep her attention and any games which means she's rewarded for being near you (and that can be food/fuss). I would also say that she also needs an outlet to be a dog and be a collie i.e. chase/herd something but what you want her to, not a passer by :) (I had a rescue collie who was a serial chaser of wheels when I first got him). Another useful game is when you teach a time out-play and get the excitement levels up then cue them to settle down (I can do mad games of tug with my two, they'll give instantly on command and if I say 'all gone' they know the game is over and then we heel/settle/carry on whatever but are then rewarded for being calm).

impulse control is also basic manners-waiting while she gets collar/lead on, waiting to jump in/out car, waiting for dinner, paws on floor before they get a fuss etc etc

6 months is when it starts getting harder imo, hormones kick in. Although he had good basic manners as a pup (he was a dream pup), I've had to do a lot of training like this with Quarrie because (totally my fault I know) he had a phase of just being too Quarrie lol at about 8 months-he's really great now but I still do the games daily and I introduce new commands and activities all the time. He absolutely loves parkour games, to the point he will offer them and look really pleased with himself, getting a huge fuss for being so clever is what does it for him-that and a ball, he never tires of balls! I usually carry one and a small fluffy tugger toy that fits up my sleeve.
 
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I love my long line! I just use a horse lunge line and often just let it drag on the ground with the hoop at the end on my wrist. So she can have some free reign but she's still attached to me! I also have a good harness (julius k9) as then when she occasionally forgets the length of the line and yanks it absorbs it a bit!

She is a 2yo rescue collie who I've had for 3 months- first week she was nervous so clung to me. Then recall great for treats with no distractions, but then chase drive emerged and I wasn't concentrating and she disappeared for 30 minutes chasing a duck :(

She is slowly improving and sometimes I let the line drag on the ground
 
I was thinking lunge line actually, we'll try that, we can't have her running off, she chased a car the other day and only stopped because it went over a cattle grid.

She's very good at focus so will need to work on that on our walks.

Talking about hormones, she's started humping things :eek3: does that indicate she's going to come into season soon do you think?
 
She is growing more beautiful by the day.

Border collies, by their very nature, are extremely sensitive to movement. Anything fast moving (such as joggers, cyclists, traffic etc) is likely to trigger a chase response in a young, untrained collie. The good news is that collies are a handler dependent breed and usually want to check in with their owner for guidance and reassurance - but of course your need to train her to do this. Use a long line until you are confident she has a good recall in all situations and see below ...

One of the best articles I have ever seen on this subject is by David Ryan (first link below).

He has also written a recommended book on the subject and runs workshops.

http://www.dog-secrets.co.uk/how-do-i-stop-my-dog-chasing/

http://www.dog-secrets.co.uk/stop-how-to-control-predatory-chasing-in-dogs/

There are is a predatory chase seminar in Hertfordshire later this year
http://www.dog-secrets.co.uk/predatory-chase-tring/
 
Thank you Working GSD, I think I she's more beautiful very day too, except today when she has come in with fleas :mad3: :lol:

I was hoping you'd reply as I know how experienced you are with collies.

That's a really interesting article, I am going to give that a go and also get Mr JB to try to do it, he's not quite as consistent as I am, but hopefully he'll make the effort.
 
Try the book Basic Recall, it's excellent. I was surprised how well it worked so long as you follow it to the letter, take the time and do the proofing

I too wouldn't be letting her off until your recall is solid
 
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