Dog chasing deer - help

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canteron

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My rescue dog, who will walk at heal and normally has excellent recall has twice in the past week chased deer nearly a mile onto the main road - and nearly caused accidents.
Apart from never letting him off the lead again any solutions or experiences.
There are just so many deer around at the moment. I am in despair.
 
It’s not something I’d usually recommend for anything else but perhaps speak to a trainer who’s competent and experienced in using an ecollar for livestock/wildlife chasing. The alternative is to keep him on lead wherever there are likely to be deer or other animals to chase and renting a secure freedom field to give him a good off lead run.
 
The dog has self rewarded twice now and with the best will in the world, unfortunately the experience will be worth much more to him than anything you have to offer.
So yes, see a trainer well versed in livestock chasing and rebuild the relationship in such a way as that listening to you is placed above the thrill of dicking off after prey.
Hopefully it can be done without too much stress, but bit of 'you must NEVER do that again' is better than him getting run over or you being left liable for a nasty accident where people are hurt/killed IMO.
 
In the 6 months we have had him I have done a gun dog course (we passed) and have a trainer - whose own sheep were recently killed by an out of control dog so really gets it - and fenced everywhere - but there are just so many deer around and they can clear normal stock fencing. We are a mile away from the nearest road.
Has anyone had any luck with an e collar ? I think my trainer would help!
 
We had a similar problem with our adult lab we acquired last year...totally lost any recall when off the lead, her drive was just too ingrained, she was a true runner and we suspect she was rehomed to us because of this.

My son installed a very high and carefully constructed fence around a large paddock up at the house so she can race around in there with the other lab to their hearts content. Which they both do thankfully.

They both get at least two good walks around our land and further afield every day, but the runner is never allowed full freedom, always on a long line. She has accepted the new routine in her home with us and is now a very happy little lab, but does sometimes still stare wistfully through the fencing at the far away hills dotted with sheep and cattle!
 
canteron said:
In the 6 months we have had him I have done a gun dog course (we passed) and have a trainer - whose own sheep were recently killed by an out of control dog so really gets it - and fenced everywhere - but there are just so many deer around and they can clear normal stock fencing. We are a mile away from the nearest road.
Has anyone had any luck with an e collar ? I think my trainer would help!
Click to expand...

Yes I’ve seen a number of dogs trained with an ecollar for this issue. It’s all about timing so imperative to go to a trainer competent in its use.
I did consider it for my high prey drive bitch who also chases deer but I’ve held off so far as more engaging and motivational training seems to be working for her so far and I keep her on a long line when we are away from home and anywhere there might be deer.
 
The most important thing with an ecollar is timing closely followed by the dog wearing a dummy collar for weeks before the live collar being used.
Yes I have used one and it was successful.
I have a lurcher and she cannot be off lead on the hills, we have a field out the back of the house that the deer come into and they cross the river to get back out, she has cleared that field a couple of times when we don't see the deer before she does. She doesn't cross the river and won't jump wire fences though so that makes life easier.
 
CorvusCorax said:
I don't recommend or use long lines/leashes with handles as they can get caught on things and it's too tempting to wrap = broken fingers. They're not supposed to be a tow rope.
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Agreed - having unhooked a flat coat who was caught up in a thicket across the track from my yard at early doors this week. The bitch was cold and shivering. The loop on the end was pulled very tight on a shard of tree root, rest of lead wrapped twice round tree, fluke?
Apparently had been missing since 5 the previous evening, found at 7am. Needed warm water and wrapping up, called dog warden who was there in 15 mins. It was 2nd time dog had officially recorded as absconded, 1st time they were told to keep on lead but then they went to long line.... it still chased deer though ?
 
CorvusCorax said:
I don't recommend or use long lines/leashes with handles as they can get caught on things and it's too tempting to wrap = broken fingers. They're not supposed to be a tow rope.
Click to expand...


We wanted the Rott to be able to feel the weight of the line and remember that she was attached. We had the Labs loose at the same time and we didn't want her to throttle them if we could help it. As you say a handle is not a good idea.
 
I keep my lurchers on a 10m lead attached to a Y shaped harness their end and a dog walking belt with shock absorbing inserts my end. Remember that the longer the lead the faster the dog will hit the end. I cannot afford for them to get loose where I live so I wear a pair of water proof over trousers and just sit down if in danger of being upended. Undignified but safe. They also get to run loose in dog fenced fields at least twice a week. I am not sure even e collar training would convince mine not to chase if a deer sprang out of a nearby bush and ran.
 
Mine were never allowed off together in deer territory after the overnight (well, several hours) deer incident. I walked them where there was no possibility of deer after that or alternated who was off. Together, they weren’t brilliant at recall in the woods.

I am keen on long lines, obviously in open spaces, no nasty undergrowth to get tangled in.
 
I have a lurcher who when I got her 6 years ago had a very high prey drive. She wasn't and still isn't in the slightest food or treat orientated. Anything that moved she was after and wouldn't appear back for a good while and was often injured. I tried keeping her on the lead but she was so active and so fit I couldn't tire her out without letting her run. The final straw for me was when we stumbled across some escaped sheep on a walk. I only caught her when the sheep lay down (shattered but thankfully not injured) I spoke with the farmer and went straight home and contacted a trainer that dealt with this type of issue. I went for a weeks training and she was fitted with an ecollar.
With me having several days training on how to use it and understanding how and when to use it, I can honestly say it changed our lives.
I can count on one hand the number of times I have had to use it in the past 5 years or so and I now have a dog that I can let off in the local park and will recall away from cats and deer now.
I know they get a bad name but for me I was out of options and this really was our last resort. In the right hands I really believe they are a great training tool when you are taught to use them by a professional.
 
I feel your pain. Our lurcher has been run over as a result of chasing deer. Lucky not to cause a major accident. I’m working weekly with a trainer now but accept recall will always be hard for her as she’s bred to chase. I actively encourage ball chasing using a launcher so she gets her chasing fix in an enclosed field.
 
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