HELP!!! 7 month old JRT lost his recall

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nicola_g

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Hi, I'm not a regular poster but I am an avid reader and I have always found sound & sensible advice here.

I have a 7 month old JRT who up untill 3 days had a very good recall. However I have spent the last 3 mornings running around the neighbourhood looking like an idiot while the puppy completely ignores me.

Main problem is that he is not fenced in and thinks the neighbourhood is his oyster. There is electric fencing for the horses but the dog can easily get under this and my OH refuses to dog proof the fencing as he say he won't be able to strim the fence line.

Eoc is always ready to go exploring if thinks my attention is diverted but this wasn't a big problem before because he has ALWAYS came back when called or whistled. I don't abuse the whistle, I use it as a last resort and he has never ignored it before.

It is just like a switch has gone in his head. I see him made a dash for freedom call him to come back and he will stop, look straight at me for a few seconds then turn his back and piss off. Doesn't matter what I do, he will not come back untill he is ready. Have tried attracting his attention then walking in the other diretion (this used to work with my other JRT). At one point this morning I called him and squatted down with my arms wide open (normally he rushes into my arms) he came bounding towards me then swerved at the last minute and took off even futher down the road.

He is still very obedient indoors and when we go out walking but its getting to the point where I am afraid to open the front door and I know he will piss off and ignore me.

He has also just discovered that here are dogs living across the road which doesn't help but the other night we were visiting a friend and he blantantly ignored me nd went exploring the neighbourhood there too.

I know having him castrated will not be a miracle cure but do you think this will help?

Also is it possible to train a dog not to leave the boundary of the property???


All advice very welcome as I want to get this sorted ASAP, as well as being extremely annoying & tiresome it's dangerous. They drive like lunatics around here!!!
 
Just want to add.....

my neighbour says I should smack him with a rolled up newspaper when I do eventually get him back. However I am reluctant to do this as I think it will make him even more reluctant to come back.
 
No, I am sorry but I do not agree at all with your neighbour. When the dog comes back he has done what you wanted him to do and however frustrated you might be by then you should praise him. If you punish him for coming back he will be far less likely to come back next time.

I think he is just being a normal teenager! He is more confident on home ground and finding it easier to go off exploring on a wider comfort zone! Unfortunately he is likely to start running off on walks as he becomes more confident, so it's best to deal with this now.

Ideas to improve recall include:
- two people, a very small space between them, alternate in calling the dog, and rewarding when he comes. This strengthens the association between command and reward. Repeat in as many different places as possible, sometimes making the distance longer.

- give him the bestest reward for coming back. Food works very well for most dogs, save your best treats for recall.

- long line. Attach a lightweight, long line to his collar (like a clothes line, it has to be lightweight so that he forgets it is there and thinks he is free). When you call him if he does not respond, step on the line preventing him from going further, walk all the way to the dog on the line, two fingers under the collar and gently back up to where you were when you first called, reward him and release him. You may need to keep him on the long line for weeks or even months, but it does work in the end!

Personally I would also fence in the garden for safety's sake.
 
Booboos, that was my thoughts entirely on the smacking business!!!

I would feel happier if the fencing was dog proof too, shall keep nagging at OH. Unfortunatley there is no actual garden, just 10 acres of paddocks so I can understand his reluctance.

I'm sure Freedom Fence does work Ratty, but I like Eoc to come down the fields with me when I do the horse so would have to Freedom Fence 10 acres.

Its a lovely day today and I don't thik its fair to keep him in so I have been him outside on a lunge line at the moment but don't like having to keep him tied up..

Will definately give the long line and recall game a try, thanks Booboos!!
 
Yes he is entire aidybex, and one of the dogs across is in season which is not helping. I know castration will not be a miracle cure but perhaps it might help???

It's the way he stares at me for a few seconds with his head cocked to one side, the just tosses his head and turns his back and pisses off. He knows exactly what he should do, just chooses not to do it :-)

He is tied up at the moment and not really happy, but will be staying tied up whilst outside for the meantime. I shall dog proof the fencing myself if OH will not oblige!!
 
I have a JRT x Fox terrier, he is nearly 6 months old and he too is starting to get vheeky on recall. I cant offer any advice.....but i feel your pain!!!
 
Ask your neighbour over. Smack neighbour with a rolled up newspaper. Ask neighbour over again. Slap neighbour again with a rolled up newspaper - do you think your neighbour would come back?????

In seriousness yes, get him neutered. Also, that game where the puppy is called between two people is a great recall trick - the person who is restraining him must not let him go until he is going totally nuts to get to you and you must be very over the top in your recall and subsequent praise.

Keep everything very positive and light, even if you are fuming - he will be able to tell, even from a difference, us humans give off more vibes than we know.

Lots of long lining and lots of reinforcing that YOU are the centre of his world. Feed him by hand for a while, so that all food comes from you and your pockets, not a bowl, so he identifies you and sticking with you with food. Divide some of his daily feed into pockets of an old jacket, if he follows you around the house, drop some out for him. Ask him to sit, when he does so, drop some more.
You get the idea?

Never try this when he has already been fed, he will be full and not inclined to work for his food.

Teach him that looking at you and sticking at you will result in food or praise or a game with a toy or ball if he is not motivated.
Teaching ANYTHING is more easy when the dog is focused on you.

But if he is a randy little sod and his hormones are in charge this will be very hard, like I say, the chop will help!
 
CaveCanem said:
Ask your neighbour over. Smack neighbour with a rolled up newspaper. Ask neighbour over again. Slap neighbour again with a rolled up newspaper - do you think your neighbour would come back?????
!
Click to expand...

That did make me giggle:D

How many on this forum would like to do that just for the hell of it?:cool:
 
blazingsaddles said:
That did make me giggle:D

How many on this forum would like to do that just for the hell of it?:cool:
Click to expand...

LOL!!! I am sorely tempted, a rolled up newspaper is her answer to all obedience problems. I'm fed up explaining to her that smacking him is not going to make him want to come back but it falls on deaf ears, perhaps shell take note if I start smacking her!! She says I am too soft and treat him like a baby. She wanted me to rub his nose in it when I was house training him. I didn't heed that advice either!!!

The food thing sounds like an excellent idea CaveCanem, he is VERY food orientated!!!

Will also be making an appointment for him to have the chop!!!
 
Neighbour sounds like a twonk, I'm old school but some things methods were consigned to the dustbin for a reason, because they were rubbish - like spanking with newspapers for running away and rubbing faces in poo for soiling the house.
It's an inappropriate human solution to normal canine behaviour, something a dog would never get it's head around and would only react correctly to through luck.

I see Booboos is so badly affected that she has had to roll on the laughing floor.

(Sorry, couldn't resist, it's Friday night, please forgive me! :p)
 
OP, has your neighbour been talking to my Grandma...:D

To add to the excellent advice here - experiment to find the yummy treats for which he would sell his soul and use them for recall training. Don't forget to practice recall when he's just mooching, as well as calling him when you need him:)

And whip those nadgers off pronto:D
 
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