Help needed for a dog that nicks off!

Custard Cream

Custard Cream

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We are dog sitting at the moment. A 3 yr old labradoodle boy that is a complete space cowboy. He has a lovely nature, but is big and strong. He has his owners right where he wants them. He does the basic sit command but little else.

We have 2 very well behaved Italian Spinones that walk to heel off the lead and do everything they are told pretty much first time, so to have a rather untrained dog is becoming a bit of a nightmare!

He's been better on the lead, have altered his collar to a half check and he respects this. At the yard tonight he was in the barn with me, off the lead, following me about. I've got him coming to call and sitting at a distance. Tonight though, a dog from the village appeared and naughty dog buggered off after it before I had chance to get the slip lead on him. He buggered off down into the, thankfully very quiet, village and I ran after him. Managed to catch him as he didn't really know where he was and took him home before I went back to retrieve my other dogs.

Other than having him on the lead at all times, is there really anything I can do in two weeks to stop him doing this?
 
Yes, think you're all right. Just so used to our dogs that are hardly ever on the lead!

In the long term though, how would you stop them naffing off?
 
I think the most shocking thing here is that your spinones are so well behaved! :D There are a couple in my village, and they are always on the loose :rolleyes:
 
lots of recall training with a load of treats. If you can get to a gundog class or an outside obedience class so that he can learn to cope with distractions of other dogs that would be a bonus.
 
Agree, with someone else's dog, would not be worth taking the chance. We lost our girl for four days because someone let her off the lead and the dog didn't know her well enough to come back for her.
 
To be fair even in the 2 (short weeks you have) he should remain on the lead as suggested (maybe give the owners some advice) whilst training progresses, a training lead for walks and a suitable aid to prevent the pulling as you suggest his half check or a halti and a longline (clipped to a sturdy collar) when you are using a treat based rewards for every time he returns, even if he does not return when called you then give him a little tug and reel him in and treat (massively high reward) like a tube of primula.
Start without distractions (at home, calling him randomly and treating) then take it our on the long line in a field and do the same, you could even introduce a whistle) call name, whistle, treat.
Up the exercise else where if possible as he will need to burn the excess energy whilst on the lead. Ideallt whilst working with recall patients is a virtue and keeping them on a lead could be anywhere from weeks to months.
When he does get off eventually its important never to let him go more than a few metres before reinforcing the recall and reward, never let him disappear or get so far you have to shout for him again.
Advise the owners to do the same if they are having these issues (if the rules are lax all round at home) then there is little hope unless they tighten the leash on all aspects of behaviour (so to speak):p
Also the encouragement of play and games (hide and seek) can create a very good bond for recall.

I never let my boarders off lead unless they where a previous rescue.
 
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I do dog sitting and never let any of the dogs off lead. Also, it's not your job to train their dog. I'd recommend keeping it on the lead at all times.
 
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