Improving an Italian spinonie's recall

[lewis991]

Hello I am Lewis from west sussex. I currently have a 10 month old itallian spinonie (Female) called Lottie, we have had her from nine weeks old.

As soon as she was old enough to go out for walks we had her off the lead and started recall training, initally she was terrible then got better. She often runs off to go and play with other dogs and loves to play, so will often ignore me then come along as I walk off. We did get to the point where she would be playing, I would call her and she would come straight back.

I use a mix of dog biscuits, sausage, stilton (Which she loves) and any tyoe of meat. The last couple of walks on the beach we have had she just will not come back!!! Which is very frustrating. I often go and hide, which works to a point, she panics, looks for me then when she has found me stays far enough away so that she cannot be put back on her lead.

I tried tempting her with a treat, telling her to sit and stay, also an agressive mannered call, she would come within about 10 foot of me then decide to sprint off down the beach! Before the walk she had not been fed.

In the end I had to call me brother along, who she ran staright too as she hadnt seen him for a couple of hours.

Has anyone got any hints or tips on how I can improve this? Is it her age that is causing the problem "Rebelous teenager" stage???

Thanks

 

[galaxy]

how many time do you call her back during a walk? Is it only when she is going back on a lead or away fom fun?

I was advised to call Harley back frequently, give him a treat and then release him again so he associates coming back as good and not the end of fun!!

Make it into a huge game, run around with her to make her want to be with you and think YOU are fun. Do you play ball etc with her?

Otherwise you may have to put her on a long line while she learns this so she can't get away from you.....

 

[lewis991]

Yeah she is called frequently during every walk, told to sit, treated and given lots of praise then she goes back and does what ever she was doing etc.
She has no intrest in a ball, throw it, chases it and then just leaves it to go and sniff or get something else.

I ran around with her today and it made no difference, she just kept bolting...

 

[trottingon]

I have a 3 year old Spinone bitch. She is food obsessed so I did the same as Galaxy23 to teach recall. She did however go through a "terrible teen" phase from about 8 to 11 months when we just couldn't do anything with her. On a good day she would ignore me calling her completely, until I shouted at her in an angry voice, then she would come straight back, tail between her legs, completely submissive due to being "told off" but wouldn't learn from it and would do exactly the same the next time. She was so independent and we couldn't do anthing with her, she just wasn't interested in anything about us.
Then literally one day it all suddenly clicked into place and she has been an angel since (well pretty much anyway!!!), I wouldn't have believed such a turnaround could happen so quickly if I hadn't experienced it for myself, so persevere and it will happen, it may just take some time unfortunately!
She is such a super dog, the most soft, sociable, happy, friendly, dog, and 98% of the time is completley well behaved

Have you taken Lottie to training classes, I have had dogs all my life and have done some low level obedience in the past, but always start off every dog with a few months of classes even if they will live as a family pet.

Hope this helps?

 

[Ravenwood]

I don't know a great deal about Spinones but the ones I have seen (mostly at the gundog scurries) have shown to be incredibly intelligent and very biddable.

Have you tried whistle training her? It is so easy, I use a 2/11 1/2 whistle with two pips for recall (one longer blast for stop). Just in your garden, call her name and blow two pips, praise and let her go again etc or use it to call her in for dinner. They very soon pick it up. I just find that they listen to a whistle - its seems to attract their attention quicker than just your voice which seems so easy to dismiss for some dogs with selective hearing

 

[lewis991]

Thank you for the advice it's really helpful. I am pleased to hear it just a phase, I tried shouting at her and that did nothing. Like you say very independent dog and Bluming stubborn! How long did the phase last with your dog?

I have to agree with you on their temperament, they are gorgeous dogs and very affectionate.

Whistle training is something I thought about but have yet to try it, maybe I will give it a go. Lottie did go to training classes from about 16weeks old we took her for a 6week training class which did help.

 

[Booboos]

I'm afraid she's being a teenager!!!

Your only real solution is the long line. I say this with reluctance because (as a fellow sufferer of the 'lost recall') the long line is very effective, but hard work and requires patience! Here's what to do: get a very long but very light weight long line, light enough that the dog forgets it is there. Leave it attached to the collar when you let the dog go and make sure it does not get tangled or pull the dog in any way - the dog should have complete freedom and should forget the line is there. When you recall her, if she comes back great, if not step on the line so that she can't go any further, walk on the line all the way to the dog, put two fingers under the collar, reverse with the dog back to where you were when you first called her, praise, treat and release. Repeat ad nauseum!!! You may need to keep this up for months, BUT it does work and you will get a reliable recall at the end as it teaches the dog that you have control even when she thinks she is free.

I would also work on the final part of the recall, i.e. two fingers under the collar to have control. Practice this on its own when you are at home so that she learns to accept it (some dogs don't like the restriction of the owner holding on to the collar and will only recall to a 'safe distance' where they can't actually be caught). Also try recall games, in a small enclosed area, two people take turns recalling and treating again and again.

Good luck!

 

[gunnergundog]

The Spinone are the clowns of the gundog world! You've just got to love them for it!

She's entering the terrible teenage stage and may just possibly be starting a season (it's a bit early, but is possible); consequently, hormones will be raging and the brain will not be working!

Sooo...............keep it simple. Ask for recall, reward and send her quickly on her way for the timebeing. Forget about the sit. Up the ante on the food rewards: hot warm sausage, liver pate, tripe, sardines in oil. She never gets any of these other than as a reward for recall.

She doesn't need feeding in a bowl everynight. She can quite easily skip one or two meals without starving. With recalcitrant teenagers I used to put their dinner in a bag and serve it as a reward for recall - no recall, no dinner. Dog soon learns!! You have to perservere!

Playing hide and seek is good too......but take her somewhere other than the beach - somewhere that is new to her...that will up the ante and left foot her too!

Keep your voice light and happy at all times. NEVER shout or growl at her when she comes back - no matter how long she has ignored you. If you shout at her then she will think you are shouting in response to her returning. She will not associate it with having ignored you. If she only comes within ten foot of you.......turn your back on her and run away from her as fast as you can. Also, drop to your knees and make high squeaking noises whilst pretending to inspect something fascinating on the ground. (Spinone are VERY curious!)

Don't always put the lead on her at the same time/place. Sometimes call her in , put her on the lead and then immediately let her off again. Use your brain to outwit her.

Try taking her to some gundog training classes and getting her obsessed on retrieving. This will stand you in good stead before she discovers her nose and becomes hunt obsessed.

The harness and long line already suggested will help you reinforce your cues when you are in an area when you are in doubt as to whether she will obey. Never ask her to recall if you think she will disobey. Take her back to training in the garden, then the cricket pitch, then slowly increase the ante in the places you take her to.

It's hard work, but worthwhile.

Good luck

 

[willhegofirst]

Hi we have two Spins, the youngest is 14 months and its only been the last 4-6weeks that she is returning when called most times, we still have the odd time involving ducks geese and the odd dog when she doesn't all Spins are food mad which helps but new friends are sometimes more of a attraction. Saying that they are very strong willed, the older one who is 6yrs this year can sometimes, particularly when she is in water not budge even for food. So time help, she is still young they can be very frustrating, keep giving her treats when she does come back, as others have said don't always put her back on a lead and try not to get angry with her they are very sensitive at this age, and if anything like our two will sulk when told off. Good luck I'm sure she will improve with age,

 

[Tillypup]

I pretty much echo what Gunnergundog says!!

We have 3 pointers and have certainly learned a bit about recall, and lack thereof!!

Remember as well, if you give a command, back it up, don't call her back, then have her ignore you so you give up on it. This point has lead us to some "merry chases" but, the dogs do now "know" if we give them a command we mean it, if we have to go and get them, they might get a bit of a "grrrr", well, a "whatdoyouthinkyou'redoing", but, if they do come back to us they are not told off, if they come straight back it will be a far more enthusiastic welcome though, if you see what I mean!!

Good luck with the teenage phase!

ps, my hubbie just loves spinones!!

 

[lewis991]

Thank you for all the useful and helpful replies. She is always reward upon return with a "high value" treat such as cheese, chicken, bacon etc, but as one comment on here as said she is often more interested playing with other dogs.

We have had her spayed, so hopefully she isn't hormonal lol.
I think with the beach she is over familiar with it, I often take her out in the car and over the downs, varying the route. We went out yesterday and she was a reformed dog until the end of the walk she was a bit stand off ish, I think this was due to another dog coming up behind me which I didn't see.

I often hide from her which works a treat, then reward her when she comes and gets me, yesterday I tried entertaining her with her favourite toy but she was more interested in sniffing and rolling in poo/mud or whatever!!!
When we had the stand off I walked away from her as suggested and this worked well. She was then tempted by the water I had for her, so whilst drinking I lightly got her collar and popped her on the lead!

Also I see what you mean by they are the clowns of the gundog world, it is entertaining.