New rescue - off lead walks, lack of focus...

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Millie is settling in nicely and getting on fine with the others, and this weekend she has had her first walks off the lead. Her first off-lead walk was in the most enclosed field we could find, she had a lovely time doing zoomies and came back for food treats copying what the other 3 were doing.

Today was slightly more hair-raising as I walked her through the woods (one of our usual walks) and suddenly there were a million things more interesting than me or food treats! She shot off into the undergrowth after every rustle or noise, and she wasn't interested in coming back for food at all - although of course I praised her loads when she did come back. I resorted to using my best training technique - Amy greyhound - who has 100% recall and was very happy to eat the treats Millie wasn't interested in :D luckily Millie always came racing back after Amy to find out what was going on.

At one point I also did a 180 degree turn and walked back the way we had come to encourage Millie to follow the other dogs - which she duly did.

I've gone through this with a lot of rescues but I don't think I've had one before that has been so excited and interested in life - it is all such fun! I know she is only young still, and I know she will settle when these things become more 'usual' for her but has anyone found any good techniques for getting a young excited dog to focus? When she gets like this she doesn't acknowledge toys or treats which would be my usual course of action
 
There are some toys made out of real rabbit fur. If she's a hunter maybe use one of these just for recall training. Make it a very special toy that she only gets to play with when she comes back to you.
 
I take the squeaks out of toys so I can put them in my pocket and swueak then reward with whatever I use without having to haul around a giant fluffy squeak
 
Get the Spacehopper toy. It's amazing.

I got one for a friend's pup and he put it in the cupboard after an hour and never took it out again (5 years ago) and he didn't speak to me for a couple of days. So you can imagine how appallingly squeaky it is.
 
SusieT said:
I take the squeaks out of toys so I can put them in my pocket and swueak then reward with whatever I use without having to haul around a giant fluffy squeak
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Zak does this for us, along with all the stuffing. We currently have a duck call honk thing. It's brilliant.

The rabbit covered tennis ball is Zak's most favouritest toy ever. Dangling that makes him very attentive, but on woods walks, I prefer the three sharp blasts on a whistle to recall (not Zak, he's not off lead in the woods).
 
Set the dog up to practice the behaviour you want long term, that means not allowing unwanted behaviours to be rehearsed.
Only let her off lead where you know she will be attentive and practice delivering amazing consequences to the desired behaviours.
Keep her on lead in areas you are not sure about.
If you call and she does not come back promptly you are diluting your recall and potentially diluting all recalls.
 
I'm also struggling with my collie rescue who I've had for about 5 months
The problem is she will be spot on for days and then suddenly decide to dissapear at the farm where my horses are when I'm not watching for just a minute. She re-appears within 20 minutes but obviously it is not good

She loves fetch- but then she will sometimes wonder off with the ball!

I think she knows where I am so doesn't worry!
 
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