Recall when off lead - labradoodle not keen on returning

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Twiglet

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My parents have recently got a 10 month old chocolate labradoodle from a rescue charity. He's utterly lovely, and the most happy friendly dog to be around........BUT he is very typical of his 'breed' in that he is selectively very very deaf when off the lead. If he sees another dog, he will go, and no amount of calling will bring him back until he's good and ready.
I've been told that they have to walk off when this happens, so that they don't reinforce the message that the world revolves around Alfie-Doodle........however, he is so oblivious, that he's content to just lose whoever's walking him.
When he does return after being called, he's given a treat and praised. We've tried distracting him with a ball, and try and gain his attention before he runs, but he's quite inconsistent in that it'll work some times, and not others.

He attends training once a week, and his other skills are very good - he's incredibly intelligent.
He is still 'entire', so I imagine this is probably not helping.

So, any suggestions?!

This is the doodle in question:
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My Loki is still entire and is 16 months old now... at 10 months I am guessing he is right in the middle of a hormone surge - and to be honest you just have to keep being consistent while the hormones go mad - Loki was much better by a year - then amazing about 2 months ago
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It all just clicked into place...

I would practice recall at home - then in the garden - then in a small park or something - each time if he fails, go back a step. Eventually building up to a really busy park...

You also have to make yourself fun to come back to - I usually run the other way - play with toys etc (on my own looking like a nutter) - sometimes I hide from him (whilst still being able to see him).

You can also try a long line (like a lunge line) and keep him on that for a while - you can let him run off with it - then practice recall - makes it safer... I never bothered with this.

Loki's recall is now around 98%
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They are a bit of a pain at that age - I've noticed boys seem worse for this too...
 
I would just put a lot of practice in at home and then try out on walks where there aren't many people/dogs if possible.

You could have him castrated but I honestly don't think that would make a lot of difference, we had a German Wirehaired Pointer male and he used to just clear off, dogs or no dogs, and we had him castrated (other reasons too) and he still cleared off. I have Jack Russells too and my male was used at stud twice, he runs off with other dogs too, even after he was castrated (wouldn't stop scent marking in the house!) he still runs off, he just doesn't scent mark inside any more!

I can vouch for clicker training, perhaps you could try this too?

Sorry can't really help as I run 4 dogs together and if one turns back the others generally do
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I would, as the others have said, keep at it and remain consistent. Don't treat him with food every time--use a toy or lots of praise--to keep him guessing, and when you do use food, make sure it's something unmissable, like chicken or cheese.

Your story made me giggle a bit. At the old park we used to go to, there was a Labradoodle with shocking recall. Tallulah's owner could often be heard, screeching in a thick NY accent, "Tallooolah, you wanna cookie?" A request Tallulah completely ignored.
 
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I would, as the others have said, keep at it and remain consistent. Don't treat him with food every time--use a toy or lots of praise--to keep him guessing, and when you do use food, make sure it's something unmissable, like chicken or cheese.

Your story made me giggle a bit. At the old park we used to go to, there was a Labradoodle with shocking recall. Tallulah's owner could often be heard, screeching in a thick NY accent, "Tallooolah, you wanna cookie?" A request Tallulah completely ignored.

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I think it's very common - they are notoriously naughty!! In a very sweet way though, that you can't be angry at them.
On Friday Doodle decided to take off with a herd of deer whilst I was walking him.......I was heard to be screaming 'DOOOOOODLE' at the top of my lungs for about 20 minutes. I think people think it was part of some bizarre toilet training for my imaginary pet!
 
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More training. And have him cut unless you intend to breed from him.

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Can't have him cut as he currently has a poor tummy - legacy of being a rescue I think - and vets won't operate until he's better.
 
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Ah well the sooner thats done the better.

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Disagree - but would be boring if we all agreed
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Of course is a personal (and sometimes veterinary or behavioural) choice. but it is not nescessary to neuter a male dog if you are able to manage him. I think is different for female dogs - there are clear health benefits and is much harder to walk a bitch in season - thean an un-castrated male.

Anyway - didn't want to start a debate. but I don't think he needs to be neutered - and if you do plan to do that - you should at least wait till he is 16 -18 months and the hormones are all settled down.
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He looks a lot like a labradoodle a friend of mine has, a bitch though. Friend had major recall problems with her dog and so we talked through what I do with mine. It turned out that her dog was treated like the 'top dog' in the house, fed before every one else breakfast and evening meal , let out through doors first, greeted by everyone when coming into the house etc. etc. So basically it thought it was above everyone in the pecking order.

Friend changed the order of things in her house - meals, doors and so on - and the dog now comes back to her without a problem. Its been a revelation to her. So I would check what your parents are doing and see if that helps.
 
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Ah well the sooner thats done the better.

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Disagree - but would be boring if we all agreed
tongue.gif


Of course is a personal (and sometimes veterinary or behavioural) choice. but it is not nescessary to neuter a male dog if you are able to manage him. I think is different for female dogs - there are clear health benefits and is much harder to walk a bitch in season - thean an un-castrated male.

Anyway - didn't want to start a debate. but I don't think he needs to be neutered - and if you do plan to do that - you should at least wait till he is 16 -18 months and the hormones are all settled down.
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I though it was fact that a neutered male dog had less desire to roam off?
 
Decrease in the desire to roam. Non-neutered male dogs can smell a female in heat up to a five mile radius and they will do just about anything to get to that female.

That was taken from a website I found
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We kept one of our labs uncut. He was grand, didn't roam, but recall was non existent. Stubborn old b*stard that he was
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Well Loki never 'roams' - maybe depends on the dog...

we met a bitch on heat in the park the other day (I was v. cross with owner for walking an on heat bitch in the park anyway..) and while he was interested - he came back to me ok and didn't run off after it...

as echodomino says - neutering doesn't always solve the problem tho!

I do think it would be worth waiting for his hormones settle down - before getting him neutered though. That way you give them a chance to mellow out and finish growing first
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What a good boy Loki is!
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Maybe he hasn't quite figured out what to do with the ladies yet
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Our vet always advised to let your dog fully mature before getting him neutered, but if you unsure speak to your vet first.
 
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He looks a lot like a labradoodle a friend of mine has, a bitch though. Friend had major recall problems with her dog and so we talked through what I do with mine. It turned out that her dog was treated like the 'top dog' in the house, fed before every one else breakfast and evening meal , let out through doors first, greeted by everyone when coming into the house etc. etc. So basically it thought it was above everyone in the pecking order.

Friend changed the order of things in her house - meals, doors and so on - and the dog now comes back to her without a problem. Its been a revelation to her. So I would check what your parents are doing and see if that helps.

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Indeed, I think it may be part of the problem, although they are aware of it. He isn't spoiled - never allowed on furniture or upstairs, is never fed from table or hand etc - but people do tend to make a massive fuss of him. He's such a friendly dog, everyone who comes in the house wants to say hello to him.

Which is why I think walking off works - he needs to know that people aren't there to chase after him, and he has to follow.

I think they might try agility with him too - needs something to focus that enormous brain of his!

I looked on the labradoodle forums yesterday - apparently this is an incredibly common problem with doodles.....
 
i have a flat coat (intact) even the best trainers in the world can have this problem, what i did with diesel was start in a secure area let him go within ten feet of you then run the other way calling him excited in a high voice and making silly noises to make him look at you, the most important thing is to make yourself more interesting than anything else, and not worry about how daft you may look in any training its important to stay calm, positive and use your voice oh and don't give treats all the time as he will end up only working for treats,your better off telling him good and stroking his head hope this helps, if not put him on a long training line as soon as he his far enough give a tug and do as above
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Labradoodles are great, he looks absolutely lovely!

In an open space, away from home I would keep him on a lead, or long lead until he learns recall, otherwise he is learning that when you recall it is OK to ignore you. Moving away from the dog when he ignores you works really well with most young puppies as they have a small 'security circle' and will panic if you abandon them, but is less likely to work with older dogs which are more confident.

I would try two things:
At home, or in an enclosed space, play recall. Two people stand at two different ends of the garden (try a small distance at first) and take turns calling him, giving him treats/praise when he comes. Repear often to associate the words "Doodle Come" with being right by your side. When he comes it's a good idea to get him used to you putting a couple of fingers under his collar, treat/pet and release. This gives you control with the recall, and not merely a dog who runs up, takes the treat and runs off. In time you can teach him that after the recall he has to stay with you until you release him.

Away from home, in a larger area, attach a long washing line to his collar. It has to be long and light so that he forgets it is there but you still have one end when he goes away. Call him as normal, if he ignores you, say nothing, but step on the line and walk down the line stepping on it all the way. When you get to the dog, gently take him by the collar and reverse back to where you were initially, there treat/praise and release. Because they forget about the line, this exercise makes them think that you have amazing control over them - when you recall and the dog doesn't come back, you can still do something about it (which is the biggest game with recall, the dog either forgets you are there and ignores you or thinks it's a really fun game to make you chase him). It works quite well if you have the patience to do it, but you need a big, clear area so that the line does not get tangled anywhere (especially around other dogs!).

Good luck!
 
You say they recently got him from a rescue -I'm not sure how recent that is but he may not have bonded with them very well yet. Dogs can be charming and friendly but still not quite be of your 'pack' if they've been through the upheaval of rescue. Until his recall improves I'd only let him off lead in very controlled situations, or all you are doing is reinforcing the message that he is independant of you and doesn't need to come back.
 
He is just plain naughty! Sorry - I have one the same. Retriever x Boxer bitch; now cannot be let off the lead at all as someone has slapped a dual carriageway two fields away from the house, and it runs through the fields where we walk her. I have had many dogs, and she is the only one who will respond to no training whatsoever. We even had the dog trainer who runs the classes we took her to up here for a one-to-one session, and she couldn't do anything with her. We borrowed an electric training collar, which we only had to use once. She is not stupid, just cunning. The impact of the collar worked for a good few months, she came back reliably. Then she worked out that she could get further and further away and nothing happened, and started clearing off for hours at a time. Believe me, when I say we have tried everything, we have tried everything! I don't know whether to try the electric collar again, or just condemn her to a lifetime of walks on the lead, but she ignores both calling and the whistle. In fact, she doesn't ignore them totally - she lifts her head, looks round then heads off! She stays out for several hours, but I am worried she will get onto the new road and cause an accident. Just can't take that risk.
 
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