Teaching my naughty dogs to come back

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horsegirl

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On the lead or long lines they come back every time they are called but as soon as I let them off they vanish in to the distance. If they don't get to far then they do come back but if anything catches their eyes they are gone. How do I teach them to be more obedient?
 
if you've got anywhere you can let them off securely (well fenced field or such like) let them off and let them have a good half hour or so just running round to get rid of energy, its probably an excitement issue about being let off the lead at last. the more they get used to it the better they will be!
 
I have always found it easy to train my dogs to recall but I think this is luck as I was young when my dogs were at that age and I doubt my mother trained them!
The best thing is their favourite treat, make them think that coming back to you is so great that they get a big treat from it. Keep this up until you can call them back without a treat, but I would always keep something with you just incase.
Well done for looking into this, so many people dont realise how important the recall is. xx
 
They are westies, I have made the mistake of letting them both off together and then we spent 2 hours trecking through the woods looking for them!! Now I only let them off 1 at a time and keep the other on the lead as they just encourage each other to run away. I take dairylea strups which they LOVE as a reward when they come back. If they are just wandering around them they will come when called but as soon as something attracts them, another dog or a rabbit they are off. You are right I need to find somewhere enclosed where I can see them and I know they can't escape.
 
Well that's terriers for you, nothing short of a meteor strike would deflect their attention from a squirrel or a bird! I wish I knew the answer.

Other breeds, no problem. Terriers
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[ QUOTE ]
Well that's terriers for you, nothing short of a meteor strike would deflect their attention from a squirrel or a bird! I wish I knew the answer.

Other breeds, no problem. Terriers
frown.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

Have to agree with you there! Ive got a scottish terrier and he's just as bad!! Ive given up now!
 
I had one setter I never really succeeded with. Did lots of recall with clicker and little bits of sausage as reward. The thing that worked best though was the Masterplus collar (I think it's still called that). It sprays a harmless liquid in their faces when you press a remote. The trick is not to let them get too far away and not to use it so often that they get used to it, Otherwise, I used to walk my setters one on the lead, one off, then swap them over - no problems then.
 
My westiexjrt is exactly the same, i call it selective hearing, its so frustrating, i love to see him off his lead but he always disappears and wont come back. LOl
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I had the same trouble with my whippet pup (i think there is a post about it some way back). She was a proper 'explorer' and my older dog is a devil for following and when they got together they'd both vanish.

I did a lot of work on establishing myself as pack leader - mostly with the pup as she is the ring leader of the running off game - both in the house and on walks. I also did a lot of recal when things weren't exciting, particularly at the yard I would call her back every time she left my sight. Mostly I just did training with her in the house though.

It has really helped - as has developing a whistle that can be heard over 3 fields
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- although the 2 dogs will vanish over the horizon, the pup will come straight back if I whistle now. She is also the most devoted girl at home which is cute
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It did take a while though and some effort to teach her that I was the leader of the pack and not just some slow irritant that was best left behind! I guess it would be harder still with terriers due to their strong minded nature - this is one of the reasons I wouldn't own a terrier, I don't think I am tough enough to be the leader of a terrier pack. Just thought this might help a bit though and give you some ideas.
 
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