Well, I tried recall with a major distraction....

[Demolition_Derby]

.... and it failed miserably!

Thank you to everyone who commented last night - there were loads of really helpful tips

.

I took Ruby to my friends house last night who has a 7month Dalmation. We let them play for a bit (very very roughly

) then I tried to call her - the first time she looked at me like 'yeah, you're over there - so what?'

then carried on playing. I tried several things, walking/jogging away (backwards too!), rolling on the floor (this amused my friend greatly

), stamping my feet, clapping my hands, clicking (like you do to a horse), tapped my hands (I have rings on) against something metal so it made a funny noise and NOTHING worked. She completely ignored me

. I had to physically go and pick her up. So, we are lot worse at this than I thought we would be

.

So now I have another question (I'm really sorry

) what do I do when she ignores me? Help me please

!!!!

 

[sloulou]

Poor you - they do do this tho

Go back a stage - get recall 100% in the house - then the garden - keep reinforcing your commands basically - then try again it a harder situation.

Then again - maybe don't call her when she right in the middle of a game - you are sort of setting yourself up to fail - pick your moment - maybe she stops for a minute or glances at you. I know you want recall in every situation - but I think you might have pushed it a bit early there!

That way you don't lose your command. (cos once they know the can ignore it - they will!).

As in what do you do? Well sounds like you did the right things to me - personally i go and collect mine in silence if he really blanks me and no other tactic has worked, because you don't want to keep using a failed command - then do some command whist on lead - to get him listening again. To be fair - he hasn't really been bad since he was little - but he certainly had his moments as a teenager!

Am sure others will have excellent advice too

 

[Demolition_Derby]

I know I was pushing it a bit too far but she had been SO good in my house/garden and come even when she was playing, but I do understand that Lottie was MUCH more fun than little ol' me

!! Even when she stopped (got told off ALOT and each time she sat down and reflected on what she had done which was really good

) I called her and she just went tearing back to Lottie, pouncing on her!

I guess I should of expected it - its the first time she has properly played with another dog and she was loving it.

Edited to clarify - she got told off by the other dog - not me!

 

[Ravenwood]

Try not to put yourself in situations where you are bound to fail - it really won't help and just get you more frustrated. As suggested, go back to practising recall without any distractions just to reinforce it. Do you use a whistle?

 

[CorvusCorax]

As above, she is still really ickle, loads of times to go back to basics and introduce distractions gradually.

Not two hares breaking at the same time, in opposite directions, preferably (see, we've all been there.... )

 

[Rafferoo]

If it is any consolation when I took my dog to puppy training classes I was the only one that failed the re-call test on our second session. All the other dogs bounded over to their owners whilst mine busily ignored me and went round sniffing bottoms instead.

She usually deigns to come back to me these days although we still have re-call failure at the most embarrassing moments - usually when there is a large audience. I feel your pain.

 

[MurphysMinder]

My pup is 9 months old and I still wouldn't trust her recall with serious distractions. She is fine at training and in the garden and our field, but I would not be happy to let her off elsewhere so she stays on her long line. Sounds like the lure of a new playmate was just too much for your pup