Well my dogs definitely had their 45 mins tonight... in fact

[FestiveSpirit]

it felt like a LOT longer thanks to Islay, who shall henceforth be called That Bloody Black Thing

After playing horsies with Zalacca this afternoon I took my two on their usual walk tonight - on the lead through the shoot wood, then turned left up the bridleway. Flick went off the lead at that point, then we went through the gate into the next field and TBBT got let off too. At that point the bridlepath goes down the side of a field of asparagus, and is fenced off from the main field with rabbit wire.

As soon as she was off the lead TBBT trotted faster and faster into the distance, with Flick in hot pursuit, ignoring my calls. They found a huge gap in the rabbit wire and went through into the asparagus after bunnies - I wasnt that bothered as they werent causing damage, just running up and down between the rows.

We all caught up with each other at the gate into the next field (which was standing open) and I called them back again. Cue TBBT completely ignoring me and disapearing at a fast rate of knots across the field and up the hill

The field was the one I had identified to let her off in, as there is no stock around and the field is pasture used for moto cross over the winter, but I had anticipated a nice stroll along the bridlepath whilst the dogs gambolled happily around me in circles

Flick was absolutely torn between wanting to come back to me, and following TBBT into the distance, until TBBT completely vanished out of sight

Flick then dithered and dithered about coming back, until at last TBBT graced us with her presence again by coming down the hill like the cavalry and skipping up to me like nothing had happened

I was very restrained and merely put them on the lead (telling Flick she was a good girl) and left them on the lead all the way back to the car. But now I am really not sure what to do with TBBT - at this rate she will never be let off the lead again

Has anyone used a lunge line for recall training, and does it work? And has anyone any suggestions for recall training a dog which is so absolutely set on hunting that it ignores me completely

Sorry its so long

 

[CorvusCorax]

Lunge line worked a treat for me. This time last year I wondered if I would ever be able to let B off the lead but now he is doing brilliantly, the only place I put him on a lead is when I know there will be people, dogs or loose sheep about.
(He is people friendly, too friendly in fact, that is the problem!)

Lunge lines replicate off-lead exercise but you have something to hang onto if they do tank off. A harness might be better than a collar to prevent lead getting stuck under elbows etc.

Eventually you will be able to let the lead trail along the ground and in the end, stop using it completely.

The way I used it was to call him back pretty often, keeping my voice very positive and playful and not using his name, his call command is 'Puppeeee, cooome!'.
I sometimes jogged backwards, waved my arms, crouched down - to make him think that coming back to me was so fun and exciting!
Then on his return, praise cuddles and a treat.
Like I say, after a while, the lead was allowed to drag along the ground, and I could stand on it in an emergency.
Then phased it out completely when he would return to me on call, with no silly acting from me or treats, now he gets 'good fella' and a pat.

You will end up looking like a berk for a while until it is sorted, but it is worth it for a dog which will come back.
I managed to call him back from three hares over the past fortnight - this is a very prey-driven dog so I am very proud of how he has come on.

Give it a go, it won't do any harm!

 

[FestiveSpirit]

Believe me, I aint remotely bothered about looking like even more of an idiot if I can have a dog which comes back

She never used to be like this - when I got her then Talisker was 'top dog' so she never tried it on, but as soon as I lost Tal and she became 'top dog' then she thought she could get away with it

I'm going to get some little treats for them and go back to basics, this is getting ridiculous really - I'm sure Bob wont mind giving up his lunge line for a while (since he never gets lunged anyway

)

The one thought I did have was - is Islay going to think she is still on the lead with the lunge line on? She only does her "heading off into the distance" routine when I let her off?

 

[CorvusCorax]

B 'thought' he was off the lead but knew he couldn't go further than a certain length to begin with.
When the lead started trailing along, he pretty much WAS off the lead.
I would start in an enclosed area to begin with.

I'd actually buy a cheap one, they do get a bit trashed dragging along the ground.

And no matter how angry you might feel, always stay 'up' - I wanted to batter the little sod on Wednesday night (hare #3) but I made a huge fuss, because despite the temptation, he did come back and I had to reward him.

**PS I have never battered a dog, although I have felt like it on occasion**

 

[FestiveSpirit]

I know exactly how you feel, I wanted to batter Islay tonight too but remained jovial and positive with them albeit through slightly gritted teeth

Sorry to be asking loads of questions, but what sort of enclosed area did you use? I can sometimes use the stallion paddock at the yard (if the stallion isnt in it

) but Islay just doesnt behave the same in there - she is very responsive, and comes tootling back over to me with no problems? It seems that it is only when she gets into different terrain (I suppose with bunnies etc around) that she ignores me

But have to say ha ha, both dogs are absolutely shattered tonight

I have one either side of me on the sofa absolutely flat out

 

[kirstyhen]

Otto was so set on hunting when we got him absolutely nothing would get through to him, I thought he would have to stay on the lead forever as it really was a case of rugby tackling him to get him back once he was off!

The lunge line was brilliant for getting his focus shifted (very slightly) on to me. Nothing to add to what CC has already said though.

He still has moments though!

I find, with him, walking in fields is pretty much asking for trouble, the same with anywhere he has a big field of vision, although with him (not being a sighthound and all

) if there is LOTS of scent he will work reletively close, although I'm screwed if something gets up in front of him.


I can highly recommend natures:menu Chicken Treats, they are the only thing Otto finds appealing when we are out walking, handy little pieces in a handy little resealable bag!

 

[CorvusCorax]

Sorry, was at the offy

We have a crappy old field that we used and if we are stuck I would have asked the farmer who we bought the house off, he breeds champion blackfaces and his fencing is top notch.
When the sheep were in, not while they were in the field, obviously!

Once he got better, we went to areas of the woods which had good visibility and I knew from experience wouldn't have any beasties hiding in wait

I still never let him off in areas where I can't see around the corner or where he hasn't been before.
If he goes off into the trees I keep him in my line of vision and call him back every few minutes to keep him aware that I want him close.

Then getting braver and braver from there.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Oh and I use cooked chicken, chorizo or cheese.
Don't use what they normally eat at mealtimes, that is boring to them.

 

[FestiveSpirit]

[ QUOTE ]
Sorry, was at the offy

[/ QUOTE ]

PMSL

And here was me thinking you were eating tea or something

Hmmmm I can see this might be a long haul with TBBT - I would feel more kindly towards her if she was actually going after something but she isnt, she is just looking for the chance

Thanks for the snack tip Henmeister, but mine are obssessed with Pedigree Smackos (prob very very very unhealthy!) so I shall be using those as a sure-fire winner

 

[kirstyhen]

I got told off for the things I tried to tempt Otto with, but if they had worked I really didn't care what they did to his insides

It just so happens he likes the "healthy" ones, little freak dog, he obviously reads the packaging

 

[CorvusCorax]

Is there any way you can get it out of her before you leave?
Or play with her while you are out?

Could you get a bit of rope and tie it to a toy and swoosh it around for her to chase and grab? I say on a rope so that it looks like it is moving independently, that it isn't obvious that you are doing it.
One she has had fun, tell her to leave it and if possible get it out of her mouth or (As Shellfish advised last week) to give her a treat in return for her giving it up, if she isn't prepared to give it to you easily .
Praise her heaps when she gives it up.

I do it with B - I tie a ball on a rope onto the end of a slip lead, or clip the g-clip of a lead onto it and whizz it around.
When I say 'leave' he should come off it and I am hoping I will be able to introduce 'leave' the next time he decides to chase something

 

[MurphysMinder]

Lunge line worked for Evie, she is so much better on her recalls. Walked across recently cut field today, lots of exciting smells but she came back to me each time I called, quick treat, fuss and away again. Going to whisper here, but I use Bakers meaty meals as treats, a tip given to me by a friend who does working trials. Gawd knows what they put in it but Evie goes mad for it, and she only has a tiny amount so not like I'm feeding her it all the time. Previously I used frankfurters which prob have as much rubbish in them

I'll now wait the telling off from Cala for mentioning the B word.

 

[FestiveSpirit]

Thats the odd thing CC, at home she is completely lazy and wont do anything

Very occasionally she will run around the garden with Flick, but that is rare. She wont play with me and she wont play with toys - when I started off letting Flick off the lead I bought one of those balls on a rope, Flick loves it and chases it with gusto, Islay ignores it

Maybe I shall resort to falconry techniques - a dummy rabbit on a lead as a 'lure' for her to chase

 

[CorvusCorax]

WHAT? Has she got any hair left?

I used to use frankfurters as well, but the temptation to scoff them myself got too much

 

[MurphysMinder]

At this current moment not much hair no, finished moulting couple of weeks ago, suspect she will be in season soon. I can resist frankfurters, but when I used cheese used to have the odd nibble, though put me off when I found a forgotten piece in my pocket, it was a tad high

 

[FestiveSpirit]

Ha Ha MM I used to be into falconry and once found a piece of day old chick which I had overlooked in my falconry bag - now THAT was high

 

[CorvusCorax]

Moulting? Are you SURE it isn't the Bakers making her hair come out?


Splotch, B wouldn't play with anything when we got him. I was told to use the toy, act really excited about it, almost hide it from him and tease him with it, when the dog wouldn't play, take it away and put him away.
He got to thinking that this toy thing must be pretty special if I kept taking him away from it and taking it away from him, now he is mad for it.

 

[MurphysMinder]

Well I suppose it could be

If it doesn't start growing again I will know what to blame. Her other, real favourite treat is liver, but that is reserved for very special occasions, like bribery to get decent heel work for her Good citizens Gold

Trouble is I cook it up and put it in the freezer and then forget to get it out to defrost before going training.

 

[FestiveSpirit]

LMAO at you GSD people swapping moulting notes here

Cant resist it though CC

(STRICTLY tounge in cheek) - this IS a greyhound we are talking about here, they are a superior kind of dog who generally consider toys and suchlike beneath them

Tis only common yobbish greyhounds like Flick who play with them, classier snooty greyhounds like Islay just dont want to be so... well.... vulgar

Not like those GSD types you know

 

[CorvusCorax]

Haha, I can see her face...'kindly stop waving that piece of cheap, inferior tat in my face and stop acting like a lunatic, woman. Now, bring forth my dinner. I'll be having the fillet steak tonight'.

B is a total yob

great description for him. And we GSD people are experts in moulting, indeed I have often thought of starting a mattress-stuffing business,
If MM keeps feeing Evie Bakers treats then I can open a Shropshire branch

 

[FestiveSpirit]

Wow, you have got Islay exactly right there, that is her attitude down to a T

Little madam, I cannot believe she is such a pain on walks when she is so smug the rest of the time

Operation Lunge Line will commence on Monday (going eventing tomorrow so they will definitely be on the lead ALL the time

) and I shall report progress in due course

LOL about the mattress stuffing idea, my fluffy lurcher used to be good for that - we had wooden floorboards and no carpets, so we used to have 'tumblefluff' if we werent careful

 

[CorvusCorax]

Cool, keep us posted x

 

[MurphysMinder]

I'll let you know when she is bald enough for the Shropshire branch to start trading.

We have quarry tiles Splotchy so I have plenty of experience of tumblefluff

I have a Vax cyclone vaccum that seems toblow the darn stuff everywhere.

 

[Cop-Pop]

I think you should try bungee cord...

 

[Oneofthepack]

Aaaah, that brings back memories of standing under trees in the pouring rain waiting for my 'TFBT' (a different expletive and BROWN in my case) to honour me with his presence once again. He even turned himself in to the local Post Office once as he couldn't find me.

As I've posted before ALL my training went unheeded and we had to resort to an electric collar in the end as he was getting in a world of trouble with the gamekeeper

Not nice I know but it worked so quickly and effectively and without any of the problems others have posted about previously that I can't recommend it enough

 

[Spudlet]

Wear your riding gloves!!!

Or your hands might get skinned if she takes off!

PMSL at Cave-Canems (can't get used to calling you that woman) of greyhounds confronted with toys

 

[FestiveSpirit]

[ QUOTE ]
Aaaah, that brings back memories of standing under trees in the pouring rain waiting for my 'TFBT' (a different expletive and BROWN in my case) to honour me with his presence once again. He even turned himself in to the local Post Office once as he couldn't find me.

As I've posted before ALL my training went unheeded and we had to resort to an electric collar in the end as he was getting in a world of trouble with the gamekeeper

Not nice I know but it worked so quickly and effectively and without any of the problems others have posted about previously that I can't recommend it enough

[/ QUOTE ]

Hmmmm - would it be unkind to try that straight away

If there is one thing I hate it is greyhounds/lurchers with that 'I-am-on-a-mission-and-I-cannot-hear-you-at-all" mentality

(well, I know they all get it sometimes, but TBBT gets it more than she should

)