Recall issues

Raksha

When you start using a long line, don't allow the dog to go all the way (infact, I prefer never to allow the dog the full length of the line), recall them before they get to the end, and reward profusely when they come back. I think by allowing him to go so far at this stage, he's learning he can get so far away you can't do anything about it.

I think some posters may be concerned about an uncastrated male dog roaming loose. Remember - if he's not coming back, he could be technically 'out of control in a public place'...

foreign_correspondent

If you do not always know where he is, I think it is imperative to get him castrated - anyone walking a b1tch in heat would have good cause to be less than happy if your dog appears, with no owner in sight, and shows interest!

Raggs_2

I know if I attempt to recall him too often on a walk, he gets bored of it, and only becomes less likely to return, regardless of my incentive. Which is why I am now working on slowly reintroducing his name as a very rewarding and attention grabbing call.

He is a very well behaved dog, will stay out of peoples way, unless they beckon him, will go upto other dogs, if they aren't interested in playing, will leave them be. Or will ignore them completely if I have a stick and stay exciting.

I understand peoples concerns about him not being castrated, and even just wandering so far, but I'm not in the UK, and where he wanders is either in an area with a lot of other intact dogs, or up a mountain, where he's more interested in chasing rodents and smelling pigs (and enjoying a taste of their droppings).

Anyone walking a !!!!! in heat in a public area, with a lot of dog walkers, in the place where a lot of male dogs are intact, is doing themselves a disservice.

He is very independent, and I do not intend to take that from him (nor could I). I am happy for him to wander such distances, as long as I make no attempt to call him. It's the calling part that I need to work on, and seem to be making small inroads too.

elsien

My brothers black lab had a similar independent streak - he'd recall if he was within a certain proximity to you or wasn't "on rabbit", but would be off over the brow of the nearest hill (the wilds of Cumbria) or jump over the garden wall and vanish for hours at a time.
He was also very well behaved around dogs and people, and didn't go around mounting all and sundry, but in the end the wandering got too much and they had him castrated. Made more difference than they expected, so I wouldn't rule it out completely.

Raggs_2

It's definitely something that will be kept in mind (and always has been, for a variety of possibilities), but I'd rather try and work through it with other methods first.

How did the castration make a difference? As in, did he just wander less, or was he less active, and thus less wandering?

gettingready

Raggs wrote: »

Anyone walking a !!!!! in heat in a public area, with a lot of dog walkers, in the place where a lot of male dogs are intact, is doing themselves a disservice.

Upssssssssssssssss - having really enjoyed the lightness of your posts so far ..... this one is not to my personal liking.....


If a responsible owner walks hi b1tch in heat ON A LEAD - public place or not.. he or she has every right to be very upset with an unneutered dog running up to that !!!!!...

Then again saying that - if someone has a nonneuterd b1tch that you have every right to have an unneutered dog... But both should be on a lead IMHO :A

foreign_correspondent

hmm - you do not know how he will react if he comes across a b1tch in season to be honest. Hormones and the need to mate are the basis of some of the strongest biological instincts though.

I have had to walk b1tches on heat on a lead before now - whilst I try and avoid areas where there are likely to be off lead dogs, I think if your dog is unneutered you have a similar responsibility to keep him under close control - which clearly is not possible at the moment.

Someone I know ended up with an off lead dog unexpectedly mating their b1tch who was on lead - the young lad walking her was most distressed by it, and did not know what to do for the best...

elsien

Raggs wrote: »

How did the castration make a difference? As in, did he just wander less, or was he less active, and thus less wandering?

Possibly very slightly less active but mainly it turned him into more of a home body as in he stays in the garden when he's meant to instead off being off in the fields for hours at a time. He's also more likely to come back when called from longer distances although this could be them making more effort with the training as well. Recall can still be an issue but he's generally back within 10 minutes instead of a couple of hours.