Retriever running away on walk!

RedBern

Hi, we've a 3 year old retriever dog (Floyd) who, on his regular morning walks, is disappearing into the distance and leaving my husband behind! He hears OH calling him, looks over his shoulder and ... carries on running away. Husband getting fed up with having to walk him on a lead every day. He's tried running opposite way from Floyd, but dog doesn't follow. There was a !!!!! on heat recently and he was running in the general direction of the farm she's on, but she's not still on heat!! I'm thinking we have to go back to basics with him (the dog not the husband!!) but where to start? Floyd hasn't been neutered - and I would prefer not to have him done..... but if it would make a massive difference then - is that the answer??

Buddy_Banana

You need to do some recal training, you can buy a long training lead from your local pet store or Ebay (I got a 60 foot one there!!!!!)

Instead of regular walks try some training sessions for a couple of weeks... put him on the long line, let him run around and then call him in an exited voice!! ...not a frustrated one! ... when he looks at you stick your arms in the air and shout "GOOD BOY!!!!" ...even if he only looks at you and then carries on.... when he does eventually come back, encourage him on the way and make sure you have a fantastically tasty treat ready (even if you feel frusrated!!!)

Always make it positive to come back... also if you do try it without the lead... be patient and when he returns to you give loads of praise but then send him back off to play.
If you always put him back on the lead then there is no point going back to you, if you know what I mean!

I have a golden retriever too and he blanks me out when off the lead.... now I make sure I call him back way before we have to leave and I keep trating him with chunks of cheese when he comes back and then I say "Go and play!" and send him away again.... it has taken a bit of time but now he comes and goes when I call him cos he doesn't asociate me calling him with the end of the walk..

Hope this helps

Buddy_Banana

If you don't want to neuter him then it's up to you, but if there is a girl dog in season then you may aswell abandon recall as his hormones will be much stronger and more powerfull than any nice chunk of cheese!

Psykicpup

you might also like to try actually retrieving with him - thats 'fetch' -0sorry that was condesending, I didnt mean it that way! but maybe just being let off the lead is boring - how much more fun to get owner to run around & make excited noises
I would go for an enclosed space such as a small park or your garden until you know he will return- just in case I'm wrong lol

WeirdoMagnet

RedBern wrote: »

Floyd hasn't been neutered

I think that's your problem! A dog could have an almost perfect recall, but if the hormomes kick in, the 'obedience' can often deteriorate.

It's much kinder to neuter a dog - it'll prevent your dog thinking about reproducing, as he's doing now; it often eliminates other sexual behaviour (eg humping); and also prevents unwanted liitters of puppies. It also reduces the risk of some cancers. It's such a straightforward op, especially for boys, they're often back to normal a day or two later.

With your recall training, I would start inside, in your lounge, then move to another room, then the garden, then outside with no distraction, upping the ante gradually. Vary the reward (different treats/play/pat/good boy) to keep him interested, and use your best treats for the best recall. Don't call your dog when you know he won't come (when he's found a very interesting smell for example), as you will just be training him to ignore you. The long/linge line idea is good, but please use it with a harness rather than straight onto a collar - if your dog builds up speed then gets to the end of the long line, it can damage his neck and spine.

Like Psykicpup says, playing fetch, or playing hide and seek are all good ways of being more interesting to your dog too.

supermezzo

I too was going to advise re-doing your recall training around the house. It's a good place to start and establish a habit without as many exciting and distracting things to do instead.
Vary the treats so that he doesn't get bored with them and also, when he does come back, have a play after a treat and sometimes not - retrievers are very bright and need to be kept intellectually on their toes to get the best out of them.

foreign_correspondent

get him done, otherwise this will end up with him sooner or later finding a girl dog and ahem.. "getting it on" with her whilst your husband tries in vain to call the dog back... not a happy situation.

pulliptears

From another point of view...

I have a scottie and a westie that were attacked by an off lead dog a few years ago. Since then the scottie is very aggressive to any dog that approaches him as he is protecting the westie.

I keep both my dogs on leads at all times due to this. If your dog is running off and were to approach mine I would be in no doubt that my scottie would get aggressive and snap at your dog.

For your own dog's safety as well as others I agree he needs to be snipped, and until he is 100% trustworthy on recall please please continue to keep him on a lead.

Hoegaandit

Wow - really can't agree with the suggestions to castrate your dog - I nearly always run my (entire) male (42kg) dog off leash and have never had any problems. The basic suggestion to lose the negative associations with your dog returning (eg being put on lead or walk ending). Here is an eye contact game/training to try ...

http://www.shirleychong.com/keepers/archives/eye.txt

eira

Worth a try is recall via a dog whistle - sound carries much further than the human voice- a really fancy whistle with different tones costs about £12 and is worth its weight in gold. I got the idea from someone who trained gundogs ( not that mine was ever in to hunting or anything remotely of the ilk). Once the dog is trained it works like magic particularly with retrievers and similar breeds.

RedBern

Thanks for all your responses - I am reluctant to castrate him - he's got a lovely temperament already and is 'chilled' - apart from his running away act - and it does seem a shame! Will try to train him - starting with the eye contact game in the house ....