Generally speaking my 2 year old retrievers are well behaved and obedient, but recently, I'm having a little trouble with them: When I take them to our usual park and let them off the lead they bolt to a particular place (at the far end of the park I might add) and there is nothing I can do to get them to come back. Any ideas/thoughts on the cause and a solution?

POSTED IN THE WRONG FORUM AGAIN – DAMN

Could write a bit…. but this is very very useful
http://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Your-Dogs-Best-Friend/dp/0316610003/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264430336&sr=8-3

Boys? B*tch piss I'll wager

Woody, yeah thats what I figured. How to break the habit is the problem. Seems a bit extremme to cut their b*ll*cks off but the vet suggested thats what I do.

I dont believe thats whats needed, and does not always work, a local dog here with no balls has a go at every thing. As per woody, poss a bitch on heat. Def try some other locations for a bit, take treats and call them back often with a reward most of the time, if they dont obey straight on the lead for some staying to heal for a while. Also consider whilst in re-training phase for some long leads ie 20ft or so

if you are not breeding from them, get them chopped.

Fox Piss/soiling
or
Prostitutes body? 😯

Is there a doggy jazz mag in the bushes?

A woman who used to live near me used to train dogs for the blind. She would take them to a beach and walk up and down all day long with the dog off the lead walking to heal. When the dog saw something and wanted to run over to see what it was, she would throw a bean bag close to it. This would break the dogs concentration and give her time to call it back. She said she would do this all day until the dog gave up wanting to run away.

Its a long day as you cant give up!!

Cutting their nuts off makes no difference at all, my parents did it to my old Border T and he still buggered off.

It'll be something that smells good, bitch in heat or food. Just keep them on the lead until it goes.

Can I add? Don't call them if you know they won't come back – you'll train them to ignore you. Walk over, put them on the lead and get them back to where you want them to be.

i didnt say cutting off nuts will prevent them legging it, but it will prevent them shagging about and you dont have them under control it seems.

WRT lopping balls off I reckon there is a time limit within which it makes a difference, but after which it makes no difference as the behavior is learnt.

People seem to leave it as a last resort and then wonder why it makes no difference. As said above, if your never going to let them have a sh@g why leave their balls there making them want a sh@g?

Exactly my point Soobalias.

Lucas as it's pointless cutting them off.

I've been thinking about getting them "sorted" anyway. It seems cruel not to but as they were no trouble, I didn't bother.

SOOBalias, I was pretty sure I had them under control as I have had no trouble with them before. But fair point.

WRT lopping balls off I reckon there is a time limit within which it makes a difference, but after which it makes no difference as the behavior is learnt.

People seem to leave it as a last resort and then wonder why it makes no difference. As said above, if your never going to let them have a sh@g why leave their balls there making them want a sh@g?

I thought that research in the States concluded that 99% of dogs which had been neutered where better after the procedure than before (more obedient/responsive and generally content). However 99% of dog owners seem to think they own the 1%.

Personally my dog has been done, he would never have been bred from, so he didn't/doesn't need those additional hassles. Even though he is in the 1% who wouldn't benefit from it 😉

Also consider lopping them off for health reasons, they can't trouble the dog if they aint there!

Sausages in your pocket… 😀

Works every time for my Staffie, will charge back once he hears the rustle of the bag. He has a keen eye for the ladies, however seems he prefers sausage to ladies.

May have to change his name to Quinten.

Also consider lopping them off for health reasons, they can't trouble the dog if they aint there!

Yeah, good idea. Have you cut your nuts off so you don't get testicular cancer?

I thought that research in the States concluded that 99% of dogs which had been neutered where better after the procedure than before (more obedient/responsive and generally content). However 99% of dog owners seem to think they own the 1%.

Where did you get those figures from?

I know my vet won't do them for the sake of it.

I think it is irresponsible allowing your dog off the lead if it is running around with a loaded gun. My pooch does not want humped by every Fido, Bruce or Rover and is getting to a size where she might bite the offenders head off.

Some dogs seem to be ok un-chopped, but some are just a menace. How would you like to spend your life pumped full of testosterone with no means of release? I'm always talking to people who say "oh my dog is fine, he doesn't need chopped", while it chases mine around trying to mount her.

If it is a show dog ok, if you are breeding ok, if not…

Golden retrievers are, by nature, retrievers. So that means if they get a whiff of a scent, they're off. Most dogs also have selective hearing!

(Golden owner for nearly 13 years).

Interesting one (and brave to post on the forum of "you are irresponsible!" responses)
Its taken me a year of hard work to get to a standard of dominance over my pointer such that she'll come back to me whatever she is up to (except maybe for playing with another mad dog!)
Last night she caught a fox in the woods, but let it go when I gave her the command.
You don't say how long you've had your dogs?

btw, this book was good – http://www.amazon.co.uk/Think-Dog-Owners-Canine-Psychology/dp/1844031209/ref=pd_sim_b_20

my 2 jack russells do that……..and come back with gifts of dead things!

It is always more difficult recalling two dogs. They tend to forget about you when they get enough distance between you.

My dog is just starting to develop her prey drive and loves nothing more than chasing squirrells. She gets two chances, if she isn't on her way back I go and get her, then it's on the lead and a telling off.

DezB,

if you're 'brave to post, irresponsible' was directed at me? My comment wasn't directed at the OP, but at people who allow their 'complete' dogs to roam around attempting to mate with other dogs.

Do you disagree?

im fed up with dog owners who think they can let off their dogs willy nilly all over 'any' part of a park… i take mine to a wooded area away from young kids or other huge dogs that mite scare the living daylights out of my quivering whippets… very rarely do i let mine off the lead in parks…its too busy… i take them to quiet fields… yes dogs need exercise …just walk them longer…. 'many' times dogs have bolted towards my dogs and i have to litterally pick up one of my whippets as he screams 'get me out of ere mum'… and the owners dont give a hoot…..ive seen big dogs in play areas swings for kids etc…this is just wrong…all dogs are wild and shouldnt be let off near kids play areas…this sooo annoys me…

Having them chopped will make no difference to the behaviour, but at least they can't actually do anything when they get there.

Basically they are just not obedient enough so you need to go through some proper training to teach them that not coming back is not an option. Difficult though as at two years old the behaviour is now learnt. Totally agree with comment above that calling them while they are not responding is teaching them that it is OK not to come.

Suggest you get yourself a pair of those radio collar trainers and use them to train/retrain. Also remember that training is not a one time process. It has to be continuously reinforced, and the dog chastised if it does not obey

César Milan is the man for this. Removing the mating drive can be beneficial especially in a pair, don't do just one or the complete one will get very aggressive as it protects it's breeding stock. Time for training and setting rules boundaries and limitations, currently you are not pack leader and that is mostly achieved on the lead to start with.

elaine,

tell your whippets to MTFU! Just kidding. I try to get my dog off the lead as much as possible, but… on approaching other dogs or people she is back on the lead. If the dogs are friendly and want to play she is back off the lead, but I stay away from busy parks.

There is a difference between a complete dog trying to mate and a neutered dog mounting in dominance, even the females do that. My pooch is happy to tussle, but any hanky panky and she wont stand for it.

Having them chopped will make no difference to the behaviour

Oh yes it does. Quite a lot. However, this does not detract from proper training and control of the dogs. It does help with the desired effect.

I'm always talking to people who say "oh my dog is fine, he doesn't need chopped", while it chases mine around trying to mount her.

I had a Lab bitch and when she was in heat you have accept that dogs will come running over trying to get their end away. If you don't like it then get them spayed. If you own dogs there as some things you have to accept, one of them other dogs want to great each other.

That said my Lan was never interested in other dogs, I trained for the gun and was lucky she was a quick learner and accepted to ignore other dogs, even when she was in heat she'd ignore them.

Anyway enough posting about her I'll start to cry.

DRAC, a vet that will not castrate a dog – liar, prove it.

elaine, picking up your dog to protect it causes more damage than you might imagine, you have already removed its flight option by having it on the lead and your average whippet isnt built to stand its ground…..

Bagstard – Member
DezB,
if you're 'brave to post, irresponsible' was directed at me? My comment wasn't directed at the OP, but at people who allow their 'complete' dogs to roam around attempting to mate with other dogs.
Do you disagree?

Actually, no – I completely agreed with your post. And the bit in your other post about "telling off". So much emphasis in training is on reward, but I've found punishment (ie. telling off) more successful in some aspects of training.

Often though, any mention of a dog off the lead is met with such "irresponsible" cries – that's what I was referring to. 🙂

(see Elaine Ann's post for example. [edit] but not a very good one, as she actually is a dog owner!)

tell your whippets to MTFU!

True! My pointer was totally owned by a whippet on Sunday. It was one of the few dogs that she's played with that's faster than her and was hearding her round yapping in her ear. I was really impressed to see a dominant whippet!

References I made about my dog being chased by randy dogs had nothing to do with her being in heat, she was apayed at 7 months, but that doesn't stop some dogs trying.

It is a sad life for a dog that never get's the chance to run around freely, but… they need to be well enough trained to enjoy such freedom.

SOOBalias, I agree, picking up a dog just intensifies the problem. They will end up with no confidence. More socialisation would be good, although it sounds a little late.

DezB,

It's not the size of the dog in the fight… Must admit though, skinny dogs are usually wusses.

Jesus, seemed to have started something here!

I'd like to think that I am a responsible dog owner – Elaine, my dogs have never humped anything and normally I have them under control and I am the pack leader. As I have said above, I only have this one particular issue. I can take them out on my bike and they follow me, completely ignoring other dogs, bikes etc.

I know that a bit of retraining is required – I was just looking for a few quick pointers from anyone who has experienced similar issues. Looks like its back to the long leash and a firm rebuke. Anybody seen my Koelher Handbook?

References I made about my dog being chased by randy dogs had nothing to do with her being in heat, she was apayed at 7 months, but that doesn't stop some dogs trying.

It doesn't but that's badly trained dogs the owners having no control, cutting the dogs nuts of doesn't make the owner a better trainer.

algarvebairn,

I wasn't digging at you, just taking the opportunity to vent a little. I love being a dog owner, but training is a neccessary evil. My girl is pretty good, but she does get that selective hearing when she wants to.
I'm 'hoping' she will calm down more when she reaches maturity.

Good luck with your two.

Drac,

I agree to a point, but the average dog owner doesn't seem to be prepared to do the neccessary training which will stop this behaviour.

This is an arguement that just goes round and round, but in my experience un-neutered dogs behave differently and not for the better.