Recall and getting back on the lead

[admiral-ackbar111]

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hi, i am having extreme trouble getting my 7 month springer spaniel back on her lead once i let her off. the problem is that she knows that going back on the lead is less fun and so when she thinks i am trying to get her back, eg throwing treats close to me, she won't come anywhere near me. if i say her name when she's off lead, she'll look at me but she will not come anywhere near me. even if i have cheese or a treat she really likes, she doesn't want it.

thanks allot,
any help is much appreciated

 

[gypsysmum2]

It is harder to train a dog out of a behaviour than to prevent it. The way to prevent it is to recall the dog regularly and give her a treat and let her run off and play again.

I would try changing the circumstances where you call her. Take her somewhere new, wait while she runs off some energy, and then run away from her calling her in an excited way. Keep the lead out of view, squat down in a playful way and give her lots of fuss and at least five treats, one after the other. Play with her and behave like a mad person so that she finds you fascinating. Keep doing this in all sorts of places until she is coming regularly for a fun game and lots of lovely treats. Try not to behave in any way like you do on your usual walks when she has ignored you. If she sees that your body language is like it is when you want to put her lead on then she will avoid you again. You really need to set her up each time for success.

A whistle can be very effective. A whistle is never angry. If she associates the whistle with getting fantastic treats and thrilling games of tug and cuddles then she should start to respond. Let her go play again about five times as many times as you put her on the lead. When she starts to learn to come to you try to just touch her collar as you give her a treat and let her go again. This should stop her from grabbing the treat and running off when you need to get.her. Once she is coming reliably then clip the lead on occasionally but immediately unclip it and let her run again.

If you have to exercise in the place where she is used to avoiding you then try using a training line that she can drag behind her and you can put one foot on. This is a last resort as you are not teaching her a fun recall when you do this. It should still be rewarded, when you get her, as you are persuading her that you will always reward her for being caught, whether you use a long line or not.

You could ask for a one to one training session with an APDT trainer in your area. They can see what you are going through and tweak things as you go.

 

[Biker John]

I agree prevention is always the best, my Whippet is great at recall and going on the lead, I think it goes back to when she was a pup. Often on a walk I would call her, give her a treat, (or two), put her on her lead, walk say through a gate, then let her off again. So going on a lead wasn't normally the end of her fun.