Despair!

[TotalBeginner]

The flatcoat and I fell out seriously the other day. We were up in our house by the sea but I needed to return to the city so had done the small amount of necessary packing before taking him out for a run. He behaved well for most of the time, even carrying out some good retrieves, and we finished by playing his favourite game but, when I called him in to put on his lead (when we were still a good way from home) he refused to come close and that was that for the next half hour. Could he have been voting with his feet to stay by the sea? I only got him home by eventually enlisting the help of a passing dog walker. He then whinged, wailed and barked the whole of the drive (about 2 and a half hours) until I was fit to kill him. I am feeling very despondent as his recall had been hugely better up until then but it would seem that it only works when it suits him so that I have,in effect,no recall at all! Not expecting any miracle advice but just wanted to share!
Happy Christmas to all!

[Merlin]

He's not daft, think I'd want to stay by the sea myself...

Nice to here from another Flat Coat owner...

[esmerelda]

looks like you will have to step back to basics, and use reward......start with a smaller distance. Do you use a whistle? It took us 3 different tones till we found one that fits our dog. Did you try running in the opposite direction, or hiding behind something, or even getting down as low as you could to the ground these we used on ours when he was a pup. He is now 18 months, and is very good at recall. BUT I WOULD WANT TO STY BY THE SEA!!!!!

[Rascal]

Next time whistle him once and then you turn around and head off back without a backward glance I bet he follows you, difficult if you have a road to cross. He sounds like he thinks it’s a game and knows you are going to hang around trying to catch/cajole him into returning to you?

Then I would make a practice of calling him in at various stages of a walk and popping his lead on and off with praise and even a food reward if he’s that way orientated. He needs to understand that having his lead put on isn’t always the end of a walk...

Rascal

[Merlin]

Next time whistle him once and then you turn around and head off back without a backward glance I bet he follows you, difficult if you have a road to cross. He sounds like he thinks it’s a game and knows you are going to hang around trying to catch/cajole him into returning to you?

Then I would make a practice of calling him in at various stages of a walk and popping his lead on and off with praise and even a food reward if he’s that way orientated. He needs to understand that having his lead put on isn’t always the end of a walk...

Rascal

I use treats with Merlin as he's a right gannet but when I do recalls with him I make sure not to give him a treat until after I've put his lead on..
He has quite a good recall, so far..

[Stacia]

My young man has just started this. Today when I put the other dogs on the lead he hung back, so I ignored him and walked on with the other two, when we disappeared out of sight, he came until he could see us again. I called once, then twice (shouldn't have done), he ignored, just stood there watching. I put the other two in the car, (he was about 100 yds away), got in myself and drove off, looked back and he was off in the opposite direction having a lovely time!

In view of dogs being stolen and that it was getting dark, I got out of the car and walked back to him, not being cross, didn't want him taking off, put him on the lead and took him back to the car. I think the danger is if you chase off after your dog and then it becomes a game.

Jelinga

[carolwildbird]

Ah..much sympathy!

My flatcoat pup (yearling) has a great recall virtually everywhere other than outside my front door. She will recall from 100s of yards out in the field, but when we get home, the thought of coming indoors is not appealing, and she just stands there and looks at me. She won't run away, but nor does she want to come indoors. I'm making it very attractive with biscuits and towels (a favourite) and its improving.. but still not very good. A work in progress!

[jeffD]

I had a JR that I worked for rabbits with my spaniels and she would always bog off as soon as she thought we were going back to the car, used to drive me mad, legging after her was no good she made sure to always be 50 yards ahead of me if I stood still she would start rabbiting again as soon as I moved towards her she would move to keep the distance again.

[Wendy M]

Do what Rascal has suggested, make the recall and lead going on fun, and put it on and off randomly when you are out. Perhaps start to make the recall and lead going on the beginning of his favourite game - recall - lead on - wait - lead off - play favourite game. Also maybe wind the dog down a bit before ending the session; think how you (or a child) would feel if they were doing their absolutely faviourite thing and then suddenly they were made to stop to be taken home or for a long boring drive.

Wendy

[Stacia]

Re the Flatcoat not wanting to come in, I have a friend who had a Flatcoat exactly the same, one night he left her out all night, she never did it again!

Jelinga