I am going to start teaching Bess how to come to me, but I wonder what your opinions are of when I do get her to come to me on command about letting her off the lead.  She is now 18 months old and I have heard mixed opinions.  Some people say that  patterdales can never be let off their lead as they are hunting dogs and will chase anything and never come back once distracted.  On the other hand a friend of mine owns a border terrier who often lets her dog off the lead.  Any opinions will be appreciated as even though she has a run and play on the extendable lead, I feel like I'm being really mean to her when I see other dogs playing in the fields.  Does anybody else own a patterdale?

we have a russell and 5 borders, the russell is fine off lead, one border is fine off lead but two are pups at the mo so i should imagine they would be fine when older, i never taught my border that is good off lead to come back as she never left my side so i had it easy, plus shes addicted to playing ball so would come back for that anyway, ive been using an extendable lead with my 6 month old dog pup but he doesnt really leave my side either, but 2 of the older borders are gone as soon as they get of the lead alot of it is probably down to the dog, im sure there will be other people along later thet could help you out more

I'm well shocked to think you've had your dog for 18 months and had never let your dog off her lead ??
I would start by going to a big open field or beach [if pos]  being empty of any other dogs or people early morning would be good.  Don't feed her before you go and let the poor little git off.
She will most probably run off at first thinking.. ahh great freedom at last! but take some cooked sausage and when she runs past you at high speed throw some treats once she realises you've got food she should come back, don't put her lead on until she's knackered, just walk away from her calling her name and even sit on the grass she should come over and sit or lie with you. 
Be great to know when this happens and how it goes!!
Good luck  

I would use a long line, horses lunge rein would be ideal and when she's coming back reliably on that, try without.

Oh dear, you have left it rather late

I have two Patterdales that are rarely on the lead, except when we are near roads, BUT I started training them from the moment they were old enough to go out. Babies will naturally stay with you, and if they do wander off will come back as soon as they are called. Practise her recall in the garden, and make sure you call her to you when she's out of sight, as well as when you are visible to her. Give LOTS of treats.

When you are pretty confident that she will come back take her somewhere that is as safe as possible, and let her off. Allow her to have a mad race around and don't call her until she's settled down, then call her to you and give her some lovely titbits. Let her go again, and repeat - perhaps putting her lead back on and walking her for a bit, but letting her go again. The important thig is for her not to think that putting the lead on automatically means the end of all this lovely new freedom.

i have friends that run patterdales in agility and they are off lead
take the advice what is given on hear and you should be fine both of you
carolann

We only got her in October, and she's 18 months old now, and as she is our first dog didn't want to run the risk of losing her especially as she was new to us and the area.  So I'm not a bad owner, just a cautious one as she means so much to us all and we would be devastated if we lost her.  My worry is that she might see something like a bird or a rabbitt as we walk her along country paths and fields and she would be that busy chasing it she would lose her bearings and not know how to find us.  Also, she gets really excited if she sees another dog and wouldn't want to be responsible for getting another dog owner cross as she trys to play with every dog that she sees.

In that case, I would definately be using a long line.  You can use it to "reel her in" and also it's quite good to stand on to stop her (not to be advised with a big dog as you'll land on your bum!!).
When I used to foster dogs for a local charity I would always use a long line until I was confident they would come back.

Good luck,
Sarah.

I have a hunting breed too, and they can be selectively deaf off lead as are many breeds and individual dogs on occasion.

The only thing you can do if you want your dog to have some freedom is to stack the odds in your favour.

Choose places that are least likely to get your pup in danger or be a nuisance if she does ignore you and bog off.  Take her out hungry.  Walk off he first burst of energy so that she is a little tired when you do let her off, and try to choose a time and place with minimal distraction as already said.

Teaching reliable recall at home and on a long line first is important, but sooner or later you need to bite the bullet.

If she is toy orientated all the better.  Perhaps have a lure on a piece of line to throw so that you can real in for her to chase back to you,  Fetch if she plays it, and of course really yummy teats that she gets at no other time.  something like baked liver cut into tiny pieces (it's rather rich) as most dogs will sell their souls for it.

Only call her when she is looking your way or already heading in your direction.  If she looks like she might head too far away, get all excited jump up and down run in the opposite direction all excited, so that you are really exciting.

Hi
Do you know anything about the history of your dog?  Was she run free before you got her?  Do you know what cues the previous people used or any info at all about her? If so, you may well have a foundation to build on which could be good news.

If not, train her to recall to you in the house first and then in the garden - rewarding her either with a titbit or a game with a favourite toy.  If you can then find somewhere like a tennis court that is enclosed to practice your recall in, that would be great.  Then slowly build up to gamey ground.  At each stage you need to build in distractions, so even in your living room you need to be able to work towards calling her away from her favourite toy or some other family member. 

Make sure she gets loads of opportunities to interact with other friendly dogs in secure areas - even if only in your garden.  I know that you are worried about her running up to other dogs but by restricting her access to others of her own kind, you increase their scarcity value and will make her even more determined to run up to them. I found the best way to teach my pup to stay close and wait until I told her to go greet was to spend the morning with her and invite a load of doggie friends around to play.  By lunchtime a) she was tired and b) she had got the obsession out of her system so that when we later spotted an elderly lab walking across the field she was not hell bent on legging it over to say 'hi' but was prepared to listen to my stop whistle.  I then leashed her and walked over to the lab and asked if she could say hello and then the reward was being let loose again to play once more.  Do this often enough and eventually you don't need to leash them, but can either keep them on a 'stay close' cue or keep them focussed on you by playing with a ball or whatever.

I have GSPs so have the same worry as you about chasing rabbits and pheasants etc.  You will never stop her hunting them so you need to make yourself in charge of the hunt and be part of it.  That way you can teach her to hunt on cue and also to stop hunting on cue.  You are then the focus of her life......because you give her permission to do the one thing she desires - hunt! - and are not always telling her to stop hunting. 

It may sound a bit gruesome if you are not into hunting/shooting, but what guarantees a recall on gamey ground with my 20 month old pup is a bit of cured rabbit skin which I keep soaked with rabbit training scent.  I have this on a piece of string and if I need to recall her in a high distraction environment running around with this in her mouth is her reward. She is not food focussed at all.
You can buy both the scent and ready prepared skins online from Turner Richards or any other shooting shop. 

I never said you was a bad owner? I didn't realise that she was a second hand. sorry if I was rather abrupt . I can see now how worried it can it is for you . With lots of encouragement  with play she will realise you are fun to be with . I have had second hand dogs in the past and is a worry but remember you are the loves of their lives so she wont I'm sure dart off and not ever come back for you.
Be confident and shout "This way" in a happy voice she will follow .  My girl has patterdale in her and loves to hunt squirrels!! She does run about in the woods hunting but she always comes back when asked.  

Sorry, I'm a little paranoid that there are things that I should be doing that I'm not.  But using this forum has really helped me pick up tips from my own posts and those of others.  Thanks for all your opinions, she is in season at the minute so has been confined to barracks at the mo, but you've given me something to think about as well as the confidence to let her have a run on her own once her season has ended.  I'm nervous about letting her go, but I suppose it's like with children you have to let them have their own indepence and trust that she'll be ok and will come back to me.

From your piccy of her she looks like she is smiling for england !!
You will find that as you are her second family she will be far more loyal and be mega into you.

You're not being paranoid....don't worry you're doing fine!  As she is in season use her 'confinement' as an excuse to get that recall in the house and in the garden shit hot!    If you are still uncertain, maybe the first time you take her out to free run you could go with someone else who has a dog with a good recall.  If she craves doggie company she will return when the other dog does.  Also, playing with another canine will tire her out, so I would take her out with another and then not long after (whilst she is still tired!) take her out on her own. 

If in SERIOUS doubt it won't hurt her to go without her breakfast that morning or dinner the night before!  If you take her out hungry she will be that much keener to return to you for a food treat!

Good luck - feel the fear and do it anyway!