I wonder if anybody can give me any tips on training my doggy. He has picked up "Bed", "Sit", and "Come" quite well, but he will only obey if there is absolutely nothing distracting him. He always gets a treat and a lot of fuss when he obeys so I don't think I can make obeying any more exciting to him.

If we are in the street, at the park or even just in the garden, and I call a command, he will be looking around, sniffing the air, watching the birds, chewing the grass. Anything but listening to me. He does understand these commands because when there are no distractions he obeys immediately, but when he is out he just ignores me.

I would like to be able to let him off his lead in the park, but I can't because should he bolt off, I would not be able to recall him and he would be gone.

Yesterday he escaped out of the front door and went far. We came after him and he would stop occasionally to sniff bins etc, but when he saw us coming (and we weren't stompeding or anything) he would shoot off. Treats and toys were waved at him but to no avail. We eventually got him home safe and sound, but we are worried that it might happen again.

Any advice would be very much appreciated.

Beany,
I can't remember...what type & how old is he? Either can make a serious impact on "eagerness to obey" :D
:cool:

He's a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and he is 11 months old.

Beany,
He's a baby (well, young pre-teen now)... How well do they listen when they're on their own ?
You might be expecting a little too much for his maturity level at the moment. He's doing basic obedience ok, but your problem is when off leash/out of your direct control. I understand that. But that sounds about normal for his age & spaniel classification. There's an interesting world out there. It's in competition with you for attention. If you're worried about safety issues, you can use some tidbit rewards to make him more predictable.

Put him on a long lead & have him come to you. Reward him with a tiny piece.
2nd time or more --if he hesitates & focuses on something else, when he finally arrives, show it to him & say "too late." Don't give it to him.
Then start the exercise again. Trust me, he should move a little faster the second time. I'd avoid an extend-lead since they have a natural pull towards the handle anyway. This has to be on his own.

Personally, I wouldn't have him off lead out of your yard for quite some time -- months at least. He won't be a mentally mature adult until about 2 years old. If he remains un-neutered, his attention can be easily lost by any females in heat within a 5-10 mile radius. He's also a spaniel-- anything in the brush or birds or runs interests him too.

He's smart enough to know when you don't have control over him. So don't put yourself in a position that he can ignore you. You can have a positive reaction 20 times, but that one time that he gets away with it and you can't enforce it, he's won a new habit. I hope I'm making sense here.

I get the idea that many dogs roam off leash during their walks & it's the odd owners who keep their dogs on leash all of the time. If your dog is young, it's best that you maintain that control for his own good. Don't feel bad about it. You're just looking out for him.

I hope this helps you out a bit & makes you feel better :D
toodles

Beany,
I forgot to ask.... Do you have a hallway in your house where you enter? Is there someway that he stays out of that front doorway? You can teach him to not go past that point & it will give you a breathing area if he decides to make the mad dash again.
Have someone ring the doorbell... make him sit where you want him to stay. If he gets up... make him sit again, or hook him to a leash. Do this over & over so that he knows this is "his spot" for when the door is being dealt with.

It will take time, patience & consistency, but it can be done.

Geesh,
I can't escape :D I misread your posting.. I thought you had taken him to obedience where he learned these. I now understand he's been picking this up on his own. (lightbulb moment)

See about an obedience program in your area. It will help the both of you to work these things out and make him more dependable. Just check it out to find out what type of methodology they use, especially for "correction."

He'll get to be around other dogs & you'll get to talk to people about him. You'll have fun & it will be a bonding experience. You'll also gain more confididence. Try it!!! You'll like it :D :D
:cool:

Beany, don't forget he's still young, and a spaniel! Also, all the time he can see you, or can hear you if you are calling, he knows you're there. A good trick is to go to a field or woods, completely away from roads, people, etc, let him go, then hide. After a minute or two, they suddenly realise they're on their own, and they panic. Remember when you were a little kid and got lost in BHS? Of course, this might not work and you never see him again, but it usually does. Another option is to throw an old food bag with something in it to add a bit of weight, like a tennis ball, at him when he ignores you, but is within throwing distance. This usually scares the hell out of them and they take notice. But firstly, you need to make sure he stops to command when within extending lead distance.

Hello BeanyB,

There are a number of issues in your Post. However, firstly let me assure you that this reply is not intended to offend you or anyone else.

I feel you need to work on the Human Pack mentality in your home, and equally yourself as Pack Leader, which clearly you are not! A dog who considers himself part of a proper human Pack, is not going to run off - safety and behaviour is within the structure of the Pack - Teamwork!

You chasing your dog, waving treats and toys endorses the fact that you are not in charge, and your dog knows this. You were simply 'pleading' with him to return.

People do teach their dogs to 'Come', but they do NOT teach them to understand IMMEDIATELY!

You are training your dog to obey for reward (the treat), whether this is COME, SIT, DOWN, STAY etc. but if the distractions are more rewarding ......!!! - speaks for itself.

I feel you should review your interaction with the dog at home. Perhaps read a couple of good books such as: 'Who's The Boss, by Val Bonney / 'Reading The Dog's Mind' by John & Mary Holmes, and 'The Truth About Dogs' by Stephen Budiansky.

Also, consider joining a good Training Club, (finding a good one is the problem)! So try and visit a couple of Clubs, then watch a Class. (You will be amazed how much they vary in knowledge, expertise and attitude to learning and progressing). Watch the methods and phlosophy, do they make sense to you? How long have the other people been attending, and how are they doing? (Remember they will be a good indication to the training methods.

I wish you all the best,
Denise.

Hi Beany Baby
While you are working on recall, is there anywhere near you, like a well fenced tennis court where you could take him to run around? take lots of toys to play with too to keep him interested, this way he may discover that the most interesatring and fun thing on a walk is you and your great toys! (make sure no-one's playing tennis though!:D) we did this for months with Morris when he did very much the same, and although we went for lots of 'on-leadf' training walks, it is always nice to see them running free isn't it. good luck, and the more we allowed Morris off the lead, the better he became as it wasn't such an exciting novelty, but normal.He now comes back from playing with other dogs etc. without me even calling.
Emily

Hello,

You know what I am gonna say - training classes for you and your wee dog!! If you get into a good class it is so amazing how your trained too! sorry if that sounded rude. Good luck.

Julieann

Also it teahes them to listen despite the distraction of other dogs and people.

I know exactly what you mean about keeping him on the lead all the time. I'm still keeping my 10 month old working cockerr on the extending lead whilst out as he ran off chasing birds and wouldn't come back. Trouble is all the 'regular' dog walkers keep on about letting him off as if I'm being really cruel and I can almost hear the comments from them as they and their older, more sedate dogs meander around the park! Having read everything I can and sought advice from different sources, and tried the tennis courts all through the winter, I'm almost ready to try again and let him off - trouble is I'm so SCARED about what will happen!!!!

Yes, I know what you mean about the regular dog walkers keeping on about letting of the lead. I get comments like "Let him off, he only wants to play" and "you can't keep him on a lead, dogs need to run".

Goink & Beany...
I'm amazed at other dogwalkers interfering like this. You're not being cruel. In fact, imho, off leash is a privilege, not a right -- for the dogs of course. They have to earn my trust :D :D In fact, my husband is paranoid that the girls are going to take off for parts unknown. He remembers when his gundogs, (Brittanys) would get loose & go for miles. The gels are not that ambitious :D

But most built-up areas in Europe & US have mandatory leash laws. Here the dogs must be on a leash if they are over 30 kilos. That's usually ignored, but by law, they must be voice trained & within handling distance of owner if off leash. Usually, everyone (myself included) puts their dogs back on leash if we see someone else on the trails. It's just the polite thing to do. There are a lot of sr. citizens out enjoying the woods too. I just take them out really early or later in the day to avoid people.

Just don't feel bad. You are wonderful "parents" for your young dogs. Someday, they'll be able to be offleash... but that's only when you decide. Not these strangers who are obviously clueless :D
toodles