When recall goes wrong...
When recall goes wrong...
Could anyone offer any advice about how to deal with my 7 month old doodle Fizz. When we are out walking her recall is fantastic - until she decides that she is not going to co-operate!
I think that I'm doing all the right things:
Taking high value treats
Calling her back several times during a walk so that she doesn't assume coming back means End Of Walk
Making myself exciting with squeaky toys etc
Turning recall into a game and hiding etc
and she really is great. She is also the star of training classes and will come back whatever distractions they throw in her way - and that includes other dogs.
Fantastic you may say!
But there are occasional times when walking when I can see her decide that she is going to ignore me. She looks at me as if to say not today thanks and absolutely refuses to come back - whatever I do.
The problem is that the rest of the family are so nervous now after she did this for 40 mins the other day that no-one else will let her off the lead now in case she does it again.
Has this happened to anyone else?
Kath and Fizz
I think that I'm doing all the right things:
Taking high value treats
Calling her back several times during a walk so that she doesn't assume coming back means End Of Walk
Making myself exciting with squeaky toys etc
Turning recall into a game and hiding etc
and she really is great. She is also the star of training classes and will come back whatever distractions they throw in her way - and that includes other dogs.
Fantastic you may say!
But there are occasional times when walking when I can see her decide that she is going to ignore me. She looks at me as if to say not today thanks and absolutely refuses to come back - whatever I do.
The problem is that the rest of the family are so nervous now after she did this for 40 mins the other day that no-one else will let her off the lead now in case she does it again.
Has this happened to anyone else?
Kath and Fizz

Kath and Fizz
Re: When recall goes wrong...
Hi Katesloft
7 months is right at the time when the age of cutting is well under way. They cut their teeth and their apron strings and start to get selective deafness.
See the thread below where it explains how to set a whistle and various other things, I have also posted how to rectify recall problems if you did not work on recall at about 10.5 weeks.
Best of luck
Novice labradoodle owner - HELP!
7 months is right at the time when the age of cutting is well under way. They cut their teeth and their apron strings and start to get selective deafness.
See the thread below where it explains how to set a whistle and various other things, I have also posted how to rectify recall problems if you did not work on recall at about 10.5 weeks.
Best of luck
Novice labradoodle owner - HELP!
Re: When recall goes wrong...
Thanks for that - I haven't tried whistle training but am willing to give anything a go.
Kath
Kath

Kath and Fizz
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Re: When recall goes wrong...
I agree with Stan.....once the Doods reach adolescence it becomes more difficult and a whistle is vital. Our labradoodle Hobbit has the stubborn streak of a poodle at times at 12 months! I know it won't help you now but our pups are conditioned to the recall whistle from the moment they can hear. At 8 weeks they will come back every time they are called. My new owners are then asked to continue with an acme whistle using treats and never let them get away with not coming back right into you. The first three months of ownership in particular require dedication and time but if training advice is followed you will have a dog you can take anywhere.
You need to go back to basics where your Dood is unable to run away; perhaps use a long training line. No distractions and as you say, high treat rewards but not every time.
Good luck
You need to go back to basics where your Dood is unable to run away; perhaps use a long training line. No distractions and as you say, high treat rewards but not every time.
Good luck
TrentisHoe Doodles
Breeding for health and exceptional temperament with intense socialisation to maximise our pup's potential
http://www.trentishoedoodles.com
Breeding for health and exceptional temperament with intense socialisation to maximise our pup's potential
http://www.trentishoedoodles.com
Re: When recall goes wrong...
Oh gosh i wish i knew to work on recall earlier ! My doodle Luna is now almost 12 months and a couple of months ago i also had a terrible experience running around the park for an hour as she refused to come back - doodles can certainly run fast. Since then i am terrified to let her off lead. I know this is'nt any help but just wanted to say i know how you feel !
- Leanne
- Leanne

LUNA DOODLE AT 11 MONTHS !
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Re: When recall goes wrong...
Help! I didn't know that you had to work on recall earlier either! I have a 15 month chocolate Labradoodle, called Molly, who used to come back every time I called and never really ventured very far away from me. I now have a Labradoodle that will not come back and runs after every dog in the park! She jumps up at children and adults and jumps all over dogs. I literally cannot control her off lead.
On my walks, I meet some people who say "poor Molly being on a lead, she needs to be running free" and then other people who say "if you cannot control your dog, it should be on a lead at all times". I now don't know what to do.
I take her to a small private garden for recall training, but I have to say, I still have to 'catch' her, to get her back on the lead.
At the moment she is on a bungy lead (this helps with my back, shoulders, neck and arms), as while she is walking, she lunges after everything, even if it is quite a distance away.
Please, please, someone help me with this. Molly is a wonderful dog in the house (unless she sees the cat!).
I really don't know what to do.
Caroline
On my walks, I meet some people who say "poor Molly being on a lead, she needs to be running free" and then other people who say "if you cannot control your dog, it should be on a lead at all times". I now don't know what to do.
I take her to a small private garden for recall training, but I have to say, I still have to 'catch' her, to get her back on the lead.
At the moment she is on a bungy lead (this helps with my back, shoulders, neck and arms), as while she is walking, she lunges after everything, even if it is quite a distance away.
Please, please, someone help me with this. Molly is a wonderful dog in the house (unless she sees the cat!).
I really don't know what to do.
Caroline
Re: When recall goes wrong...
Parker is a typical selectively deaf dood too. He is great until other dogs enter the park and then he is off to say hello. If they don't want to play he will generally return when he's finished but if they are up for a laugh then I have to go in with a whole chicken to get him back
Since he was tiny we have been doing the call him back thing and hiding behind trees. I just think he is so sure we wont leave him behind that he is free to play on his terms.
So far as walking on the lead is concerned, Parker was doing really well on his loose lead training and for some reason suddenly started pulling like maniac and half choking himself for no reason - no squirrels, leaves, birds etc. It was really disheartening and we had to use his harness which I don't really like doing as it isn't teaching him anything.
We have now got a Dogmatic headcollar http://www.dogmatic.org.uk/ and apart from him not really liking it to start with - it is like being able to breathe again! I actually have to keep checking to see if he is still on the end of the lead! If you do have trouble with pulling I would heartily recommend this lifesaver!

So far as walking on the lead is concerned, Parker was doing really well on his loose lead training and for some reason suddenly started pulling like maniac and half choking himself for no reason - no squirrels, leaves, birds etc. It was really disheartening and we had to use his harness which I don't really like doing as it isn't teaching him anything.
We have now got a Dogmatic headcollar http://www.dogmatic.org.uk/ and apart from him not really liking it to start with - it is like being able to breathe again! I actually have to keep checking to see if he is still on the end of the lead! If you do have trouble with pulling I would heartily recommend this lifesaver!
Jo and Parker x


Re: When recall goes wrong...
Same story with Freddie. We had loads of fields and he was excellent at recall. Did all the stuff, calling, giving him a treat but not putting him back off the lead. Now at 10 months he is a sod. He wont even come in from the garden! I now don't let him off the lead in our rented fields as he will find a a way out. He has just got so much confidence, being lost does not make him worried at all. He is actually quite good on the lead, I just wont have a dog that pulls, I'd sooner strangle it. Anyway, have got a trainer coming tonight! Oh, if I could get him back to like he used to be.

Re: When recall goes wrong...
Yes I have exactly the same problem with Hugo, I have only had him since 10 months so its a long haul. He is great when HE WANTS and other dogs are the biggest problem, exactly as described here I have no chance until they have finished running around. How the hell do I make myself more interesting to Hugo than an adolescent labrador????
I have found that literally running in the opposite direction works if I am desperate, providing that he is aware of what I am doing, but this is tricky as you have to be sure that he is safe if he chooses not to come, because you are now further away.
I used to have a german shepherd who spent the whole time that she wasn't chasing her ball, glued to my leg, dood is a bit of a culture shock.
I have found that literally running in the opposite direction works if I am desperate, providing that he is aware of what I am doing, but this is tricky as you have to be sure that he is safe if he chooses not to come, because you are now further away.
I used to have a german shepherd who spent the whole time that she wasn't chasing her ball, glued to my leg, dood is a bit of a culture shock.
Jayne & Hugo & Jake


Re: When recall goes wrong...
Becky can try the patience of a saint too
She is ball obsessed so the ultimate treat for her is to get the balls out and throw and throw and throw, and then nab her when she's not expecting it
However, she's wising up and after a few throws is very wary about approaching me for another throw.
Jack we trained like mad when little as we knew there was a tiny window of opportunity before 5 months. He has his moments but will come to the urgent whistle or if lured with food. Becky doesn't give a damn about food.
When the weather is better, and I can breathe again after the house is finished, we are going onto the long line one-to-one training and will crack it with her come hell or high water.

She is ball obsessed so the ultimate treat for her is to get the balls out and throw and throw and throw, and then nab her when she's not expecting it

However, she's wising up and after a few throws is very wary about approaching me for another throw.
Jack we trained like mad when little as we knew there was a tiny window of opportunity before 5 months. He has his moments but will come to the urgent whistle or if lured with food. Becky doesn't give a damn about food.

When the weather is better, and I can breathe again after the house is finished, we are going onto the long line one-to-one training and will crack it with her come hell or high water.
- Daisy(mini)Doodle
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Re: When recall goes wrong...
Having similar problems with Daisy have since stopped using the words 'daisy come' and now use 'Daisy cheese' this is getting results especially if we let her get her nose in the cheese bag before we let her of the lead. Shes excellent when at dog training but is too easily distracted when out.
Chris & Pauline Daisy & Ziva




Re: When recall goes wrong...
This must be a doodle deaf ear problem Ziggy did this to me the other week he ran straight out of the field across two roads and was waiting by the gate when I got home. My husband came in last night going mad because he would not come back when he called him. Then this morning we took him out for about two hours, got to the top field no way would he come back we tried walking the opposite direction he just stood there. We tried bouncing his ball offering goodies nothing would work then we managed to corner him. This is getting very worrying.


Re: When recall goes wrong...
This does seem to be a bit of a problem with doods doesn't it?
I am sure that there are dog psychologists and trainers out there who could tell us what it is that we are doing wrong, I am sure there are answers, but I wonder if anyone has comments around this that relate to the traits of the breeds involved.
Having never had either a labrador or a poodle before I wondered if it depends on the genetic make-up of the dood involved, maybe there is a different strategy if there is more poodle or the other way around.
It is a worry when all I end up doing is getting cross when someone leaves our park gate open, I should control the dog not the public. I am turning into a despot.
I am sure that there are dog psychologists and trainers out there who could tell us what it is that we are doing wrong, I am sure there are answers, but I wonder if anyone has comments around this that relate to the traits of the breeds involved.
Having never had either a labrador or a poodle before I wondered if it depends on the genetic make-up of the dood involved, maybe there is a different strategy if there is more poodle or the other way around.
It is a worry when all I end up doing is getting cross when someone leaves our park gate open, I should control the dog not the public. I am turning into a despot.

Jayne & Hugo & Jake


Re: When recall goes wrong...
We went on the beach this morning at 9.00 a.m. Pippa is good at recall usually but suddenly she spotted the birds and legged it, I was shouting her but no chance she was off, she ran quite a long way away, she even ran in the sea chasing the birds, she had gone so far we could hardly see her, after franticly shouting and waving our arms she spotted us and came legging it back, I felt sick, luckly the beach was empty, if the birds had flew the other way she would have gone into the road, hubby put her back on the lead and it was kept on for the rest of the walk. Pippa is 8 months old and usually comes back, any advice would be greatly appreciated. Can we trust her ever again or will we have to put her back on the training lead and start all over again.
Lesley and (Naughty) Pippa
Lesley and (Naughty) Pippa
Re: When recall goes wrong...
Oh dear oh dear 
I know it's frustrating, but it's still early days yet. I'm afraid putting her back on her lead has only taught her that if she comes back, the fun stops
I'd go back to square one and work with her intensively for 3 or 4 months on a long line. You also need to make sure that she realises you hold all the things she values - so look into NILIF training - Nothing in Life is Free 

I know it's frustrating, but it's still early days yet. I'm afraid putting her back on her lead has only taught her that if she comes back, the fun stops


