off leash distractions

weim2mom · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 9:57 pm Post subject: off leash distractions

So, I've always worried about Chevy being off leash. Hemi's fine.. he always stays within 100 feet of me.

So, I cam home last night to two tired pups. Curious, I asked my hubby what was wrong with them (I typically do all the exercising with them). He said that he had been taking them over to the school near our house and letting them run off leash for about an hour.

I was Shocked

shocked

!

Chevy, off leash?? He said that she'd kind of wander off a few hundred feet ahead and sniff, but come back.

Well, the past few days, I've been giving it a shot. I've been taking them over to a vacant lot near by that's about 4 acres. They play ball, run after each other and come back. I was amazed!

The only thing that she will not come back for is animals. Dogs, cat, birds... whatever, she's gone after them.
We took them over to the school tonight with the chuck it, and she was way more interested in the flock of geese. Hemi chased them and came right back, I never let Chevy even try.

I am very proud of them, they are doing better... but I'd like to hear how your weims do with these temptations...

ange165 · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 10:00 pm Post subject:

Ruby's pretty bad.. off lead, she sees people, other dogs etc. doesn't run off but just kind of saunters over there as if saying 'yo, what up?'. She won't listen when there's something else more interesting than her mum.. Rolling Eyes

she's not particualry interested in birds though. I guess that will come when she's older?!

weim2mom · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 10:04 pm Post subject:

Hemi won't run off for people... but I have to make sure there isn't anyone or anything around for her to run to, jump on, etc. I wouldn't mind her going to say hello, but she is yet to break the jumping up to say hello habit.

I guess it doesn't help that I let her 'give me kisses' Embarassed

.

sterlingsmom · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 8:42 am Post subject:

Mine have always been really good at recall (especially Sterling) and last Friday, I had them at the barn, and they saw a lady walking a dog accross the street (my fiance was out front with them) about 200 yards away, and they TOOK OFF accross the street! Shocked

I didn't see it. I would have lost my mind. David actually called Sterling AFTER she went accross, and sure enough, she RAN BACK TO HIM!! MEN!! I was so mad that he called her back! He said all the cars stopped, thankfully, until he got them both. They haven't been turned loose at the barn since. I feel if they don't come back EVERY SINGLE TIME no matter what the distraction, they aren't ready to be off lead. Period

freespiritmom · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 8:58 am Post subject:

Sam and Bullet are like your two Sam will come right back but Bullet looks at me like I am crazy and will run in the opposite direction. I am lucky enough to have a big pasture where I can let them run. They will both run until they are tired and then go to the truck to get ready to go home.

NenaGunther · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 10:08 am Post subject:

Nena is pretty good off leash, but I've used a whistle and she knows if she hears it, she better come back NOW! If we are on a hike, she checks in (I know thats not what hunting dogs are supposed to do) but we hike alot and I like her to check back with me.

Gunther, well, I haven't attempted to even try off-leash. We are going to start taking a class with our trainers to train him the recall with an e-collar.

peppernaei · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 11:30 am Post subject:

I also use a whistle because I find it gets Marvin's attention before I call come and he comes a running. We trained for distractions with a long line first so I could reel him in if he didn't come right away. And at the beginning I praised him with special treats if he came back.

I've been told the checking in is fine even with a hunting dog as long as they continue to range out and not come back every two seconds.

DoubleTrouble · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 12:31 pm Post subject:

Cache stays very close, has a good recall and not easily distracted. Josie, I don't off-leash often in places other than parks. Sometimes when we get home, I will let her walk to the door if no one is around because both of them run straight to my door. She gets VERY distracted by everything-- people, dogs, birds, rabbits, cats, anything that moves. One of the best ways I have found to get her to remember her recall is practice some training with her before she can get off-leash, especially if there are other dogs off leash. Like, she has to successfully do a sit-down-sit before she can go play. I think it reminds her who is boss.

tltrooster · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 4:25 pm Post subject:

Champs recall is good on some days and not on others. I take him to
a baseball field and I let him run off lead, but he will not come back to me
when I call him if here are quite a few birds flying over, and he is more interested in the birds. Other than that, he can be in the outfield and me on the pitchers mound and call him and he comes. I have gotten a whistle and I am going to try it, especially with distractions.

Usually around the house, we can go from back yard to front yard, but I usually have his leash attached so I can grab, in case he darts. He hasnt
yet, but I am not taking any chances.

NenaGunther · Posted: Sat May 17, 2008 8:25 pm Post subject:

anne · Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 2:08 pm Post subject:

Rosko · Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 8:22 pm Post subject:

We have been using a 'emergency recall' technique with Rosko that has worked VERY well.

Basically, instead of calling it 'come' you save that and name it something else that _no one_ will ever really say around the dog. Then, you get a very special treat that the dog will only ever get when you use this command (we use roast beef). It is VERY important that the dog only gets this treat for this specific command. He only gets the roast beef if he nails it perfectly meaning he instantly stops whatever he is doing and runs full speed back to us.

Start in 'no fail' situations and work up basically. Three times a day at first, then once the ball is rolling take it down to once a day then only a couple/few times a week to practice.

We can use this emergency recall with Rosko anywhere and he will immediately return now... I mean RUN at full throttle back to us instantly.

Now that we have it pretty much mastered, I'm hoping to use the same technique to get his 'come' more developed using just normal treats.

We do not use the 'emergency' recall for anything but emergencies (and practice); however. 'Come' is still for that which is why I'm going to work the same technique but without the uber reward to try and get 'come' to that level.

It truly is amazing how well this emergency recall works in a dire situation (i.e. the dog is about to bolt out onto a major freeway after a bird). I've stopped Rosko instantly and gotten him back to me when I truly thought all was lost before.