Morning everyone, Let me tell you about my morning so far.
A few weeks ago you may remember my asking for advise on recall if there was anything else I could have done when Billypup (10 months then, 11 months now) found a stinky old sheeps leg bone. Anyway, we had a few weeks on lead only did plenty more training, worked on emergency stops and sitting/lying from a distance, all of which she's absolutely brilliant at. Recall massively improved in the absence of stinky lambs legs, off lead most walks now and has been 100% secure, and felt in control and secure - until this morning!
So this morning I take her up to our local woods, it was very early, sun barely up so we started the walk around an open area of common where I could see her. She was running a lot, very energetically but recalling lovely so I wasn't too worried. As the sun got a little higher, we ventured into the woods where it was very quickly clear that she was just too excited and reactive. After the first rather awful recall, I popped her back on the lead and we very quickly needed the halti, which she hates, as she was pulling massively. We walked for a couple of miles which brought us back round to the bottom of the woods with about a mile left back to the car, she'd calmed down a lot, halti was off and we were doing little on lead recalls just fine, she seemed focussed again so I stupidly let her off, she disappears completely for about 20 minutes. I'm pretty sure it was deer as there are plenty in those woods and people had said they'd seen a lot this morning. Eventually she reappeared, obvious reluctant to come too close as she knew she was going back on the lead but I managed (I was on the phone to DH and put him on speaker and he called her so she came out of surprise 
)
I know my mistakes this morning, I should have abandoned walk and played with her in open ground and/or never let her off a second time.
My question though is this. After a bad recall walk, her mindset on the next walks often shifts to that of not doing as she's told as she's remembering the enjoyable freedom of the last walk so I need to get her focus back. Obviously the woods are a no go for a few weeks but does anyone have any suggestions.
If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.
The doghouse
Recall part 2
billybagpuss · 20/01/2019 11:05
Yes, I know this, yet I still do it, I am an idiot 
I was thinking over all your advice whilst stood in the wood shouting billypup come, and thinking why didn’t I listen to @bitey? She lulled me into a false sense of security last time we went there she was impeccable. Today I should have followed your advice and played hunting games with her.
Don't worry it didn't come across at that.
I still remember the sheer frustration when they just don't do what they are told 
And as for energy they could go all day. I have just been for a walk for an hour where he either ran at full speed chasing balls or spent the rest of the time tearing round me in circles. We get home and the first thing he does is pick up the ball wanting me to play again 
Thank you @whateveryousay, those are my first ever flowers on MN, made my day.
Thats the big thing isn't it. I know my stupidity has set us back with the training, and all because I love those woods so much. I need to be strict with myself and not go up again until the bluebells are out.
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