Well that's it, Beagle will never ever go off lead again!

[Jaynerae]

Have been re-training Beagle for last few weeks, on recall as she lapsed when rescue dog arrived. Today I took her to park, armed with hot dogs and ham, left long line on her but let it go so I could grab hold of her easily if need be.

Everything was going well, she was staying by me bouncing up and down for ham.

Walked on a bit and she obviously smelt something as she made a beeline for a bench with a couple on. They had food at the side of them on the bench... Yes you guessed it she ate it. I am mortified, offered to pay, they were laughing and very good about it but I could have died.

I will never let her off again, just can't trust her she obviously ignored my recall again. Can't take the risk, thinking of the thread recently about dog pinching sandwiches out of Childs hand - I now know she would that.

Am gutted as she loves to have a good run.

Do you think the pull of food is too much? If that's it then you could take her out in the country couldn't you? Places picknickers are unlikely. Or is it any distraction that will cause her to disobey?

It's the food without a doubt, so yes your right areas away from people likely to be eating is an option, will have to pick careful.

My dog snatched a sandwich out of a child's hand, i was mortified! Like you, the family were very nice about it. I do think its a little harsh to say you'll never let her off the lead again - my dog is off all the time and the chances of him coming across picnic-ers is small, I think. He's got a lot better at the recall as he's got older (he's three and a half) but he's just obsessed by food. I know he would never attack a child, or anyone for that matter, he just wans the food and if he can reach it, he's got no manners.
I agree to go to somewhere with fewer picnic-ers, keep going with the trainin anyway, let her off the lead but be alert for children with food and put her on the lead before (hopefully) she spots them.
She might have the odd slip, but its not the end of the world IMHO.

Calm down, have a cup of tea ... treat it like you would eating a bar of chocolate when you're on a diet. A blip but no reason not to get back on track with the regime tomorrow.

It'll take time but you'll get there, don't give up on Beagle or yourself, no need to resign yourself to thinking that she'll have to be onlead for the rest of her life. Just keep on keeping on, maybe hire a trainer for a few 1 to 1 lessons even?

As for training treats, if you Google liver cake that might be more interesting for her - I've yet to meet a dog which doesn't find the (high!) smell irresistible.

And for tonight, pour a glass of wine, put it down as a blip and chill. :)

Thank you, Had a cup of tea and a biscuit, calmed down a bit. I know it's not her fault, it's her instinct, she will steal food at home if she can, obviously we are very vigilant!

We are still attending dog training, so will talk to trainer about it.

No matter what she will me with me forever, I love her and she loves me, I want the best for her, but am worried about the dreadful recall. I do feel she needs to run free, but am obviously worried what she could do.

Will keep at it, and google liver cake!

My old boy nicked a sausage roll out of a child's hand once, when he was a young dog. The sausage roll was just at his head height as he walked past and the temptation just too much. He had never done anything like it before, and certainly didn't since as I was made swiftly and rather shamefacedly aware of the potential.

You have my sympathy OP. The poor wee boy had my sympathy too, as despite being plied with money to buy another sausage roll and extra sweeties, he maintained a thousand yard stare during my apologies. Luckily his dad knew I was absolutely mortified and had the right attitude to help his boy not develop a fear of dogs from his experience.

It is mortifying, but take a deep breath and continue training tomorrow. Lol at like eating a bar of chocolate when on a diet!

Actually feel quite relieved to hear other dogs have done it be honest, makes me feel it's more of a dog thing than a Beagle thing IYSWIM.

My old boy was a Beagle.

(I'm joking - not really )

:o You wicked beggar, MotherJack! :o

@ motherjack

My Beagle took an ice cream out of a toddlers hand before....to be fair the kid was waving it about in her face.

The fields where we walk her are popular with teens in the summer holidays having BBQ's with the disposable tray. The amount of times she's gone and nicked sausages, bread rolls, etc is too many to count. It is a big dog walking place though so luckily they just laugh at her. Embarassing though.

OP, I promise you - your dog is not the only one who will have done this. My GSDs are not food motivated at all, but even they will take something if it is available. Actually Loofa wont, but puppy will, oh yes! Little minx that she is.

Keep calm, keep training, keep the long line on and it will all work out.

arf @ motherjack

My old boy was the 'perfect' GSD, calm, gentle, huge, you get the picture (on my profile I think) oh and he was well trained. We went to a BBQ with him, he wondered around, played with the children there, decided he couldnt resist the plates of food that were all over the place, stole a chicken drumstick and ran off into the middle of their pond where we couldnt get him to eat it!

They ALL do it, OP, not just Beagles...

Yep - Dill, a cocker spaniel, likes to steal pepperami from my children. I also have fond memories of my childhood cocker clearing a gap all around the edge of our buffet laden dining table at one family gathering. A gap that equalled the length of a cocker spaniel's head and tongue.

They never look shamefaced about it either do they, just so pleased with themselves.

I have no doubts Dill would help himself to food on a walk if let off lead. sadly I can't let him off as he won't come back.

oh rofl SoupDragon, mine's a cocker too, aren't they terrible? Rather that looking pleased, mine fixes me with a beady stare as if to say what?

Could you use the peperami as a treat when he's off the lead? Sounds like he thinks it would be worth coming back for?!

Beagle can go off lead! WOO HOO!

Dog trainer told me of another park to take her too that is way back from road surrounded by countryside and very safe.

Went after school today aremd with a whistle, hotdogs and ball and flinger thing.

It was so safe I decided to be Brave and let CKCS off lead, and he just tore after the ball and brought it back, he's a rescue and we didn't know he was so obsessed with balls!

Left Beagle on lead for a bit so she could watch him. Then I used whistle, gave her hot dog, did this a few times and let lead go, she went off, I whistled - SHE CAME BACK - for hotdog!, and again, and again, and again after each whistle! Brilliant!

Then I threw ball for CKCS and Beagle decided she was going to join in, racing each other to see who could get ball first and bring it back for hotdog!

There where other dogs around - when Beagle went off - I whistled she came back, I trod on lead gave treat and waited till people had gone.

I am so chuffed - they both had an hour of lead, that's the most ever without any incident!

that is brilliant! well done. hot dogs are obviously the way to go.

Very impressive :)

so pleased for you!