Seems like recall problem but I think it's recall++ problem

[silentcatastrophe]

Our best beloved pup aged 15 months has the most appalling recall. He is good on a line, loves food and games and toys. He is not deaf when he decides to race off. He will do it in the middle of a game. He will think about it and decide to take no notice of us. So far he has not been hit by a car. He has got stuck in the woods. He may get stuck in a trap. And he may of course cause an accident. The whole thing is driving me to the end of my tether. He has also pulled me over, caused two quite serious and very painful rope burns. He does not respond to games, food, anything, when he is on the run.

He is from a farm and moved to a family at 3 months old. He came to us at 6 months.

I do not especially want to have the dog rehomed or put down, but frankly I hate this behaviour and I do not know what to do. It is no pleasure being responsible for this dog. It is hell.
Frankly he deserves to be attached to the mains to give him a shock. I am so fed up. I am sorry that it has come to this, but really I do not know what to do any more. If I cannot control his racing off, he ,may well get shot. He has been with us for nearly a year and has moments when we think he is getting better. I fear these thoughts are illusiory.

Tomorrow I am seeing a behaviourist. I so hope I can learn what I am doing so wrong.

You are probably doing nothing wrong at all just got a dog that needs a more experienced eye to help you. All of us have been then at one point or another. Do not beat yourself up about this - it can be sorted and managed.

What type of dog is he?

I won't go into what I would do to help as you are seeing a behaviourist tomorrow BUT do come back and let us know how you got on. You can and will sort this and you will not need to rehome him. He is still young and a bit of a teenager - you will get there.

That's so kind of you,minimu1. Not long ago he leapt out of our bedroom window for a kick and ran off nearly knocking me over. We thought we had problems with our middle dog (puppy farm, never socialised bla bla...) but this is a new level. He is a farm collie. Our 2 others are collies too.
Our landlord (the local farmer) is very sympathetic, but frankly it is such a feel-bad thing to be watching my dog galavanting around, TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL!! He has a look in his eye when he decides it's more fun to go off.

We have never punished him for coming back. Today for the first time in nearly a year, I bollocked him. Such is the frustration. He has always had recall problems since he has lived with us. In his previous home he was kept on a short lead. I will keep you posted as to his progress or lack thereof....

Just wanted to show solidarity. We had a nightmare training our rescue terrier to recall, but (crosses fingers & whispers) she is now doing really well. I used to reguarly end walks with me in tears and threatening to kill the dog

She was off lead at very busy country park today & behaved impeccably. I am sure you will get there

Thank you for your solidarity, herladyship! Yesterday I would happily have shot the dog myself. but today kindly behaviourist came and told me not to. Of course pup came back to me every time I whistled. Butter would not melt in his mouth, and he gave no hint whatsoever that he was going to run for it.

The behaviourist said we must not let the dog off his lead until he learns to come back. Not ever. I am to take him out on my own without the other dogs to get him trained on his own. All the rest is stuff I am already doing. At least I didn't get charged full whack£££££!!

Yay I am glad that you had some help - although you knew it already it is great to hear it from others to confirm your views

This idea that collies are clever and hence interesting to train can only come from someone that has never owned a collie!

Your lad just has to realise that if he earns the right to be off lead he has to lead the off lead etiquette. Firm, kind but consistent training and you will get there.

What is his general obedience like in the house? - I would be picking up on that and only accept 100% accuracy from him - sounds like you have a bright one there.

I spoke to a trainer I used in London last week who said that many recall problems started before anyone went outside. So.... I rather came down on pup like a ton of bricks in the house and he has not been allowed to crowd the front door, or jump up on me or yip for attention, and he comes when he's called and he gets attention when I call him. Small things really, and lots of treats of course, until yesterday. I have not allowed the dogs to barge out of the house either. It sounds as though I run a canine loony bin here doens't it, when I put it like that.

His general obedience in the house is improving since I've made these small tweaks. It's the running off and not coming back and running off again, and again, and again which make the good work seem pointless.

I told the behaviour man that I don't want to give up on a dog. I think Toby learns quickly. I wonder if he will unlearn the joys of racing away?

I have noticed that Victoria Stilwell uses solitary confinement time out for dogs. Other trainers view this as a very severe punishment for a dog. Perhaps it is simply a case of more than one way to skin a cat!