I need some tips on how to get my dog to listen to me when we are out of the house

[Caan]

When we're at home, he is absolutely fine and will do as he is asked. The minute we step outside the front door, he completely ignores me.

He is a black lab cross and nearly 2 years old, I got him from a rescue place just over a year ago. I had hoped that he would calm down as he got a bit older, but he is still so interested in everything he sees that walking him is a bit of a nightmare.

He loves other dogs and if we see one, he is desperate to get to it. We live in the country so we are surrounded by livestock and rabbits, pheasant and anything moving is just so tempting for him. Because of his unreliable behaviour I can't let him off the lead very often because I can't guarantee i'll get him back, which is a shame.

Any advice on how to get him to focus on me rather than everything else?

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There's no easy answer, as I'm finding with my 9 month lab. Training classes help, everyone there says the same thing, their dog behaves at home and it all goes to pot when out. Trainer keeps saying we have to make ourselves more interesting using treats, tone of voice, toys. We practice in the midsts of chaos (10 - 15 excitable dogs and owners in the class, lots of people and dogs on the sidelines observing or waiting for the next class). Exhausting but great fun and definitely worth it.
One thing I've found on walks that helps him to pay attention is to play the hiding game, I let him off lead in a safe area, wait until he's busy sniffing something and then I hide somewhere, behind a tree or in a bush so I can see him but he can't see me. He used to really panic and dash madly about till I took pity on him and came out of hiding but now he always comes straight to me so he's obviously paying more attention.

I have a 5yr (uncastrated) rescue do & find that some days he pays attention outside & I "dare" let him off-albeit only on sections of the walk where I can see quite a way ahead.

Once when I let him off & he wasn´t listening, he just ran off, crossed a couple of roads & I got home to find him sitting on the step!

I decided then that him being on the lead unless 100% reliable isn´t the worst thing tbh.

We do have a garden that he can go mad in though.

Have you tried whistling to get his attention?

Even shouting "hey" ?

And obv give a treat for coming back?

Often if I have a treat in my hand, doggie does stray far-unless he´s in a "not listening" mood, of course.

Cocktail sausages

I think misschenko has it, by saying you have to make your self more interesting, although I would go one step further and say you have to make yourself the most interesting thing ever to your dog.

If your dog knows that you hold the potential for being the being the most fun, amazing and just generally brilliant thing in their lives then they will want to hang about near you and certainly will want to come back to you when you call.

I think you need to find what makes your dog tick, what do they really really love doing more than anything else in the world? Is it chasing a ball, or playing tug, or sniffing in the undergrowth to find a treat, or even cocktail sausages . Work those things in to your recall training as their reward, the more you play with your dog, the more they enjoy it (ime).

I carry a Kong Wubba toy about with me. It is the Holy of Holies to my dog. It gets thrown, so she can retrieve it AND it squeaks AND you can play tug with it. It is like the Alton Towers of dog toys for my dog. I bring it out of my pocket maybe once or twice on a walk (the rest of the time she has to make do with a standard tennis ball). She knows that I have the Kong Wubba, and I know that I have the Kong Wubba but when will it come out......?

It takes a bit of work but it's really worth it, and it's great knowing your dog thinks you are awesome.

There was a really good thread on here about chasers Caan, I'll see if I can find it.

this one is good, and has a really interesting link by CalamityKate about why dogs chase.

and this one too.

Caan I'm sure you know, so please don't think I'm patronising you (I'm not promise!) but if you are anywhere near livestock your dog needs to be on the lead at all times.

food treats and toys didn't help recall when he was partying with other dogs. Then I tried liver. microwave till firm and non-bloody, I do a big batch and freeze. Bailey would still rather play with other dogs than come back but if I get the liver out all the other dogs come rushing up looking hopeful and Bailey follows them and I grab him. I hold his collar and tell him he's a good dog, give the liver and sometimes let him go back to play so he doesn't think coming to me is the end of the fun.

I was advised to take a closer look at the behaviour of runnaway dog INSIDE the house before working more on recall. Start with the small things. Does your dog sit before you give him his food? Does he come when you call him when you are in the house? Does he wait for you to open the door before running out?

We use a line. I find horse lunge lines are better and easier to hold than dog lines. Some people like retractable leads. I can see the convenience of them, but I prefer something that drags along the ground. Lots of treats. Lots of consistency. A whistle sounds the same however cross you are! When you blow the whistle, pull your dog back until they come to you then treat. Always treat until you have 100% recall. Devil dog still gets the wind up his bum and runs off, but he's not quite as bad as before. If your dog likes toys, keep a special toy for going out with.
We're still working on it and pup doesn't have much opportunity to run off. It's a pain that he can't run about without being physically attached to someone.

Whenever possible I try to build in 'playing with other dogs' as a reward for my dog when I'm training her.

For some dogs playing with another dog is quite high up on 'what dogs love doing' (certainly is for mine), so if you can use it as a reward rather than set up a situation where your dog has to choose between you or another dog, then you have set up a win win situation (rather than win lose, where either you or the dog doesn't get what they want).

You have to be eagle eyes and spot walkers with their dogs before your dog does so you can get them back and on the lead, or just holding their collar before they take off.

It's difficult initially with recall, but easier to work in with something like sit-wait or watch me.

When the dog spots the oncoming dog you can give them the cue sit, or watch me (trained without distractions at home lots first) and then when they do it you can give them the reward "OK!" to go and play with the other dog.

Obviously only use it with off lead dogs you already know are happy to play with yours!

It is really hard to crack at first but has has HUGE benefits, not only in terms of your dog paying more attention to you but as a safety feature as with some dogs you don't want your dog to be bounding over to say hello.

The more you do of this the more your dog realises that by coming back to you, and sitting nicely it will usually be rewarded by being able to go and play. win win

slubber, that's a great idea, I think it would work well for my dog.

I'm sure it's an idea/concept I read on here.

I pinch training ideas from mn shamelessly

It is hard at first, as as soon as your dog spots the other one any thought of paying attention to you flies out of the window. The more you use it though, the more your dog gets into the habit of looking at you and expecting a command (recall, down, sit, watch me) when it sees another dog.

I double whammy up sometimes so

I see another dog
recall my dog
sit, watch me
OK! (dog goes to play with other dog)
recall mine
Quick play/retrieve of Kong Wubba
Sit, watch me
OK! (dog goes to play with other dog)