Teenage rebellion?

[smartyparts]

Help! My 8 month old miniature schnauzer has suddenly become a nightmare out on walks after being an angel up to now.

I have used clicker + treat for recall and so far, it has worked beautifully.

But suddenly, he is just taking off at a million miles and hour and completely disappearing. I am left in the wilds, frantically clicking, calling until he deigns to return. If he sees another dog, I'm totally buggered too. A couple of times he has headed towards roads and I have actually felt like I was about to have a heart attack!

When he does come back I praise like mad and treat him (even though I want to do the opposite).

Today I decided I am just going to keep him on the lead, but I really don't want to do this. We have beautiful countryside on our doorstep, I want him to run around (and he needs to!) and have a brilliant time. I am so terrified though that I'll lose him or he'll run out onto a main road.

How do you get a dog back when he has completely scarpered?

We have a 7 month old springer who is doing the same. Take her to the woods and she runs as fast as possible away - leaving us standing in the same spot blowing whistle and calling!

She then turns up, tongue hanging out of mouth looking like she's had a ball and wondering what why we are standing around

I feel your pain

Thanks alp! If you come up with a cure, please let me know

Am with you! Mouse is just coming up to 7 months now, and Its Begun....only a little, but still I see it happening.

I couldn't find him for 3 minutes yesterday, he vanished to play with another dog and it was getting dark....first time ever.

Here we go

Aww no I am dreading this! Our pup is 5 months, so we don't have that much time left. How long is it likely to last for?

Long line or extending lead could help. Perhaps take favourite toy with you to try and make being with you more fun than racing off. Walk with a friend with a fun dog. Recall on and off just because and make a massive fuss when pups does as you want. Don't just call once he's legged it! Hope this helps. Used to have one who went "deaf" occasionally and bolted! Hard work but got over it! Hope this helps.

Thanks Wolfie!

We didn't go to the woods today as thats favourite bolting place but to the park/lake area.

She was much better - I do always recall randomly anyway and treat when she comes back anyway so shes prob beginning to think 'enough! I'm having a run!'

Today I took a ball and instead of walking just found a big spot to let her chase and find the ball in the long grass. Which worked really well as it kept her attention on us and allowed DS to find a massive pile of mud to walk in while I was praising the dog

So my main aim now is to play games when on walk to hopefully be more interesting than chasing squirrels/following deer scent.......

It is a just a sign that your puppy is getting more confident. When out walking try not to do the same route, often turn around but do not say anything so your dog has to keep watching you rather than what is going on ahead.
Hide regularly and then give the best treats in the world when the puppy "finds" you.

If recall has become an issue then use a long line and call and walk away frequently and as the dog is on a long line he has no choice but to follow.

Don't call your dog if there is no way they will come back eg too interested in another dog, just go to the dog and take them by the collar. Sometimes asking the dog to go down and getting their attention works better than recalling them.

Recall is the one thing I do not use a clicker for - the clicker has to mark the exact correct behaviour, so you are either clicking the turning towards you, or when they get to you, neither of which is really a recall.

You must remember that to the dog recall is not the end of something but the beginning of something more fun than they were doing.....if you work on that idea your dogs will have fantastic recalls!

Good advice on here - I think I may have to try a long line, as I think I am doing almost everything else. Sadly he's not into toys or balls enough that they'd tempt him. I am using the clicker though for recall, is it too late to change for something else? A whistle?

Wolfiefan, I think walking with a fun dog is where it all started to go wrong! I have been taking him out with my mil's pup and the two of them are having so much fun that all sense goes out the window.

Smartypants, I really don't understand the concept of using a clicker for recall - please can you explain exactly how you use it?

smartypants yes a whistle would be better

feesh, I call and click and when he comes back I click again and treat.

Oh God, I'm doing it all wrong aren't I?

Today his teenage naughtiness has extended to him getting into the cupboard (OK I left it open) where there was a mahoosive bag of dog food (with his partner in crime, my mil's pup). When I got home after leaving them for, ooh 15 mins, they were both sleeping the feast off. He has done 6 (!) poos and is now choking me and dh with his farts!