Puppy running up to people in the park...

[stirrupleathers]

Hi, I have a 6 month old Shih Tzu cross Tebet spaniel. She is such a lovely dog except when I let her off the lead in the park and someone is walking towards us she will run over tail wagging and jump up at them. Not nice when she has muddy paws!

I usually catch her and put her back on the lead until they have passed, any ideas how i can stop this:? Also one more question, she is getting quite good at recall however when she is excited at seeing another dog she will ignore me and follow the other dog and its owner. This is also annoying as I call and call and then I have to run after her to catch her.

I do bring treats with me when we are out and call her back t ome now and then make her sit and give her the treat. But she isnt bothered if there are other doggies around to play with....:(

Thanks

*Tibet

Have you done any training with her? I would start with clicker training look/touch. I found the youtube videos by kikopup (like ) to be really useful :)

You need to make yourself the most exciting thing in the park. I am much more fun than any of the other dogs, so much so that they don't bother with other dogs at all anymore. For example I keep a squeaky ball in my pocket (that they very rarely actually get to play with!)

Hi, I have done the very basic training with her. Sit, stay that sort of thing. I constantly call her when we are in the park/fields and she usually runs up to me tail wagging looking for her treat. I will look at that like thanks anchovies oh and try the squeaky ball....:)

I have a 9 month old lab. Who was also good at recall around 6-7 months and I naively thought this dog training malarkey was really easy.

Then it all went wrong and he started ignoring me more and more.

Eventually I gave in and got the Total Recall book. Its a bit of a long winded read and took me a couple of weeks to get through the first few chapters as they were a bit dry but have lots of information that makes sense, our pup was only following us and coming to us before because he was a pup and we were his world and his safety net. He's becoming a dog now, is more independent and needs proper training.

Its explains puppy recall which I wish I'd known about when we got him instead of the basic stand in the garden and call and treat, does pre-recall training for older dogs (over 6 months), basic training (outdoors with few distractions), proofing (with dogs, people, locations) and lots of problem solving.

On first skim of the book we thought we could skip straight to proofing, but realised quickly when we read it, we hadn't even conditioned the recall response in him.

Good information on using different value treats and when (I have been out in the field with him with lumps of raw rump steak), and why once conditioned you don't treat every time, but still give them the jackpot now and again.

Forgot to say, we are still in the early stages of training and he is responding well, we aren't at the recall from people/dogs/locations stage yet, but can see where we are heading and it will take time.

You are letting her practise ignoring you! The more you do this the more she will make it a habit.

You need to put her in a longline (used with a harness for safety)and practise without losing control. Until she can recall every time around both people and other dogs, she is not ready to be let off lead, for her own safety if nothing else!

Whoknowswhocares I thought about getting a long line. Will go get one tomorrow. She is ignoring me. She is the best dog when there is no one else around... Weallhavewings I will have a look at that book tonight. I'm starting to plan walks where I know we won't see people/dogs. Tend to take her through the fields after feeding the horses but she wants to eat horse poo...:) never ending!!!

I second buying "Total Recall" :)

stirrup come join me on the Total Recall thread! I'm looking for comrades.

I also have the best behaved dog (when nobody else is looking). Its just squirrels and crows and dogs and other people seriously affect her hearing. Its unfortunate .

I am going to win! Come hold my hand and we'll do it together.