Poor recall getting worse again

[lecce]

We have an approx 1yr old lurcher and have had her since she was 12 weeksish (rescue). When we first started taking her out we let her off and her recall (which we were also practising at home) was pretty good. However, about 3 months in and she bolted off from dh a couple of times. He (does most of the walking as a sahd) then stopped letting her off the lead altogether. We had been taking her to training classes but stopped because they didn't seem to suit her and she would spend 2 hours barking with me shovelling treats down her to stop her and the trainer making me feel like a bad parent.

She remained on the lead for a couple of months while we worked on the recall at home. Then we started letting her off again (couple of months ago) and it went really well. However, she does jump up at people (in a friendly way but clearly not on) so I tend not to let her off if anyone is around. Her recall is fine unless she has seen someone, then it's rubbish. On Saturday, no other dogs around, she ran rings around me (literally) and refused to come back. Got her eventually but then today she bolted off from me and was playing with another dog. Took me a couple of minutes to get to her and could have been disastrous had it been someone who didn't want a dog racing up to them.

I don't know why she's taken a turn for the worse and why it is so hard to train her. I'm dreading taking her out now. At home she has settled down enourmously over the last few months and is a joy. Outside,she acts like a mad thing released from long captivity . We take her out three times a day - 2 of these walks are long and over fields/woods etc.

I know we need to look for other classes, but any other advice would be great. It is a very doggy area here and I feel like people think we are shit with her - though we have had two dogs before her, but never a puppy before.

Try reading Total Recall, I have found it fantastic, albeit we are still working through it, and 'proofing' our recall in different situations. It really highlights where you are going wrong, and should eventually lead to a foolproof recall if you stick to the rules! Mine has improved so much since we started, and simple things like playing more with her when we are out to make me more interesting has helped enormously. I just have to combat me vs the squirrels, but thats a whole new book!

Also a long line and harness until you know you have her recall perfected. I give mine a run at home with a ball in the garden, and then don't feel she necessarily needs a run when we are out.

An enthusiastic second recommendation for Total Recall. We've been doing it since Xmas and since then ddog has recalled from another dog and even running sheep!!!!! (that had escape and appeared from nowhere in an old reservoir where they shouldn't have been). He's still not 100% but getting there.

It needs work every day, but only takes 10 minutes a couple of times a day. Also recommend a whistle (Acme 211.5), seems to snap them out of wherever they have locked into better, noise travels further and doesn't have any emotion (please come back!) in it!

I definitely recommend Total Recall. I used it for both my Lurchers (the elder one when his recall went to pot after we lost our old girl last year and also for training the pup, who is now 10 months old).

I would say though that the pup, whilst generally fab with recall, does forget himself every now and again, when distracted (usually by birds in his case ). One year old is still very young and it's a lot to expect 100% recall from a Lurcher at this age. It can also depend what's in her mix. Some sighthounds are harder than others to get a reliable recall with (think Saluki's and Bedlingtons for example).

I'd also second the idea of a longline and harness. Mine are always walked on a harness anyway, but the longline has been invaluable in allowing the pups some freedom, whist still retaining control. Longlining also meant I could make sure I was still in control as we worked up through the distractions.

Both mine are trained to the whistle as well. They're very cheap on ebay and as, WeAllHaveWings said, are totally consistent and can't convey frustration or desperation. Whistles are great for sighthounds, as once they have the wind in their ears, going flat out, it can be difficult to get their attention. A whistle is something they will always hear and if trained right, should bring them up short.