Recall just gone

[MyKingdomForACaramel]

I have a puppy who’s just turned 6 months - out in the park the last two days he’s just not coming back at all (or for that matter even acknowledging his name). Am going to get a trainer back in (he had one to one training from the moment I had him and did puppy classes), but does anyone have any ideas to try and get him back on track that I can practice with him?

Yes sounds about the right age for them to suddenly develop deafness. Mine started at that age, he was worse around 8-9 months then from around 10 months it started to come back.

Some people prefer long lines but I just braved it out in wide open countryside walking very early or very late to minimise other dogs/people being distracting.

What you want to do is to make yourself THE most exciting thing on a walk. After all of you are plodding along just beside him you are rather boring. Play games with him, hide and seek, hunt out treats or a ball, play tug etc. I also used to do things such as turn around and walk off without calling him as soon as he ran past me and repeated this each time. That way he would have to keep an eye on me as he couldn't trust me to follow him (after all if you stand there shouting their name whilst they ignore you then they can go further as they know exactly where you are).

THanks @bitey. He’s also gone off chasing after the ball (well I can’t catch his attention to realise it’s being thrown). He’s fine at home. Am tempted to brave it out too

I have to say recall was the worst thing for us when he hit his teenage period and I hated going for walks as I had to try and gauge every possible event. Any sign of another dog, person or deer etc in the distance I would quickly turn and try and coax him away before he saw them.

Do you recall to a whistle? If you don't you might want to introduce one as its handy as they can't 'hear' your frustration when you call them with a whistle as opposed to your voice.

Ironically although recall was the worst thing for us now he is past that stroppy period his recall is 100% (I can even walk past groups of deer) so don't give up hope as it will eventually return especially if you continue to reinforce it whenever possible.

Hope your trainer gives you some good tips.

Whistle and totally amazing treats - you need to be far more interesting than anything else, and ideally have a bit of randomness to the treats so theres always a possibility of it being a jackpot treat. If he likes a tuggy toy, having one that you only play with him when he's recalled can be a big motivator.
Get the Pippa Mattison Total Recall book, and use her techniques as I find it very effectibe