7 month old lab - what to try next with recall?

[MajorClanger123]

Our darling Lab is now 7.5 months old. He's a lovely puppy, but I think has probably reached the 6+ month 'boisterous phase' and recall is disappearing by the day.

In our back garden / house, I can blow my whistle 3 times and he comes running whereever he is - whether he is asleep / playing / up to no good. He just does it like a reflex - runs to me and gets a treat.

When I attempt to replicate this out on walks, he completely and utterly ignores me . He is SO easily distracted by other dogs / people / smells / sounds. We have bought a gun dog training dummy and use that on walks to keep him interested in us / thinks we're fun / hold his attention.

Yet he still will NOT recall when I blow my whistle 3 times on a walk. I know I need to just keep going and practise, practise, practise, but it just doesnt seem to be improving whilst out, yet is perfect at home.

Where am I going wrong? Is there anything else I can try to improve this recall out and about? I feel like we've cracked it at home.... but have I gone horribly wrong somewhere??!!

In the house you are exciting compared to what's around him.

Outside you are boring compared to other dogs/people etc. Plus at 7 months of age he is starting to become independent and wants to go off and play.

It's not about going wrong but understanding that recall often goes to shit when they hit adolescence and this phases lasts for months and months so you will need to be training and reinforcing it for a long time.

Getting a dummy is good but is it fun for him. Would he prefer a tug game or a chase game with you or a ball. I used to turn without calling his name so he always had to keep an eye on me. We did hunting and chasing and hide and seek (with me dashing behind trees). We also walked away from other dogs and people so he didn't 'fail' on walks with recall. Basically I spent a good 6 months solid avoiding other people and worked on recall every single walk many times over during the teenage phase. It was awful and hard work but worth it in the end.

There's a lot to be said for just not giving him the chance to fail during these months. Long lines, attached to a harness, in any situation he might fail. Starting to relax again in a few months when he's older.

In the meantime, keep up the training in the environments where he is safe and likely to suuceed, e.g. at home or perhaps a regular secure/private field - you can often hire by the hour.

ok thanks both - I think I half expected the 'its hard work for a while' comments but just needed the confirmation that what i'm doing is somewhere along the right lines... even if we're not quite there yet!!

I'm off to Amazon to look up long line leads now....
thanks again!

Yes, a long line is your friend. It will help to tie a few knots along the length of it so that if you leave it trailing you can stamp on it and the knots will mean it won't slide under your foot.

My dog was on a long trailing lead for months, during which time I learned not to care that I looked like a complete loon in the park leaping about and playing silly games in order to get my dog to recall successfully.

It worked though.

Just keep doing what you're doing for as long as it takes. Maybe up your game a bit to make yourself more exciting than anything else in the park and you will get there.

Good luck.

Read the book perfect recall by pippa Matheson. Her technique of turning around every time your dog is ahead of you has really helped our 12 month old dog. We're still not perfect but it definitely did help. Also, get them back on a lead, dont let him keep ignoring your whistle or I'll loose its value. You actually don't need to read the whole book just the chapter on getting recall back.

@Speckledhen617 yes have just bought that book! I have walked him this morning and did the 'about turn' trick, which did keep him on his toes. Even when he does do something good out on a walk - he isnt remotely interested in the treats I have to give him! His favourites of cheese, ham and sardines! I give him lots of praise and offer him treats but he turns his nose up at the treats .

I have just ordered a 50ft lead to arrive tomorrow, so I will tie knots in that before heading out on a walk.

I guess my problem is, young labs do need to burn off the energy somehow - I always think lead walks are somehow not energetic enough?

We did throw his gun dog dummy in the field this morning off lead (we have lots of lovely, safe, cattle fenced fields around us so I know he can't get out) and he loved that. Obvs only let him off when there is no cattle in the field! He is getting much better at dropping his dummy at my feet and not immediately picking it back up.

Looking forward to trying the long line lead once it arrives. Thanks everyone for all the encouragement - you know when you feel like you're doing something wrong?! I think i'm doing it right, just need to turn into even more of a doggy woman loon on walks (I have already bought a bum bag and whistle with lanyard, which my husband and kids think I look bonkers with, but who cares!)

Even when he does do something good out on a walk - he isnt remotely interested in the treats I have to give him!

I could offer my dog steak and he would turn his nose up on a walk. Outside it's about hunting and chasing, not food unless it's a rotten carcass. You just need to find his 'thing'.

Ok thankyou @BiteyShark ! lots of work to be done, but we'll keep at it, i'm sure it'll click at some point in the future!