Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Flip

Original poster

Recall at end of walk gone, please help

15 replies

m0therofdragons · 02/02/2021 20:19

We have a 7.5 month old cocker. He’s been great off the lead for ages and awesome recall with a whistle. Suddenly this week he’s refusing to come. He’ll be great and play games all the time then at the end of the walk he must sense it’s ending and he just sits refusing to come to me. If I go to home he runs, if I turn my back he will sit again but never close enough to grab him. I pretend the walk isn’t over but he knows. I take him for an hour early afternoon but need to get back home for meetings. Today I was 45 minutes late because he absolutely refused to come close enough to get the lead on him. I’ve ordered a long line but that won’t teach him to come just means I’m reassured he can’t play games. I’m gutted my lovely dog who was fun to walk has changed in one week. What can I do or is he a lead dog now?

OP posts:

pawivy · 02/02/2021 20:23

Absolutely normal. Recall regression. Teenager behaviour.

Absolutely right with longline and go back to puppy training recall, like he never learnt it once. It will come back.

It's one of those horror moments just when you think you have nailed it. Nothing to worry about though, very common indeed.

Original poster

m0therofdragons · 02/02/2021 20:28

Thing is, recall is completely perfect the whole rest of the walk but that final one he’s like “nope!” Standing tearful in a field with other dog owners laughing but not helping then an old lady saying I’m an irresponsible owner and clearly my dog is poorly trained and needs to always be on a lead finished me off today

OP posts:

SirSniffsAlot · 02/02/2021 20:40

It is normal at that age but if it's just happening at the end of a walk, I'd be tempted to mix it up a bit so the end is not always the end. Vary the length and routes of your walks so he never knows when the end is. Sometimes act like it's the end and then, when he's on the lead, let him back off and run around having fun for a few more minutes. Don't end the walk in the same way - e.g. use different gates or routes so it's not always at the same point of the field or park etc. Stop being so predictable

If you can, stop using recall at all for the end of the walk. When it's time to go, simply go to him and clip the lead on = the end. That way recall is never punished with the end of a walk. Even better if the clip-on happens at other times to and results in something fun like an unclip and play time, or a treat etc. So he doesn't just learn to dodge you when you walk up to him.

pawivy · 02/02/2021 20:45

Hmm, still normal but focus on what you are doing at end. Is that the only time you use lead? Don't make it a recall. Pop lead on as part of a game, change route, lots if high value treats, lead on and off.

Hottesttrikeintown · 02/02/2021 20:47

Yes I’m finding this at 6 months. Randomly putting on lead at random points and also keeping him off lead and continuing at point we normally finish

Original poster

m0therofdragons · 02/02/2021 21:07

Thank you, that’s reassuring. Walks are a bit predictable due to lockdown and staying close to home 🙈 will use long line until feeling a bit more confident then go for it again.

OP posts:

Original poster

m0therofdragons · 02/02/2021 21:08

Puppy walks used to be the stress-free time in the day!

OP posts:

Sprig1 · 02/02/2021 21:11

We had this with one of our collies at a similar age. We swapped from a 'come' command to a 'lie down' command, asking him to stay where he was and we would walk to him and put the lead on. It was v successful and within a few months his 'come' command came back. If there are logs/a bench around you could also try asking the dog to jump on that and you meet him there to clip on. That's quite fun for them.

StillMedusa · 03/02/2021 01:48

Yep normal teen dog behaviour! Mine's 20m now and only just coming out the other side. Her recall was beautiful til 8m..then bang..gone..
High value treats, clip on and off at random during a walk and be fun!
I also found that running away from my dog meant she chased me...when she 'found' me I rewarded and then..lead on!
Having said all that..if mine scents a deer or rabbit...I have no chance!

BiteyShark · 03/02/2021 01:56

Totally normal. They aren't daft and don't want the walk to end.

Mine is 4 years old and I still have to trick him that it's not the end of the walk otherwise he will do the silly dance around me just out of arms length because he just wants it to continue.

All through the walk I frequently get him to sit and stay and I walk up to him and stroke his neck where the collar is before throwing his ball. This is so I can do that at the end of a walk and grab him. However, despite never walking the same way back, because he recognises where we start, he still somehow knows it must be near the end of a walk because he is tired and gets more reluctant to sit. It really is a game of who can outwit who

sunflowersandbuttercups · 03/02/2021 07:03

Don't just put the the lead on when it's time to go home.

Dogs aren't daft - he's learnt that lead = the fun is over, so of course he's going to resist having it clipped on again

Mine is three and I still randomly put the lead on during walks - sometimes out of necessity (other dogs, bikes etc) sometimes just because I can and it's good for them to associate the lead with treats and the walk continuing, not going home.

midnightstar66 · 03/02/2021 07:06

Time to crack put the very high value treats and assist user them with putting a lead on all throughout the walk not just at the end.

GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman · 03/02/2021 08:02

What SirSniffsAlot says, and what I'm doing with a slightly older puppy. You can also reward the lead going on with praise (and maybe a treat).

I often drive to walk my dogs, and I almost always reward them when they get in the car. This has saved me much dicking about in car parks.

Veterinari · 03/02/2021 08:12

You need to vary the walks

He's seeing the lead/end of walk as punishment so you need to counteract thus with a really good end of walk reinforcer - a bit of hotdog or cheese or similar.

You also need to countercondition

Vary your walk routes and throughout the route recall, reward, clip on lead, walk for a few seconds, reward, release.
Keep repeating that so his recall is drilled and he doesn't immediately associate the lead with the end of fun but instead with attention and treats from you.

The other thing to think about is he getting enough exercise and stimulation overall? It sounds like his walk is the most fun part of his day. Do you play tug or use puzzle feeders at home? Getting home and going straight into a puzzle feeder/lick mat/game may help too.

MaryLennoxsScowl · 03/02/2021 08:24

Mine gets a treat every time the lead goes on, and if I say ‘lead time’ he will trot over and sit to have it put on. Do this in the house when you put his lead on to go out, and at random when he’s out (we have to cross roads quite a lot so he has to go on and off the lead for that), and if he won’t come for you holding out a treat then throw it into the grass near you to get his attention and then throw another closer to you etc, or get him to do a trick.

Flip