Off lead training

[rosieday]

How do you odd lead train a dog who is not motivated by anything!!

I have a lab who's 1. He's not motivated by food, which is odd for a lab, and we've tried everything, cheese, chicken, sausage, treats, carrots, not bothered. He loves playing ball and so he's focused on that but as soon as there's another dog or even person about, that's all he cares about so off lead training is impossible as he just won't come back. I want time to have a good life off lead and be able to explore and he gets frustrated on the lead but I can let him run wild around people and dogs?! Any tips?!

Meant to say how do you off lead train, not odd!

We have an 8 month lab. Again not food orientated - she has been known to spit treats out and always sniffs everything as if I am feeding her poison!!
With the recall, we started very young, away from other people and dogs and I would keep calling her back, whilst running in the opposite or changing directions. Its a good idea to keep changing direction as they will start to keep an eye on you as they wont know which way you are going...If there was another dog in the distance, I always had a toy/ball and made myself more exciting than the distraction. I also used to hide (behind a tree or lay in long grass), so when she looked back if she ran off, her desire to be with me was stronger so she would run to find me (I also used to hide in the house and call her, she would be beyond excited when she found me) I think that helped too. We also taught her the command 'wait' and she will now stand stock still when I call it.
I would practice with him in a field or park if you can on your own at first. Run like a loopy thing with him off the lead, keep calling his name and make him excited to be with you. I used to keep a ball in my pocket at all times (yellow so she could see it) and if she was running after another dog, I would run the other way yelling with the ball. Always works. They say recall takes about 2 years! Also if he does run off, just keep walking away, calling him, dont stand still or go after him. That seems to work for us too. Good luck!!

Best advice I took was off lead ddog should be watching you not you watching ddog. (sly looks over though!).. Ddog 1 was bloody amazing and luckily she passed that trait on... Keep shouting ddog back randomly not just to put the lead back on. Treats or just for a cuddle!!

I've not read it, but I've heard good things about this book!

amzn.to/3hBtS53

It's a step on, but the way I taught ddog that it was his responsibility to know where I was at all times was to periodically hide from him - usually behind a tree. Peek out, watch him go "oh crap where's mum" and look for you. It didn't take long before he was checking in with me more often.

What commands do you use?
This way - with a finger gesticulating the direction you are going. As you change direction but keep walking..
Come on - with a beckoning gesture... As you continue walking.
Here- Point to the ground. Do not move towards ddog, it has to return exactly to that point...
Kept ddog 1 perfect for over 10 years off lead!!
On lead? Let's not get into that!!

Focus focus and focus

Your dogs are motivated by things but not the things you want them to be . SO a huge reinforcement for your dogs is other dogs.

Usually this is because socialisation has concentrated on meeting dogs rather than ignoring dogs and allowing a lot of free play or not enough focus has been built between the owner and the dog.

Please dont think I am getting at you. Focus work for some dogs is incredible time consuming (gun dogs!) and you will have to work at it for quite a while.

Things to work on before you even think of going outside or off lead.

Reward all eye contact in the house. - yuor dog needs to be reminded that you are fab

Ditch the bowl and feed from your hands. (no this will not cause issues it will condition your dog that fab things happen near you)

Play games (I am now ready for the my dog wont play cry ) Dogs will play but you have to teach them and some need a lot of encouragement. If you were in my classes I could physically show you how. Ball obsessed dogs buy a tuggy with a ball on it and drag it behind you when you run away. Dogs that do not play hide the toy, dont let them have the toy, turn away when hiding the toy being held close to you nearly all dogs will become curious and then you build from there.

Teach a hand touch get the focus on you and for fun.

When all the above can be done at home in a quiet environment then up the distractions, try all of the above with someone nearby etc.

Total recall is a fab book for recall and worth looking into but you will need focus and this will be reiterated in Total recall book . It works

Thank you all for your suggestions! All really helpful!

He's not really had contact with other dogs apart from friend's dog and at puppy classes so has never had too much play, perhaps not enough. As soon as he sees one his * comes out so he's super excited and he's lunging to get to them.
He loves playing, we play all the time at home and in the garden and so hide and seek and he's great, recall is perfect in the garden, it's when he's out and distractions are about that causes the problem.

He's on a longline when it's safe at the moment and will take a look at those books and keep practicing! Thanks again