Recall to a whistle vs small birds

[cherrypiepie]

We used to let dog (boxer) off lead when he was 7-12 months (we got him at 6 months as a rescue) then the fields were cut and he started to chase, mainly tiny birds. He then ran off twice before we decided to keep him on a lead.

Then I trained him to a whistle: at the dog trainer at home and at the secure field. But now I'm too nervous to try him in the field in case he runs off again.

However Tonight he escaped when it was dark, in to the woods at the back of our house. We got our shoes coats and torches so a good couple of minutes and then picked up the whistle. Blew it a few times and came he racing back in much to my amazement and delight!

So will he chase birds OR will he come back to the whistle in the fields?

There’s only one way to find out.
Is anyone in danger if he does chase the birds?

Set him up to succeed so do a few practice recalls whilst on the walk, then engage his attention, let him off, recall before he is distracted and give massive praise when he comes, and then see what happens when he gets distracted by the birds.
You could use a long line the first time for extra security.

@RunningFromInsanity thank you. Ima a brave enough.

No one in danger except we might lose him if he runs off. It's pretty rural where we walk him. I might look for a tracker so I can trace him.

He too big /strong for a long line as he will pelt for it as soon as he is free and given the instruction and have me over/dislocate shoulder etc

(Maybe I need to work on walking close but no idea how I can manage that)

The book perfect recall is brilliant.
Escaped? You must prevent that.
Massive rewards every time he comes back.

@Wolfiefan I will have a look at that book thank you.

Garden secure - unusual chain of events occurred!

The book is brilliant! I have wolfhounds which are renowned for having crappy recall! It really helped.
I have also used a longline. Not to hold onto. But let it trail. And use to reinforce if you whistle and dog doesn’t come. Can be useful. Biothane ones get less grim!

Sounds really promising! I know how you feel - the first time is always nerve wracking.

• Be wary of blowing more than once. It just teaches them that they don't have to come back when you blow. Our trainer taught me this. Turns out our dog was coming back (eventually) whether I blew the whistle or not. It taught him that he could come when he liked though - not good!

She said if you blow once and they don't come, go and get them so they know they are back with you after every whistle. Obviously you want to avoid this though - set him up to succeed!

• When you do let off, hold your nerve and do your best not to blow as soon as he's off - he will almost certainly not come back! Give him a few minutes to blow off some steam. He may surprise you and come bounding back anyway to 'check in'. When you see him coming, blow and treats galore!

@Wolfiefan I have read the first few chapters in my kindle (sample)and it's really excellent. Lots of unanswered question answered and a realistic view that I cannot get my dog if he is refusing to come back as he as
fast a cheetah and I am more ambling hippo! I will buy it tomorrow and read more.

@User65412 thanks for the encouragement! I played a little tune in the whistle that we did with trainer and went way overboard as not used the whistle in months and I was desperate not to venture into the wood when tea was just in the table!

I was astonished he came back! To be fair if we had gone out to get him he would have loved that and thought we were playing so it worked so much better this way (learnt that from reading the book!)

He was about for about 90
Seconds but he could cover a long way in that time full pelt!

Are wolfhounds fast?

Keep practising, it does work eventually.
Today we had instant recall in a whistle - vs - birds
Whereas last summer the birds won.

@Postdatedpandemic brilliant. Well done. I LOVE the tracker pic. I hope that is dog not you !?

@cherrypiepie if your dog is capable of making similar tracker pics and very fast do not use a trailing longline.
Try using a longline in a restricted place, we use a bridleway with a wall one side and trees the other and squirrels and cats and squirrels and pigeons and squirrels and a resident sparrow hawk, did I mention squirrels?

Perfect recall again this morning the distraction was a boxer puppy.

Then this afternoon Ddog bounced backwards up the bridleway wailing like a banshee. Wouldn't be surprised if someone called the RSPCA

The moral of this tale is some dogs are bloody hard work and require endless training. Anyone want a GWP?

Oh my, I've found my tribe!
With us the distractions are birds, deer, birds, hares, birds, and did I mention the birds? 😆
Stupid, stupid pheasants flapping around and being all pheasants.

About to book the secure field for this afternoon.

@Postdatedpandemic I meant to ask what dog tracker you have please. Boxer pups are very distracting!

We had a nice on lead walk today before whistle training begins in earnest today!

@SourMilkGhyll-We saw hares, flocks of birds, squirrels, little birds, cats, big birds, birds, birds, birds! (Fab username I went there a few years ago- gorgeous)

It's all about the birds! So damn fast.

Have an acme 211.5 if anyone interested should work over 1.5km

Our tracker is an Tractive, seems to work well but loses signals in some gullies. Uses phone network.

We have a tractive. Or rather, used to have a tractive until I lost it 🙄

@SourMilkGhyll was it on the dog at time of loss?

Tractive look good do you have to subscribe I can't work it out / am being dense (to be fair I only quickly glanced in Amazon)

You have to subscribe to tractive, it is £99.99 for two years
tractive.com/en/pd/gps-tracker-dog?gclid=Cj0KCQiA4b2MBhD2ARIsAIrcB-TkYY4cZOVCHy_wyEptJj-INaSEQfob_X7WQTAQwJ0FNN3A2HUWx0kaAgnSEALw_wcB