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

Not a dog person - so pls tell me if I am getting this right!

17 replies

Hyperdogdog · 22/01/2022 11:21

have name changed, only because dp's sister is on here!

dp moved in with me last year mainly because of his job. He has a cocker spaniel who I absolutely adore. He originally came from the countryside but moved in with me (in a big city) due to a job change. We live in a house, nice garden for the dog etc.

big problem is off lead walks. He is fine on the lead on the pavement but the minute we get to a park or open space, he expects to be off lead and starts that high pitch whimpering to get off. Once he is off, he runs too fast and with the type of parks here that are surrounded by roads, lots of people and not fenced in, I cannot trust him not to cross a road. His recall is excellent, it's just the speed in which he goes away, I can't always be sure I would catch him in time and if he's gone too far and say saw a squirrel across the road, I am sure he would go. He goes and comes back regularly so it's not as though he doesn't come back.

so I have tried to keep him on a long line but it's so stressful. He doesn't like it and runs to the end of it so you can't leave it on the ground and stamp on it because he runs so fast, that even if you do stamp, it often slides out from under your foot!

so I am at a loss now as to what to do. He does gun dog training every week still back in the countryside and is brilliant and he is being put up a class and has passed his first scentwork training level. He's a really clever dog.

I have told dp that I think we need to get a 1 to 1 trainer here. It's clear this dog behaves well in the countryside where he has a lot of open space and this type of environment is just different to him. I would like someone to come on a walk with us and just give us some tips as to how we could do this better. I really love this dog, despite it not being mine, and I want him to have his best life and I just feel he isn't at the moment and it's stressful for both him and me! Dp is not convinced this is the right solution. With his gun dog trainer, the dog will walk with us, even where there are loads of distractions around, off lead and to heel. But here, in the city, he just will not do it, no matter what we do so we are obviously missing a trick!

would appreciate any advice as i would really like to crack it - I'm loving having a dog but would be even happier if I could start to enjoy walking him!

OP posts:

glassofbubbles25 · 22/01/2022 11:31

What a is she like with your dp when he walks him in these situations?
Could you use a shorter long line so he can’t go so far/ fast?

Original poster

Hyperdogdog · 22/01/2022 11:40

Not that different but because Dp is stronger, he can hold him more easily. I've tried keeping him on a short lead and he just cries!

It may well be me - I've never had a dog before and I appreciate I may not always be doing the right things!

OP posts:

Whitney168 · 22/01/2022 11:44

You need to put knots in your long line at various stages, so it stops when you tread on it.

Beyond that, rather a frustrated dog than a dead one in circumstances that don't permit him being loose safely.

PermanentlyDizzy · 22/01/2022 11:48

Would the gun dog trainer consider doing some 1:1 sessions with you local to your home?

Is he whistle trained? My first thought was, if he is whistle trained and you have the whistle ready in your mouth before unclipping him, you can get him to check in almost immediately and perhaps interrupt the over-excited first dash. Also, I find it’s much quicker to recall using a whistle than a cue and seems to cut through excitement/speed much more effectively. I have sighthounds and they recall instantly to a whistle, but don’t always hear my voice when they are full-pelt with the wind in their ears, especially as they can cover a lot of ground in a very short space of time.

Is he the same with your dp when walked locally? If he does, it could be that he needs to generalise his training to understand that the same rules apply with you as your dp. Can you attend gun dog training sessions as well, so that he get the idea that he needs to stay close to both of you.

To be honest, it sounds like he’s a clever, well-trained lad, it’s just that his recall isn’t fully ‘proofed’ to an urban/city environment and all it’s distractions.

I think some 1:1 training sessions, working on getting him to focus on you and learn that being close to you is the most rewarding place and doubling down on recall with urban distractions should really help.

If the gun dog trainer can’t help you locally, you can look for a trainer on the IMDT website to ensure they are only using positive, ethical methods.

Viviennemary · 22/01/2022 11:48

Just re-home him back in the countryside where he was happy. Why is a town dog doing gun dog training. It makes no sense.

Original poster

Hyperdogdog · 22/01/2022 12:07

Thanks - I know it sounds ridiculous but didn't know about knots in the long line! I will do that! He is whistle trained. He still goes to gun dog training because he loves it and we do go back to that area so he still has some walks back there. It's just during the week when we have less time and these are our nearby parks. It's not a major issue - I'm not thinking about rehoming what a strange thing to say! He's happy but I would just like to crack this as I think he would be happier! And so would I! I could leave Dp to do all the walks but I would like to walk him.

@PermanentlyDizzy yes I think that's it exactly. He hasn't been urban proofed and I have never had dogs so we are a right combination here!

OP posts:

Original poster

Hyperdogdog · 22/01/2022 12:09

Thanks for that website - I've found someone nearby and have sent an email request for some 1 to 1 sessions out and about :)

OP posts:

PlantsAndSpaniels · 22/01/2022 12:14

When you got to the park, is he always let off? If so it might be the expectation of it that's causing overexcitment. Our working cocker is the same, expecting to be let off if she had done there previously. Maybe try walking to the park and then turn around and go a different way to the expectation of being let off out of his head?

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 22/01/2022 12:32

If he can't be trusted off the lead and you struggle to use a long-line, then the only answer is to keep him on the lead.

PollyRoulllson · 22/01/2022 12:36

I am not sure what the issues is?

His recall is ok? So he comes back when called?

However when he is let off the lead he charges off at full spaniel speed?

If it is the charges off when the lead is taken off, practice at home taking off the lead and at the same time putting several treats on the floor under his noise to eat. Then walk away from him and he will eat the treats and chase to you.This will break the chasing off into the horizon when first let off lead and build the focus back onto you when out walking.

But I may have got the wrong end of the stick

PollyRoulllson · 22/01/2022 12:37

issues is! issues are fgs sorry

sillysmiles · 22/01/2022 12:39

If his recall is excellent can you make a game of recalling him - maybe for a toy or something - so he's not getting so far away from you and he'll hopefully learn to stay closer to you when he's off lead.
But he sounds like he does need off lead time and good sniffing spots though.

user313213521 · 22/01/2022 12:55

Are there any bigger parks in your city? I've lived in a few big cities and they've all had parks which are big enough to walk a dog off lead well away from traffic, even if it's not the most local park (eg Hampstead Heath, Ashton Court in Bristol)

Original poster

Hyperdogdog · 22/01/2022 13:10

Hi Polly and Plants, yes it's the speeding off like the road runner when he goes off lead! Didn't realise this was a v spaniel trait . I will do those games and also practice walking past!

His recall is good and he loves a ball. I have figured out if I keep the ball and play games (like hide the ball and find it), he is likely to stay closer.

I think part of the problem is I'm not confident!

OP posts:

EdithStourton · 22/01/2022 14:28

@Viviennemary

Just re-home him back in the countryside where he was happy. Why is a town dog doing gun dog training. It makes no sense.

There are 'town dogs' I know who are worked in shoots.

Also, gundog training makes perfect sense for working line gundogs. It plays to their strengths and teaches the owner how to keep them happy and control them.

EdithStourton · 22/01/2022 14:32

Does he enjoy retrieving? Because that's another good way of keeping him close and engaged. If he's doing gundog training you should be able to get hold of some canvas dummies and if he's bright, maybe do a bit of directional work with him.

Chuechebache · 22/01/2022 16:57

Firstly,it is lovely that you are concerned about the well being of your DP'dog.most partners would just want to rehome and couldnt be bothered.I wonder,if the gundog trainer would come on a city wood walk with you.your spaniel seems to respond well to the trainer.sometimes dog associate areas with"good behaviour" and new areas with "not sure,feel anxious" behaviour.keep him on a shorter lead in the wood.I am unfamiliar with gundog training(i own collies and know about collie training)but is it possible to do some of the gundog work on a lead.this would keep his mind occupied and reduces his anxieties.Big star from me for your love and commitment for your partners spaniel.

Flip