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The doghouse

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

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Original poster

Spaniels and recall

38 replies

puginamug · 16/10/2022 16:49

I have an 18 month old spaniel. He loves to be off lead but I get anxious.

We walk in the woods and often he'll run off after a squirrel. He'll run off out of sight, and then return, often 50 yards in front of me.

He's got lost a couple of times.

Recently we accidentally walked into a field of sheep and he was gone - which was obviously a big problem.

I've put him back on a long training lead when we go on walks now but obviously it's tricky in the woods as gets wrapped round everything.

His recall is OK but I'm worried it's still very treat based and whether he feels like it. It's not bullet proof for sure and sometimes I feel like we're playing hide and seek.

My question is - how much can I expect from a spaniel, and when is ok to let him off the lead. How do I stop him disappearing from sight or should I be working on trusting he'll come back when I call.

I worry that given he's now realised he doesn't always have to come back the first time I call, it will go downhill.

OP posts:

hatetheplayernotthegame · 16/10/2022 22:34

My Springer has 100% recall.

6 years old now and has never let me out of her sight on a walk.

It's all based on our attachment relationship. No 'gundog' training, food treats or anything else.

hatetheplayernotthegame · 16/10/2022 22:35

"Recently we accidentally walked into a field of sheep and he was gone - which was obviously a big problem."

You need to pay more attention to your environment. This isn't ok. On the lead at every fence/stile until so you can anticipate what's ahead of you. Not ok to let dog bound ahead like this.

justasking111 · 16/10/2022 22:50

Friend had a spaniel sheep were his downfall. He was deliberately exposed to a ram in a controlled environment by a farmer friend that cured him. We continue to call him mint sauce though 😂

fruitstick · 16/10/2022 22:56

hatetheplayernotthegame · 16/10/2022 22:35

"Recently we accidentally walked into a field of sheep and he was gone - which was obviously a big problem."

You need to pay more attention to your environment. This isn't ok. On the lead at every fence/stile until so you can anticipate what's ahead of you. Not ok to let dog bound ahead like this.

We normally do. I'm training him to wait to be released through gates and stiles, but a friend was ahead and held it open for him.

I know this is not OK, hence the reason for this post really.

hatetheplayernotthegame · 16/10/2022 23:18

fruitstick · 16/10/2022 22:56

We normally do. I'm training him to wait to be released through gates and stiles, but a friend was ahead and held it open for him.

I know this is not OK, hence the reason for this post really.

Show quote history

Have you name changed? Your reply suggests you are the OP but your name doesn't match.

Original poster

puginamug · 17/10/2022 06:53

Dammit! Yes I had!

OP posts:

Tomanycarrots · 17/10/2022 10:26

Get the pippa mattison total recall book and work through it

but dogs aren’t robots recall can never be 100%

SarahSissions · 18/10/2022 10:01

Whistle and try a gundog for fun trainer. They’ll be able to help you with some fun hunting style games so you can provide these needs for your dog rather than them self rewarding.

spaniels can really enjoy things like hunting for tennis balls and hidden objects. If you start hiding things for them to sniff out and find you’ll find your dog is looking to you to start the game and for fun- rather than making their own fun.

Original poster

puginamug · 18/10/2022 19:55

I've ordered the book. Thank you all.

Onwards and upwards!

OP posts:

averythinline · 18/10/2022 22:34

Definitely recommend gun dog training although if we are anywhere with livestock we put on lead....
Also use whistle ....sometimes treat sometimes not.....
I was so nervous he was 9mths before i let him off! But one gundog session and he was fine..
To start theres pippa m recall book as well ..
Ours fab in woods....bloody awful on lead still ...

BiteyShark · 19/10/2022 07:32

Spaniels are wonderful as well as being a pain 😁.

Gun dog training saved our life when he was an adolescent/young dog for recall. I would say we spent the first 2 years constantly managing him in the woods.

You have been given good advice already so I won't repeat it but just to let you know that my 6 year old will now hunt by himself in the woods next to me. Seeing his nose to the floor checking for smells of squirrels but knowing he checks in frequently and will come back to the whistle (or if he can't hear me) is such joy to watch.

Yes still a pain on the lead 😁

RedBonnet · 19/10/2022 08:57

18w springer with 90% recall here. He's young enough to want to return so best time to reinforce it. Our trainer advised to use a word not used for anything else (so avoid words like here, heel, come - we use 'back')

Also don't say his/her name with recall.

Always treat for a successful recall. Ball/praise/food - but do it every single time.

Works for us and fingers crossed it continues.

When he's older we're going to try gundog training with dummy lures. Although he needs to learn to be quiet lol 🙈

Enb76 · 19/10/2022 09:05

I have a working cocker with stunning recall. She’s gun dog trained with a reward based method. Even running full pelt after a rabbit she will turn or sit depending on how I whistle. It need patience and practice. At 20 months every walk has an element of training whether that’s recall, split retrieving or asking her to hunt. Mine also walks well on a lead but I’m told that’s unusual :)

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