Puppy recall query

[TeenLifeMum]

Puppy is a sprocker and 14 weeks old. We already have her off lead on walks because she’s got perfect recall (we have a 4 year old dog so she’s copying but even when he’s not there she’s fab). Am I right to expect this to disappear around 8 months/when she hits teenagerhood?

It depends on your dog/how drivey she is/how much effort you put in/where you walk/what you do with her on walks etc. Mine got a bit sticky at about that age and yes, sometimes decided to be an opinionated cocker and not listen, but we only had very few bad days in the big scheme of things. When we did have a bad day she went on the long-line the next day to sharpen her back up and make her listen, but she went off the lead on her first walk and she has always been taught to work with and near me. I was prepared to have an uncontrollable teenage dog that would need remedial work and it just didn't really happen – or if it did, it was far less impactful than I had been expecting.

That definitely isn't everyone's experience though, so as I say, it depends wholly on your dog. I'd have thought your existing adult dog would be a good guide as presumably you're training them the same way?

I would say be prepared that it might happen but it's not a forgone conclusion.

My older one didn't have good recall as a puppy and was managed on a longline but was good from about 8 months onwards. Younger one was fab from day 1 and whilst as she got older she roamed a bit further she never lost her recall. (Both working labs btw).

They are very different puppies… but then we’re second time owners so I guess that confidence might have an impact. We couldn’t watch a full 30 minute TV episode until ddog 1 was 6 months as he’d be bored and chew everything up until then. This pup will come and snuggle for a whole film. If she gets up it’s because she’s needing a wee but will come back and snuggle or chew a toy.

I think I’m surprised how much easier she is compared to our first. I adore him but much prefer the trained dog to his puppy period. New puppy is a cuddly, obedient delight (so far).

Mine was absolutely spotless until seven/eight months old and now he's on a long line all the time - not because he'll never come back (he's actually not too bad) but because the things that make him do a Fenton are not always visible to me until it's too late and he's a quarter of a mile away trying to eat a seagull. You might not know until it happens, so once she gets past six/seven months, I'd be aware of where you're walking her, and keep a long line with you.

@TeenLifeMum I suspect a lot of it is your own confidence, and that’s no bad thing! But of course they might also be totally different characters. Your girl might be more springer than cocker in temperament, even at this age, and it might be that you’re seeing that side of her. She sounds lovely.

The teenage phase wasn’t that bad with my springer - he definitely pushed some boundaries a bit and would go further away from me when off lead but his recall never really changed. He’s always been very handler focussed (aka total mummy’s boy!) so never wanted to head off to other people or dogs anyway which really helped. Prey drive did kick in a lot about 9 months but as long as he’s engaged with me that doesn’t cause us an issue