Recall training for an adult dog - horrible park incident

[Quickdraw23]

Hi there,

has anyone any advice for revising recall training for a 5 year old dog.

my dog is normally very reliable with recall but I’ve had an incident in the park today that has really shaken me.

i was walking my spaniel around the same playing fields that we go on most days with DS (11 months) in the pram. My dog came back every time I called her until we reached the last bit of the walk when we met a man with two dogs, one on the lead one off the lead.

My dog bounded towards them to sniff and I called her because I saw his dog was on the lead, but she didn’t come which is really out of character, she struck a playful stance in front of the dog on the lead. He began swearing at me, calling me a fucking idiot and telling me to get her back on the lead.

I was calling her, but she thought it was a game and was dancing around trying to entice his dogs to play. He kept swearing at me, then began walking his dog towards her intentionally and encouraging it to attack, so she thought even more it was a game. I shouted at him to stop it and that he was winding her up and to walk away and he kept screaming that I’m a fucking idiot and shouldn’t have my dog off the lead. I was calling her all the time but she was so excited. He was then walking towards her trying to kick her and I was shouting at him to stop it and he kept swearing at me.

I was trying to get my dog back on the lead and keep checking back on DS who was parked in the pram about 6m away from where this is was happening. It was horrendous. the whole thing probably lasted about two minutes and he was verbally abusing me throughout. I kept saying to him “I’m trying to get her back on” and she kept dancing around because she thought it was all a game. He just kept swearing at me calling me a fucking idiot.

I told him to go away and that I would not be talking to him in front of my baby. It’s the only thing I could think to say. I was scared. A woman nearby actually told him he needed to walk his dogs away and he just kept moving towards my dog and shouting and swearing at me.

Ive walked my dog there for over three years and never had anything like this happen before. We did lots of recall training. I know she should have come back when I called her, and if a dog on a lead snapped or bit her because she hadn’t come away I would blame my dog not the dog on the lead, but it’s so out of character for her not to come back.

I’m ordering a retractable lead right now, I don’t feel safe walking her off the lead again, but does anyone have any advice on recall drills or training I can do? Is it just back to basics?

Please be gentle with me, I know my dog was in the wrong for not coming back, but I’m so upset. I’m scared of bumping into him on that park again even if she is on the lead 😞

Yes I wasn’t thinking properly, I won’t get a retractable I will get a long line and only use the short lead if I’ve got my child with me.

Sounds like he has a reactive dog and was trying to warn you and basically got annoyed that your dog wasn’t controlled. He had no right to abuse you though but I can understand his point of view. I hope you’re ok and not too distressed . That being said you need to keep your dog on a lead now at all times till she’s lead trained.

My spaniel has never blown a recall in 13 years, but she still goes on the lead when I see anyone in the distance. Dogs don’t need to play with each other; she is off lead when it’s clear and she goes back on to pass people or other dogs, whether they are off lead or not. It’s just the best way IMO. If we stop and chat and both parties are agreeable then I might let her off for a play (not now as she’s a grand old lady and not about that life!) but otherwise she goes on lead until we pass and then she goes off again.

I wouldn’t keep a young spaniel on lead at all times, they are not a on-lead kind of breed, but I would choose destinations for walks carefully and make sure you are aware and can see people/dogs incoming from a distance. I wouldn’t go to a park personally, too much going on. We stick to woodland, trails, etc.

As for resources, we used Total Recall book with our dog as a puppy and found it very useful.

I agree with others, he needs to stay on the lead. I have a child who is scared of dogs and I’m so fed up of people walking dogs (in parks with playgrounds) where the dogs run up to us, he’s terrified and the owner comes bumbling along minutes later saying ‘it’s ok, he’s friendly’.

My MIL has a lab who is exactly like this and she’s always telling us stories of people being annoyed- it’s so frustrating.

I understand the frustration totally, and I’ve never had this happen before, she normally ignores dogs and people, but will play if an off lead dog approaches her. I wasn’t making excuses for her I was apologising and trying to catch her, but he just kept swearing at me and running at her and trying to kick her.

I’ve said repeatedly I will be walking her on a lead now in this situation.

Yes. This is a brilliant book. Follow her advice and it will work.

I agree with this 100%

Terrible idea...cruel and unnecessary

Yes your way is of course the most sensible and will definitely be pro-active about taking this approach if we get to that place following more training.

it is my fault as I also normally put her back on if someone is in the distance, especially if I see they have their dog on the lead, and I didn’t spot him until too late today as my thoughts were elsewhere. I’d had a difficult day already.

I’m completely mortified and I’m just not used to being shouted and sworn at like that.

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks well said.

More generally I don't understand why some people expect impeccable behaviour from all dogs in all circumstances, even when someone is winding them up, but excuse the kind of over reaction by people that makes the situation worse, on the grounds that the person was exasperated, fed up, caught off guard or whatever. It seems odd to expect more self control from the one who has less cognitive ability and fewer options to choose from.

I can trump the 'he's friendly crowd'.
Even worse are the 'be nice crowd'.
Off-lead dog approaching my on-lead dog and the owner instructs it to "be nice". I wonder why she felt the need to say that.

Honestly, these things happen. It’s just unfortunate for you that it happened with an absolute twat of a human. I can imagine how shaken you are but at the end of the day, it’s a very minor thing, no one was hurt, nothing bad really happened other than someone with an anger problem got annoyed. Try not to worry about it any more.

The other owner over reacted and deliberately escalated the whole thing. I also suspect he wouldn't have done it if you were a man so the woman thing IS relevant IMO. We all know the type of bonehead this was 🙄he was probably spoiling for a fight somewhere... I suspect you probably made his day.

There was no need for him to react like that.

Countless times I have had many dogs rush my shy dog, with flustered owners getting them back under control, and not once, ever, have I deliberately escalated the situation and blown my gasket. It is annoying, of course, but I have never acted the way he did. No need at all.

It is really unfortunate that your dog chose THIS particular person/dogs as the rare occasion to blow off a recall!

I was told by two trainers (in different words, one said ‘my god don’t even try to let a spaniel off the lead in public!’, that Spaniels are most likely in the dog to randomly decide at the worst moment not to come back to you, they have the best sense of smell, and are easily distracted. He said they can be trained to the nth degree and then let you down and people who haven’t had this have just been lucky

My stock response is “my dog isn’t and I won’t stop her biting yours”.

She’s never bitten anyone ever, but she does growl and snarl and snap and I give her full permission to stand her ground if crowded by an unfriendly dog.

The guidance and advice you need is all in the book Total Recall by Pippa Mattison. It's brilliant. Mine has rock solid recall from following the advice to a tee. Even age five the advice is still something you can follow.
put it behind you and get a plan. You'll have an even stronger relationship off the back of it.

If he had one dog on lead and one dog off lead ... im not sure why your dog had to go on lead anyway? The on lead dog was obviously ok with the other off lead dog?

But what if it kicks off?
I just got mine away and no problems but one dog growling, snarling and snapping at another one and things can escalate quickly.

As long as you have you child with you, your attention and demands are split. You can’t properly supervise an off lead dog and deal with any errant behavior while also staying with your child. You might have been able to go to your dog instantly if you were alone, but you were not.

When your dog behaves inappropriately, other people and animals may not respond in the way that perfectly de-escalates the situation. You should always be prepared for that.

Your dog should not have been off lead.

Agree.

It sounds a horrible experience, but I would chalk it up to experience. He sounds like the man antagonised the situation, thus making the situation worse. You did try to recall your dog, and then go and retrieve it, which was the right thing to do.

Thank you very much for the helpful suggestions everyone. I will be ordering the book that has been recommended by multiple posters.

thanks as well to everyone who has taken the time to further twist the knife when I have already made it clear how mortified I am by the situation, and how I intend to learn from it. I hope you enjoyed your dopamine hit.

You don’t do recall training in a public park, for a start…

OP, mabey the man has assumed you are "on of those morons whos dog has never done it before". You know the type who actually never put them on a lead etc

i know you are not but just to put another perspective on it

Vibration collars (NOT e collars) are good for getting their attention when they f off

for now, long line and hire a field when you want them to have a good off lead safe play