I do remember that & agree to a degree. I've also said that i can teach recall at home & in the garden & achieve 100% success but that's hardly the same as being out in open fields with rabbits, phesants, etc running around when you really need reliable recall. But I have little choice at the moment in keeping them safe. If I can't call them back & they continue across several dykes then they are lost. The long line wouldn't be teaching them anything it would be keeping themunder control.

I've never ignored peoples advice when it comes to training dogs so i don't know why you'd want to drag up any past disagreements - there's been far too many of them on here lately (although I don't have a clue what's going on)

If you have any advice or tips then they would be well received but if you don't want to share then don't


Thanks for the links. I have read the booklet - I bought it a while ago when Toby suddenyl discovered the joys of chasing animals! I think I should re-read again.

I realised with Toby that it was about basic obedience as well as practising recall so maybe should apply the same to Roxy & start again. I think I was more relying on Tobys recall to influenence her. If Toby turned to run back then she would - this does work most of the times but not yesterday. I think that as I am relativley new to the area this also adds to my confidence when taking the dogs out.

I think I just feel guilty about not letting them have a run around so much but it's something they will have to get used to until we can improve things.

may i be so bold to suggest a book called, the pet gundog by Lez Graham. very easy to understand the whys and hows of why we do things wrong and how to turn things around, 80 percent of its contents is relevant to all dogs not just working breeds

Thanks for the links. I have read the booklet - I bought it a while ago when Toby suddenyl discovered the joys of chasing animals! I think I should re-read again.

I realised with Toby that it was about basic obedience as well as practising recall so maybe should apply the same to Roxy & start again. I think I was more relying on Tobys recall to influenence her. If Toby turned to run back then she would - this does work most of the times but not yesterday. I think that as I am relativley new to the area this also adds to my confidence when taking the dogs out.

I think I just feel guilty about not letting them have a run around so much but it's something they will have to get used to until we can improve things.

Could you not let Toby off and keep Roxy on the lead on walks for now until you've done some work on her basic obedience and worked with the behaviourist?

What I tend do to with my youngsters on sit and down stay is teach them on their own in a quiet environment initially, on the lead, but once I can run round them, clapping my hands, bouncing a ball etc and they remain in position I then introduce distractions. I might put the young dog in a down and call one of my other dogs and roll a ball. I might have all three in a sit stay together and then run off and call just one of them to me. Its all about proofing a solid stay but it takes time and patience. When I can do these exercises at home I then progress to doing them in the park or out on a walk.

My daughter took on an 18 month old collie/retriever rescue about 25 years ago and we had awful trouble with her to start with as she had a very high prey drive. She was also aggressive with other dogs but even more so with people. We lost her out for a walk in woods for nearly an hour, presumably chasing deer and then a few months later she took off after a fox in open farmland much like your area. She just went, totally ignoring us and the other six dogs. I sorted her out but it took a while. I will say though she turned into the most wonderful bitch imaginable. My daughter went on to compete successfully with her at open obedience shows and she was absolutely fabulous with puppies and youngster and when my grandchildren were born, you just couldn't have had a better nursemaid and playmate. I have many precious and treasured memories of her.

I'm sure things will improve with Roxy - its very early days.

Hope this cheers you up a bit.

Thanks, am looking now on Amazon


I think you are right. I just felt it was unfair on Roxxy to be leashed whilst Toby ran free but is the better option. I think I just worry about them too much - if they are off lead I worry the will b*gger off & get lost, on leads they aren't getting enough exercise, etc!

I think Roxy also got a fright yesterday as she was the last one to jump back across the dyke & realised that Toby & I were heading off across field trying to persuede her to follow.

Despite jumping it with no probs initially she didn't seem to be able to jump back & was crying & whining as she thought we were leaving her. She eventually did jump to meet us but although the worry will stay with me I doubt it works the same with dogs!

Despite jumping it with no probs initially she didn't seem to be able to jump back & was crying & whining as she thought we were leaving her. She eventually did jump to meet us but although the worry will stay with me I doubt it works the same with dogs!

That might, and its just might, have worried her enough not to do it again - if you're brave enough to let her off the lead again.

I wish it did!! I used to play hide & seek with Toby as recommended in training books to keep the him focussed on me. He got very upset at first when he couldn't see me then seemed to realise it was a game & started hiding himself - we soon stopped that as I then got worried when i couldn't see him!