Right, as the title says Tummels been really pushing me over the last few weeks. It started as him whining to be let out at 4am every night which finally stopped last night where he slept from 8pm to 6am for the toilet when my OH got up to go to work, then 6 till 10am when i got up. Hopefully thats sorted but the new thing is worse in my opinion.

Tummels recall has always been hit and miss but just before christmas he bucked up and we had 90% successful recalls, after christmas his hormones really flooded in and it went back down to about 20%. We got some special treats and worked at it and for the last 2 weeks we were back up past 90% until today...we do the same walk(just to drum in the training) up to the meadow on the farm and today i thought we'd do a longer walk up to the forest at the back of the farm (probably about a 4 mile round trip which he could easily manage). So we get to the meadow, i ask him to sit(all the usual stuff), let him offlead and start walking while he runs round having a good sniff. So nothing unusual happening so far.

I'm halfway up the meadow, i turn round with the treats in my hand and shout him (he's probably about 30ft away at this point), and he turns and runs back towards the road leading to the house so i shouted this way and kept walking(he turns and follows). Every time i tried to recall him he did this, just turned and ran so i kept walking up and heading to the top of the meadow....this went on for a full hour with me trying everything from calling him, ignoring him and standing on the spot, sitting down, moving out of sight etc and nothing worked until he was trapped in a field with me at the only gate when he gave up and came back.

So, basically his recall has gone to 0....i really need help on how to get him to listen to me as i was almost in tears today. Long lines aren't really an option as he just tangles himself or other objects in them and he's supposed to be training as a gundog which will never happen if he keeps doing this.

Sorry for the long post just feeling really low about today

How old is he?? What breed?

Oh dear - poor you! I know how frustrating this can be as my dog often has 'selective' recall. I'm no dog expert and I'm sure other people on here can offer better advice but these are a few things that spring to mind:

If he's been getting better generally, it could just be something distracting him - like a bitch in season you passed earlier, for instance.

If he's really not listening, I would think that calling him will just reinforce what he's doing. As you said, the only time he followed you was when you ignored him and turned away.

Are you walking him when he has eaten? It may help if he is a bit hungry and take some 'high value' treats with you and make sure he knows you have these (let him sniff them early on).

Is he worried about coming back in case he is told off? Even if he is playing up, reward him for eventually coming back. Also, do you lways automatically put him on a lead when he comes back - he might be trying to avoid this.

As I said, I'm certainly no expert, but these are a few things that spring to mind which could help. Also, I realise that in theory it's easy to point these things out - in practice I often forget them when I'm frustrated with the dog!

Try not to get too upset about it as I'm sure he'll get better at it

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Mum to:
Dug - sweet Staffy x
Corky - grumpy old DSH cat
Maggie - cute little DSH cat

Sorry he's almost 8 months and he's a lab X rhodesian ridgeback.

amberdawn - theres only 1 bitch on the farm and she had her season about 3 months ago so definately not her, he's not interested in sheep/cows etc the only scent he would follow would be something like a fox.

I walk him before his breakfast as he's not very food orientated(or toy) for that exact reason. I have special cod and salmon treats which only come out at walks that he loves but think i'll be getting some primula to mix it up as he loves cheese but i don't fancy having a pocket full of cheddar he doesn't like hot dogs and he gets chicken in his food a few times a week so they wouldn't be useful...he loves bonios thats what i used to get his recall up before christmas then had the same results with the cod treats.

He did follow when i turned but stayed about 30ft away, i always reward him for coming back and nope i do 3/4 recalls in a typical walk where he gets the treat and then is released again the lead only comes out at the end of the walk and he's always been fine with that.

He's been ok so far today, taking him to the beach later so we'll see how that goes at least he can only be on the beach theres nothing to worry about there i always worry he'll go into a sheep/cattle field and get shot (he hasn't yet, think he's a bit scared of fences)

Well , hopefully if you keep practising, he'll eventually get it. My only other advice is that when you do feel down about it, try to think of the things he does well instead so that you don't feel bad

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Mum to:
Dug - sweet Staffy x
Corky - grumpy old DSH cat
Maggie - cute little DSH cat

Perhaps he is trying to get you to chase him? Just a thought, but sometimes Ferdie does this when I call him back, gives me a look and runs the other way. He will come if I just walk back toward the car, but I think he really wants me to chase him. I am not suggesting you do so, as that would be fatal, but it could be his reasoning.

He is only a puppy and they love running away so you'll chase them. If he is following when you ignore him and walk away, I would keep doing it. Only call him once, then walk away, see what happens. If it is this that is motivating him, he will give up eventually when he realises it isn't going to work.

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I'm pretty sure he wants me to chase him but i've never done it so i don't understand why he thinks i would do it now...i mean literally every time he ever tried this with me i turned and walked away i have never chased him!

Took him on a walk today with 2 of his leads clipped together as i don't trust him or myself today, also went to visit my parents who played with him for ages so he's pretty knackered...on our way back to the house from the walk 2 guys on a motorbike came whizzing along the path(i live on a farm and theres never been a motorbike up here) and Tummel went staright into guarding mode it was well....fantastic to watch he stood right up, hackles up, ears up and growled louder than i ever heard before...unfortunately by this point the bike was past us but the fact he did that was quite touching even if i didnt need protecting.

Aah the akward teenage phase!


With buster I have to resort to a long line at least once a year for a week or so, normally in the winter as he seems to decide he doesnt have to listen to me anymore.

I have a long line which i use to practise recall on, and he doesnt run free again til he is listening to my commands. I figure once he learns he can ignore commands, he will. So i call him (or whistle in my case) and gently tug him if his attention isnt caught - then treat him and we carry on as normal. It normally gets him back on track pretty quickly.