Excellent advice on this thread! I'm definitely going to make use of it when training Renny. Now that I've had him 3 weeks, he's REALLY testing my limits, including playing keep-away when we play fetch, and not coming when called at the dogpark. Obviously too many distractions! In fact, instead of going to the dogpark, I'm going to do heavy-duty recall training with him. That should tire him out!

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Wendy

Now the proud Mom of Renny, gotcha-day 10/19/2012.



My beautiful Lacey, always loved, never forgotten.
- Gotcha Day April 28, 2008 at @3 years old
- Crossed over the Rainbow Bridge, at the age of @8 years old, on Sunday, August 5, 2012

Apart from the excellent advice about using a long line, I have a couple of suggestions which I hope you'll find useful.

Take 2 balls out with you instead of just the one. That way, you can teach him to bring back the ball he has so you can throw the ball you have, kind of swapping. Just make sure you at least have your foot on the ball he's given back before throwing yours or you may find (as I have in the past lol) that the dog will quickly snatch up the ball and end up with both!

Obviously the problem with coming back has become a very rewarding game for your boy. I would firstly never engage in a chase game, after all, they can run much faster and we wouldn't have a chance! Two things I would try are sitting on the floor, no eye contact with the dog & look down as though you're interested in something. Otherwise, crouch down, back to the dog and scratch the ground. 9 out of 10 times their curiosity will win over & they'll come to investigate this thing you're more interested in! If mine ignore me, a "see ya" and an about turn by me will result in 3 goldens by my side. I will walk away and hide behind a tree if necessary so they have to find me lol!

My dogs would often head off towards the sea when I took them to the beach, annoyingly usually at the end of our walk! Bearing in mind when the tide is out there are vast mud flats, not ideal! I would immediately turn my back walk in the opposite direction then crouch & scratch the floor. This almost always worked and usually before they hit the mud, & 3 retrievers could be seen hurtling the few hundred metres back to me. I never called or made a sound, just something which worked wonders for me.

The only other thing I can suggest is that you take him on some more structured "walks". I try to take mine to many different environments, some wide open spaces where they can run, jump and chase each other , and some other places, more enclosed where there are lots of trees and smells. They don't hurtle about quite so much, but is a very enriching walk for them, and tires them out just as much. Just to throw a ball time after time isn't very stimulating for them tbh, they need the stimulation of a "hunt" which is effectively what a walk is all about.

Mine love balls I'm not against them at all, but I don't use them on every walk & only then for a few throws at a time, then they go in the pocket whereby the dogs will immediately switch into sniffing & interacting with each other mode.

Good luck with your boy, they can be a challenge!!

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Great advice here...I would also add that when they do come be sure and release them after throwing the party for coming. They learn that they can enjoy the party for coming and still go back out and play...it doesn't mean it's the end of the day. Punishing a dog for not coming when they finally do come is very counter productive.

Pete

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Sonny, the black lab, ran ahead to make sure there were no gophers or jackrabbits in the way. If you don't give a dog a specific job, he'll improvise one for himself and it will invariably be fun. There's a lesson there.
John Gierach

i have my puppy on a long leash right now, 50 ft+ 15ft, i guess u should give it a shot, I only found the long leash on Ebay from hongkong, every other place is a lil shorter, and heres the link. if you like, did take em 2 weeks to get here tho.
Black 50ft 15M Long Dog Pet Puppy Training Obedience Lead Leash | eBay

From what I've learned in my classes, they need to DESERVE to be off leash, they have to have a good recall to even warrant them being allowed off leash.

I have a long lead, I say come ONCE. She doesn't come, she gets a reminder tug, and no treat. She comes on first call, she gets her treat.

I'm WAY too lenient and sloppy with my training by not sticking to the ONE come......(in fact, I've been disciplined in class for saying "come" more than once...(say like 3 or 4 times....lol)

A dog is only as smart as their owner I say.............
Some days, I'm not too smart.

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My husband and I do this!! Bear loves it! And it's really strengthed his recall. The little genius is too smart for our own good b/c after the 5-6th time he'll just start walking to the next person even before the command is given. So I'd have to get extra treats b/c I'd be calling him more often than my husband.

SMH. Outsmarted by the dog.

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He doesn't have a solid enough recall to be off leash. sounds like you have been retraining and he is 3 years old? Honestly for his own safety you might want to try the ecollar. But if you do please find a professional trainer who specializes in ecollar training. Both my boys have been ecollared trained.

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Get a long lead and go back to baby steps, using a word other than "come." He has become quite cheeky about ignoring your "come."
This is not difficult to retrain using positive methods; but ensure you set him up for success and make it MEANINGFUL when he does well.
Slow baby steps and setting up for success = happy partnering doggy.
Don't let him off leash until the recall is retrained with a new word. He cannot be trusted loose at the moment. Keep him only in fenced enclosed areas when he needs to burn off steam.
Also, don't run after him, it's now a game. Walk away from him and let him see you walk away. It's counterintuitive, but he will come to you.


Sent from my iPhone using Petguide.com Free App

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I used an ecollor & still have it but don't use it anymore.I don't have a problem with them but agree you need to learn all about them before using one & the results are not as quick as you might think & not as rewarding.Jack & Sweetie walk off leash every day but it took time & alot of leash walking to get there.No real advise their are others on here more qualified except the ecollor isn't a good fix.At least not for me

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[SIGPIC]Dogs know they are a gift from God!

I agree with Tanyac. Goldens hate to be left alone. Walking away or crouching down are our go to methods if 'come' fails.
We also use the word sit all of the time when we are in a distracting situation. SIT! (ie stay) rather than 'come' is more achievable.