Running Away
by Dave
They are excersised daily off the lead with balls to chase, which they love. We are really worried that harm will come to her - what can we do to stop this? Thanks, Dave Reply from Pauline (Web Owner) I recommend that you retrain your dog. Take time out to do it alone; don't invovle your other Cocker just yet. Go through the recall command for as long as it takes. Reward her when she gets it right - make a lot of fuss when she returns. If she fails to return on your command, don't chastise her when she finally does come back to you. Show that you're happy to see her, praise her but don't offer her a treat. If you chastise your Cocker for not returning to you the minute you gave her the command, she may decide it's not fun to come back to you. You are also in danger of alienating her to the point that she becomes frightened to come back to you at all! It's better to always praise her for returning to you - no matter how long she takes. If you reward your dog with enthusiastic praise and treats when she returns quickly, but hold back the treats when she returns 'in her own sweet time', she will eventually cotton on to the fact that returning immediately is better because she also gets special treats. Keep practicising, and when you think she's mastered the recall command, try it on both dogs at the same time. Make it seem like a game - make it fun! If you'd like to refresh your memory, you can read more about the 'Come' command here. Cocker Spaniel Questions And Answers Return to About Cocker Spaniels - Homepage |