I have a 1 year old male springer called Toby, I have been training himn for the gun, and he is doing really well appart from a couple of things. Recently when he has been on his walks, when he sees the lead, he runs away and will not come back to his recall whistle, can anyone suggest a way to stop him from doing this ? I have been told by a guy who I know not to use an electronic collar as they can 'ruin' a dog. The problem I have is administering a deterant as he does the wrong thing, i.e as soon as he doesnt come back. Also when he is given the recall whistle he will come back but sometimes only part of the way and then he will change direction or run past me !

Also when out training over a field with game, Toby will run after Birds, Rabbits, anything really he sees even if he has been stopped with the stop whistle and is commanded to stay, he will break and chase every time. Does anyone know a method for stopping this and getting him steady ? any advise would be great.

Appart from these issues he is briliant, very clever, brilliant at retreiving seeking things, good under gun shot, good strong swimmer, and good hunter !

Are you recalling him just to put him straight on the lead? have you ever chastised him after he has recalled?

Have you gone to any gundog trainers?

With out seeing Toby 'performing' as it were, I would think he hasn't got the basics in place before moving on to the next stage.

If he won't come back when called it's not a lesson that's been learnt, only give the command if you can ensure you can make it happen, and keep on at it till he's 100%

For the recall, go back on the long line and start again. On walks get him in close for the whole walk, no free running, you want him close for flushing any way and it's easier to control him when he's with in grabbing distance

Running in, again it seems you've moved on from the stop on to other things too soon, before the stop is second nature.

Now he's got the thrill of the chase in to his system it's going to be difficult to get back to a reliable stop, it can be done though, start from the beginning in a controlled environment, might be worth enquiring about a local rabbit pen.

Thanks for your replies. I have never chastised him once he has come back from a recall whistle, I always give praise when he comes back even if he has been naughty. Where he goes for a walk, he knows when the walk is over and when he sees the lead that is when he runs off (there is a busy road near by so I put him on the lead before we get to the car)

I'd suggest then, that for the lead problem, you make the walk less predicatble, and pop him on lead at random points throughout the walk - then let him off again - so he doesn't associate it with the end of his 'fun'

Agree with Robert about the recall and the stop.

It may be worth also taking him to a game free zone, something like a boring playing field. Sit him up, position yourself ahead of him, throw out a tennis ball or dummy. That way you will are between him and the ball and you've got a chance of stopping him if he runs in. Once he is reliable on that, then maybe try the rabbit pen. If you've got some friends that can go with you, you've then got back up if he does chase.

Good luck.

On the point of chasing rabbits birds etc....

A tip I have been given is : take the dog to a suitable area meadow etc put him in a sit/stay, walk away a few yards then throw the dummy over him, do not let him retrieve, if he moves return him to the spot reinforcing the sit/stay...
Circle the dog repeating the throw, before completing the exercise allow te dog one retrieve
The theory is the dog remains focused on you and your commands to him/her and ignores objects flying around him...
Once you are comfortable with this move on to the game pen...

Good luck

With this exercise you need to throw the dummy over your head first, so that if the dog brakes to retrieve the dummy you are in its way so being able to stop the dog, and then correct the behaviour.

Also I would work hard on the stop whistle, so enabling you to have brakes on un wanted behaviour.

I to have had many chasing issues with Poppy and the best thing I did was get myself and Poppy along to a pro trainer.

Good luck