Maxx the runaway

[Lab_adore]

Maxx's behaviour at the beach is appalling. Zero recall. As soon as we let him off the lead he runs to the grassy area at the top of the beach and refuses to come back. Steve has to go and haul him back.

Today he took off up the bank and vanished. There is a maze of pathways to various homes and we were frantically calling and searching. Luckily a young girl on the beach spotted a yellow flash and came up and said she thinks he is in her backyard. He was thank goodness. Even when she lead him back to us he tried to run off again. Needless to say, no more off the lead.

All the effort to train him was a waste of time. Right now we are both depressed and honestly don't want anything to do with him. I know it's not his fault but we can't fathom where we went so badly wrong. I know it will pass but if a half friendly person offered to take him right now we'd hand him over gladly

 

[Oberon]

Oh Obi is just the same He does that on the beach (goes up the dunes) and we have to run after him.

We often walk in a park that has backyards backing onto it along its length and one time Obi ran off and through an open gate into someone’s yard. This yard was full of old cars and junk and rubbish and the house looked like a drug den. I had to scuttle around the yard trying to catch him while he gleefully investigated all the trash and crap in the yard. I finally grabbed him outside what seemed to be the bedroom window. I was scared of meeting the occupants and I was furious with Obi. Last time he was off lead in a park! It’s a long line or normal lead only now. We still let him off on the beach but we make sure we have top shelf treats and that he knows it.

Totally get the feeling of wanting to tan their hide and turn them into a rug.

 

[Oberon]

The immense fun of running off and exploring is hard to compete with...don’t feel like you’ve failed in your training.

We use this lead: Long Lead Regular (5 metre)

 

[HAH]

I feel your frustration and pain @Lab_adore , and can hear in your post just how raw you and Steve are feeling right now.
Just solidarity really - we haven’t been to the beach for over a year partly because Kipper’s recall goes to pot (plus limp and lockdowns) and I spent over 18 months hammering away taking new exciting toys, highest value treats, the best games to try and work on this. So much pain (including back pain after a particularly bad wrench), so much guilt and soooo much failure.
I really like @Oberon ’s long lead, with the caveat that as Maxx is a strong boy you might both want a lesson on long line handling; I know lots of the pros recommend this before launching into it, and I can see how they might lead to injury if it all goes a bit Pete Tong.
Hopefully you’ll both feel a bit less like selling him to the nearest pony trader once the dust has settled.

 

[Jacqui-S]

Just want to say
You have seen the grainy photos of Lilly half a mile down the beach rolling in a dead seal carcass??

 

[Cath]

@Lab_adore

 

[Candy]

Maxx and Kipper too sound like gorgeous and very confident boys who have no idea that anything bad or scarey could happen to them. Joy is the most cautious dog I've ever had. I don't know why, her breeders were lovely people and as far as I'm aware she has never been mistreated. Her cautious nature is I'm sure what causes her to be such a GoodGirl. She has been the easiest dog I have ever had in many ways and her recall has always been brilliant but none of this is anything to do with excellent training on my part, it's just that she gets a bit worried without me, and scared. Sometimes I look at her and think that I would happily put up with a slightly less GoodGirl for the sake of her having a bit more confidence, so don't knock your happy go lucky, whatever could possibly go wrong dogs! That's just how they're supposed to be. xxx

 

[Lab_adore]

Thanks everyone, feeling better already

@Oberon - we did bring his extra long lead thankfully. At least he can still scurry around without being on the short lead

I have to say that knowing it's not just us makes me feel so relieved - thanks again!

 

[Charlie]

Oh I'm sorry you are feeling this way but I think the beach is a tough one. All that open wide space is so irresistible. Charlie was returned by one of his previous owners for running away on the beach after seagulls. He still runs in to the dunes and once on to a golf course with games in session. Errr .... very embarrassing having to go and retrieve him, thankfully the golfers were amused He is getting better as he enjoys retrieving a ball from the sea but we have to work very hard to keep him interested in us.

Definitely juicy treats and practice recall on a long line, every time he glances at you = juicy treats. Does Maxx enjoy a ball? If you run in the opposite direction would he follow you?

Don't lose hope, you will get there. xx

 

[Oberon]

You have seen the grainy photos of Lilly half a mile down the beach rolling in a dead seal carcass??

Yesterday we narrowly avoided the Aussie edition involving a very large, very ripe kangaroo Fortunately the long lead (referred to above) saved the day, just as Obi’s shoulder was dropping down to meet the deceased roo.

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

@Lab_adore

More solidarity from our corner: Carbon is the first dog I've ever had with pretty much zero recall. When we're training it, he's fine. But when it matters, he is stone cold deaf. Unless the beach is completely deserted, I know that letting him off will lead to me feeling like an idiot for even thinking I could let him off. He's so joyous running wild that I don't learn my lesson over and over. "Maybe it will be ok this time, he loves running so much." And over and over embarrassment ensues as he decides to follow another person or dog home, usually if there is a tennis ball involved.

He's been whacked at with a Chuck It stick and I've been yelled at for not recalling my dog. People don't understand that yelling "Here!" at the top of my lungs would just make me feel even dumber and do squat for Carbon. If Carbon sees a tennis ball and is off lead, he's gone, end of story.

The only thing for it is to keep him on lead all the time. He's so good on lead and so freaking adorable that we'll go along for a week or so "on lead only" and then I start getting all mushy about letting him have some joyous freedom, then I let him off and the whole thing starts over again!

Carbon also runs into strangers' houses if the door is open, finds their kitchens and counter surfs, as @Joy and @Rosie can attest. He's done it in Italy, Ireland, the US and various locales in the UK. He's not counter surfed in our own house(s) since the first week I had him, but at @Rosie 's he stole a whole just-baked bread loaf. In Italy, he took a ball of mozzarella. Just those two occasions, mortifying enough, will ensure that he'll probably do it his whole life, because who knows where the next bread or cheese will come from? I'm guessing his dream is to find BOTH in a kitchen one day and make himself a sandwich. And Carbon is all about living the dream.

So yeah, empathy from over here too!

 

[Lab_adore]

That's the most frustrating thing @Emily_Babbelhund - his recall at home in the park has been going so well lately!

Thanks again all, you are good doggy friends

 

[Lab_adore]

All is forgiven

 

[Lisa]

Oh I can relate. Like @Oberon, Simba does not go on a walk without a lead. We have the long one and it has saved our bacon many a time. For us it’s not a beach, but when we are on the trails and he catches a scent of something, he just cannot hear me calling him or whistling or anything. He disappears into the underbrush and he’s gone. The long lead gives him freedom for some bimbling around and gives me peace of mind.

 

[Atemas]

Just read this and can feel your disappointment @Lab_adore. It’s not only the frustration of the not recalling but the worry at where he’s gone to. Sky used to have the most zero recall as a youngster. I found it scary as she’d just run - several times being bought home by strangers!!

Just a thought and forgive me if you did this - I know you use the whistle - did you have it with you?

 

[Granca]

All is forgiven

Oh no, he wasn’t just about to be swamped by that huge wave, was he?!

I’m sorry you had such a frustrating time on the beach. Let’s hope it was a one-off.

 

[Selina27]

For sure it's not just Maxx and yourselves Robyn @Lab_adore

 

[FayRose]

It is certainly not just you @Lab_adore , as everyone else has said, we've all had those times when we wished the floor would open up and swallow us, or if some passer-by offered, the offending labrador would be happily handed over

 

[Jen]

I think something happens to dogs on the beach. Stanley loses his shit. He joined a little family in their tent for a picnic once

 

[Lab_adore]

Just read this and can feel your disappointment @Lab_adore. It’s not only the frustration of the not recalling but the worry at where he’s gone to. Sky used to have the most zero recall as a youngster. I found it scary as she’d just run - several times being bought home by strangers!!

Just a thought and forgive me if you did this - I know you use the whistle - did you have it with you?

I did have the whistle and Steve yelled at me to use it. However I knew it was pointless. I did use it when we were searching for him up in the maze of pathways but as expected he took no notice

Tonight we took a gorgeous sunset walk along the beach. Maxx was a total angel; plodded along next to us, checking in constantly. He was on the long lead but didn't want to leave our side. He makes my head hurt