Recall

[Kelsey]

My biggest struggle right now with Hugo is recall. It was SO easy with Axel and I guess I just assumed it would be similar but that is not the case at all. Comes down to personalities I’m sure, Hugo LOVES dogs, whereas Axel was happy to say hi and then say goodbye just as quick.

Hugo is absolutely deaf when other dogs are around, nothing will get him to come to me except me turning around and leaving, which clearly is not ideal… and it’s dangerous. Yesterday was my breaking point, a reactive dog was brought to the beach by his stupid human, and kept jumping on Hugo trying to pin him down, snarling etc, and Hugo would not come. I ripped a nail off trying to grab him He also is bad with cues from other dogs, a dog snapping on him doesn’t scare him away, he just backs off for a few seconds then back to being so excited to have a friend, well Hugo, said friend wants to eat you Yesterday I ended up turning and leaving the beach saying goodbye Hugo and then he came running, I treated and praised and we left.

I called a trainer yesterday and I’m waiting to hear back but in the mean time I’m here to vent and ask for help. I want to be able to have him run and explore but I can’t if I can’t trust him to come when called.

I know this is the age where labs really can be a nightmare and have you questioning everything and then all the sudden they turn in to the sweetest reliable dogs but right now I’m struggling with this phase and had a huge meltdown yesterday Feeling defeated.

 

[Kelsey]

I should add that when dogs aren’t around his recall is fantastic!

 

[Candy]

Sorry you're going through this with Hugo, sounds like he's being a bit of a teenager! I've been lucky with Joy, in that she's always been quite limpet-like with me, but Solstice was a very different dog, who would go exactly where she wanted and when as a young dog. I eventually changed her recall cue to a very excited and enthusiastic 'What's this?!!!' which worked most of the time, but not always. She did calm down as she grew older, and her recall improved. Good luck, he's a gorgeous boy.

 

[HAH]

I hear you I hear you I hear you. And you are not alone! Kipper was really similar at Hugo’s age, so keen to race up to every other dog - I twisted my back so badly because he whiplashed towards a dog on the beach when he was on the lead, I had two years of physio to fix it and we avoided the beach for at least a year after that. I remember every visit ended in tears, and we kept going because of course you should take dogs to the beach, right??

The truth was at that age he did not have the body language intelligence to read other dogs, and was over threshold in that environment so often he couldn’t possibly have listened to me however good his recall was in easier locations. I read the other day from a behaviourist that adolescent dogs struggle so often with body language because they’re so quick to rush in and interact - they haven’t yet learned to hold back, read the situation, adjust their behaviour, check the other dog is receptive etc - they’re just a bundle of enthusiasm without the good communication skills they learn as older dogs.

Great work contacting a trainer, I’m sure they’ll help you to help Hugo sloooow down, start thinking, and hopefully give you some great tips for management while his puppy brain cools down. THIS TOO SHALL PASS (I promise - Kipper is awesome at body language now, and generally chilled with other dogs).

 

[Kelsey]

Sorry you're going through this with Hugo, sounds like he's being a bit of a teenager! I've been lucky with Joy, in that she's always been quite limpet-like with me, but Solstice was a very different dog, who would go exactly where she wanted and when as a young dog. I eventually changed her recall cue to a very excited and enthusiastic 'What's this?!!!' which worked most of the time, but not always. She did calm down as she grew older, and her recall improved. Good luck, he's a gorgeous boy.

Thank you! It’s comforting to hear that time calms things down, even though I do know that logically it makes sense, it helps to hear from others own experiences.

 

[Atemas]

It’s comforting to hear that time calms things down

It really does and I know it’s not nice going through it. It also seems to take forever but you will get there. I think what you have done seeking help is the best positive thing. One thing I have found invaluable was whistle training which I started in my garden and then eventually out on walks and then on the beach. I do remember practicing and practicing for what felt like forever but was so worth it. Might be ‘another string to your bow’

 

[Kelsey]

I hear you I hear you I hear you. And you are not alone! Kipper was really similar at Hugo’s age, so keen to race up to every other dog - I twisted my back so badly because he whiplashed towards a dog on the beach when he was on the lead, I had two years of physio to fix it and we avoided the beach for at least a year after that. I remember every visit ended in tears, and we kept going because of course you should take dogs to the beach, right??

The truth was at that age he did not have the body language intelligence to read other dogs, and was over threshold in that environment so often he couldn’t possibly have listened to me however good his recall was in easier locations. I read the other day from a behaviourist that adolescent dogs struggle so often with body language because they’re so quick to rush in and interact - they haven’t yet learned to hold back, read the situation, adjust their behaviour, check the other dog is receptive etc - they’re just a bundle of enthusiasm without the good communication skills they learn as older dogs.

Great work contacting a trainer, I’m sure they’ll help you to help Hugo sloooow down, start thinking, and hopefully give you some great tips for management while his puppy brain cools down. THIS TOO SHALL PASS (I promise - Kipper is awesome at body language now, and generally chilled with other dogs).

That’s exactly how I am feeling, I feel guilty for not taking him to places that I know are super fun and good for him mentally and physically! But then like you experienced, it takes a mental toll. I’ve been leaving frustrated and in tears several times now and yet I keep going because he needs it. Today won’t be an off leash adventure it will just be a walk. I did have a long line for him that at least gave him some freedom, but he snapped that in half like a twig last week he’s so strong, he didn’t even notice

That makes sense what you read about adolescent dogs and body language, and I really hope he learns sooner than later. Doesn’t help that right now he is also raging with hormones and he’s a big boy, other male dogs are quick to snap at him and want nothing to do with him. Which makes me also really sad. I’m just a ball of sadness and frustration these days

Thank you also for insight with how Kipper started and where he is now

 

[Kelsey]

It really does and I know it’s not nice going through it. It also seems to take forever but you will get there. I think what you have done seeking help is the best positive thing. One thing I have found invaluable was whistle training which I started in my garden and then eventually out on walks and then on the beach. I do remember practicing and practicing for what felt like forever but was so worth it. Might be ‘another string to your bow’

I was thinking about whistle training yesterday driving home from the beach, that maybe that’s something that would break his concentration on the other dogs versus my voice. One day at a time, but the days are crawling at the moment

 

[HAH]

Doesn’t help that right now he is also raging with hormones and he’s a big boy, other male dogs are quick to snap at him and want nothing to do with him.

Oh God yes - I’ve also read that testosterone peaks in adolescent dogs, they have a surge which stabilizes and slightly reduces as they mature so this partly explains other dogs’ reactions to them - they’re basically a huge bundle of super-male pheromones attached to a little puppy brain that is still learning polite behaviour - it’s sooo tough! But it will get better…

 

[Stacia]

Start the whistle training to call him for his food, don't ever blow it if you think he is not going to listen! When you take him somewhere where you can be alone, keep hiding from him, so he learns to keep his eye on you! It is a question of creating a habit. Rourke would always come for the reward of a tennis ball. It is difficult at the moment, but with training it will pass. My trainer never believed in letting dogs play with other dogs!

 

[edzbird]

Whistle training is a great idea. There is no emotion in the whistle, whereas there maybe frustration, annoyance, upset and anger etc. in your verbal recall when Hugo is too busy with dogs to listen to you.

Neither of mine get to play with other dogs when we are out. Coco is still far too boisterous (yes, even at age 10) and Meg is fearful, and with this she is aggressive I doubt they would recall from other dogs.

 

[Atemas]

I was thinking about whistle training yesterday driving home from the beach

Best thing I’ve ever done and yes as @Jelinga says use food as a reward. I used to use ‘teatime’ as whistle training time. I’d go in the garden with all her food, ask for a sit - stay, then go and hide. On the whistle she’d run to me and get a handful of food and lots of praise. We’d do this until all her tea was eaten. It was fun time but serious business too. Progression then from garden, to normal walk, to beach is then slow but steady

 

[Selina27]

I’m just a ball of sadness and frustration these days

Don't despair Kelsey. Our young Labs can put us through the wringer and that's a fact. You've done the right thing in finding a trainer.
Good advice from everyone, especially Sonia @Jelinga and @Atemas.
The worst thing any one ever said to me with the young Cassie was to "be the most exciting thing" , deeply depressing when clearly The World and every thing in it was overwhelming exciting thing to her.

Yes, they do eventually learn some wisdom, but meantime we have to learn to manage them I guess. Which can require diggging deep to find what works and just keep doing it. Building up a repertoire of games I have found really helpful for keeping her close, even now at 8 years old. Hopefully your trainer will help with this.

I know this might be unpopular, but there is a book Total Recall.... I found it useful.

 

[Kelsey]

Thank you everyone, I’m still waiting to hear back from the trainer, and being that it is a long weekend I probably won’t hear for a few more days. But I will look up that book, and look in to whistle training while I wait.

And thank you for the understanding and reassurance that this too shall pass!

 

[Selina27]

And thank you for the understanding and reassurance that this too shall pass!

Something I read recently on a post from my local (really marvellous All Positive Dog Training School) was the phrase "his owners buckled up for the ride" in relation to a young exuberant rambunctious dog, asking for help from the trainers and committing to seeing it through.
It really struck a chord with me ! I think I was buckled up for at least three years.

 

[Atemas]

I know this might be unpopular, but there is a book Total Recall.... I found it useful.

I too used this book and found it very helpful

 

[HAH]

I too used this book and found it very helpful

In the interests of balance, I used it and found it really unhelpful

 

[Kelsey]

I think I was buckled up for at least three years.

This!! I think I have truly brain washed myself into thinking the adolescent phase with Axel was easy peasy. I was venting to my friend yesterday about how Axel was so much more in-tuned with me at this age and I’m struggling wondering if it will ever come with Hugo. And she basically smacked me with a reality check

She reminded me of his loud and reactive barking at all dogs and strangers at this age, Hugo does not do this

His destroying couch pillows, tea towels, shoes, anything he could get his mouth on minus furniture. Hugo has never done this.

His jumping up constantly on everyone, Hugo rarely does this.

His obsession with humping every dog we came across, big or small, and some humans, Hugo only humps Gizmo.

And there was recall issues apparently too. Welp. Alrighty then. I was very thankful for her reality check, as you truly do forget some things! When she got her Dalmatian puppy apparently I told her he won’t be a super good boy until he’s 3, that she will love him to death but she will also be very angry and frustrated with him sometimes, and she said it always stuck in her head and helped her get through the hard times, and that it was true, and like a light switch, 3 years old was there turning point.

So, just a reminder that I need to vent about things more instead of bottling things up because a lot of us go through these struggles, even if we forget we have!

Sorry, I’m awful for rambling

Anyways, a photo from this evenings walk once it cooled down to 30 degrees

 

[Selina27]

Sorry, I’m awful for rambling

Not at all

It's good you have a friend to remind of these things, that you are not alone with this issue.

 

[HAH]

Hooray for friends with memories! May they always use the power wisely