Dog Running Off To Chase Birds Etc During Heel Free

[sunnyjohn]

Help needed. My dog can heel off lead nicely but will often just run off to chase bush turkeys, pigeons, other dogs,etc. Any ideas how to solve this problem.

[persephone]

Practise, Practise,Practise until recall/heel is perfect.

Keep dog on a LONGLINE .. so he can run, not harass/attack wildlife/be safer from snakebite.

[Aidan3]

Help needed. My dog can heel off lead nicely but will often just run off to chase bush turkeys, pigeons, other dogs,etc. Any ideas how to solve this problem.

If he can access these other reinforcers, then that is what he will choose to do until his reinforcement history tells him to choose to heel instead.

As Persephone has suggested, use a long line. You can just let it drag behind him, it's just to stop him getting the other rewards. Introduce distractions gradually, setting him up for success and rewarding that success. e.g if he likes balls, I would have someone holding a ball nearby, as he learns to heel nicely while that person holds the ball, then the person might toss the ball in the air and catch it, or bounce it. Keep raising the bar at a rate at which your dog succeeds. Then try it with a friendly dog on-leash nearby. At the end of the session, let them have a play.

As for wildlife, you really just need to pick your training grounds so that you can introduce these distractions as he is ready for them. The long line will prevent accidental reinforcement of running off.