Just wondering what experiences you all have with older dogs and obedience, especially recall? Is the myth true, do they develop selective hearing and become less obedient as seniors? Or is it just about us owners being lazy with training and not refreshing old commands enough? What do you think?
Background for my question (long, so you don't need to read it all to answer): My girl can be insecure and reactive towards strangers, so I have always put a lot of effort into training a reliable recall. This way I can have her off lead and be sure she does not run up to anyone we don't know.
Her recall on walks has been fantastic for a decade, she is such a good girl. The only times she has ever ignored a recall is when she has found something she deems edible, but she never strayed far even then.
Lately she has taken off a couple of times on walks in the woods. I am so scared of her getting stuck, or lost, or reacting to other hikers. Her hearing and vision is no longer perfect, so it is more important than ever for her to stay close.
I have started training recall as if she was a teenager. And she has become more attentive to me on walks again. But she still has these weird zoomies where she seems completely deaf and runs full speed into the woods. I don't know if it's a scent she goes after or if she just goes a little insane temporarily, either way it's a new behaviour for her to run so far that I cannot see or hear her.
I suppose I should just be happy I have a 12 year old fit enough to be naughty and run around like a teen, but I am also worried about her!
