Can't agree on discipline!

[LindyLou]

Ok, my OH and I have differing opinions on this one! I need a logical, intelligent, explanation to put to him to make him "come over to my side"- if you will

Baxter's recall is overall quite good!

He comes to my whistle (fingers in gob type whistle) as many times as I want when we are out walking. If he is playing with other dogs, he will normally follow if i walk away!

However, bicycles - different story

When he was younger he would give chase to cyclists. I adressed this each time and soon enough, he ignored them! Well, not totally true He would stop - look at me- I would tell him to stay, and he would let them pass, then run to me for praise! For me, this was quite enough.

So lately, it's changed. Cyclist passes. Baxter sniffs grass or (call me mad) pretends to be interested in something else Starts to take off, one whistle brings him back, treat, praise! All good! Then the minute I stop saying "good boy" he is off - 100 miles an hour to follow the cyclist who is quite a distance away. Ignores whistle. Does a few boing type jumps near the bike, tail wagging and a few yaps, then hurtles back to me, all happy and proud!

Here is the problem. At this point my OH says I am rewarding bad behavior by praising him. He has just ignored my request, yet I am rewarding him?

I explain that I am rewarding him for returning, and by reprimanding at this stage would be as if I was reprimanding him for returning!

OH says that there should be a consequence for not responding to the whistle! Either a firm "NO" or back on the lead?

This doesn't happen because I say "You are not a member of COL so you know nowt!!!" But seriously, I would like to
a) Stop the cyclist chasing and b) Get over my OH's view on a reprimand when Baxter returns!

What say you Col'ers?

[Crazy Cocker Gang]

I wouldnt be whistling him when you know hes not going to respond, just reinforces he doesnt have to always come.
I wouldnt repremand him but I wouldnt be treating him for coming back to you after ignoring you.
 My dogs get one shot at recall and if they ignore it I take off  and run away from them as fast as I can.
When they catch me up I make it into a game and play that for a little while so it puts in their mind that its more fun to be with me.

If I was you I would get him back to you as soon as you see a bicycle and get him on lead than do some really fun stuff or training with him until its gone.

Get it into his head your more fun than the bike and seeing a bike is a cue to come to you for something really good.

If he does give chase and its safe to do so I would completly ignore it and not make a big fuss when he gets back

[Joules]

If I was you I would get him back to you as soon as you see a bicycle and get him on lead than do some really fun stuff or training with him until its gone.

I would think this is the best thing to do    Hopefully in time he will just get out of the habit of chasing the bikes - at the moment, the fact that he gets to chase is it's own reward. 

[Nicola]

I agree with what Jo and Joules have said as well - it's all very well him coming back to you the first time but if he then takes off and ignores you to chase the bike anyway you're not really stopping this behaviour which I think you need to do as apart from the fact that him ignoring you isn't good it can't be all that pleasant for the cyclists either and there is a risk that one day he might get carried away and run too far and out onto a road or something.

If he gets off on a chase when he returns I wouldn't reprimand him but I wouldn't reward him either, he'd be on the lead for some heelwork and focussing exercises although the key is to stop him running off in the first place - keep him with you when you see a bike, on the lead if necessary, and redirect his attention, walk off in the opposite direction and use treats, toys, games... whatever turns him on to keep him focussed on you.

[LindyLou]

Thanks everyone

I will start again

I really thought we had the bike thing sussed months ago

He's a bright liitle lad so as long as i get it right - I know he will

[mcphee]

The only way I stopped Rufus the reprobate from hunting chasing joggers and cyclists was a very firm "leave" as soon as I see them.It used to be as you describe, and once he raced one for half a mile, then picked up another and raced him back. The first was terrified. The second thought it was hilarious, because the faster he went the faster Rufus went. However, one got really cross. If he does make to go, the voice gets worse. I don't praise him until they are safely out of the way. One thing that has really helped is that horrid noise badly adjusted v brakes make. One cyclist did that near us, and he hasn't been quite so interested since. Joggers are different because you do not always see them, and some can be nasty. "Leave" is the command I use for him to desist in all hunting type prey activity. Ok, it doesn't always work with bunnies and squirrels but does with joggers and cyclists, thank goodness.