The Shar-Pei Forums-Health Behavior Diet & Rescue Info and Discussion Group

I have always given B as much freedom as I can when we go for walks. In the park she is let off twice a day so that she can run free and get a good exercise. She really runs far away from (and even more so as she has got older 17 months).

When she was about 11 months she'd run off on occasion bolting out the front door. I'd spend up to twenty minutes re-calling her but she wouldn't come back. So I gave her the inevitable smack a couple of times. Of course this is unproductive because she remembers and become jittery and wont come to me on recall.

Sunday
Anyway with the snow on she would not come back to me after a long walk (twenty minutes re-call) she was still running helter skelter. I even decided to leave in the park . When she eventually came I gave her a smack.

Monday
Walked her on the lead no incident.

Tuesday
let her off the lead she had a good run with one of her boyfriends(who is well trained and has known B since a pup) anyway she would not come to me this morning and was running all over the place. I was really prepared to leave her I was calling her between 7 to 7.30 disturbing the neighbours and she would not come I brought her toy out biscuits everything. I went back in to get changed as I was really running late for work and a neighbour helped get her. She got a good hiding from me. So I know she wont come back if i let her off the lead in the next couple of days.

It is a pity because it spoils her freedom to exercise and she's at risk of serious injury not to talk of the nuisance she causes.

Any tips on improving her recall when out and about would really be appreciated. Otherwise I am pretty certain I could leave her if she does not come back. HELP PLEASE

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Enjoying everyday with B!

I know you're frustrated, but smacking her won't help. In fact, I'm sure that's one of the reasons she's not coming back. Think of it from her perspective, if she comes back to you all she's gonna get is a smack. So what's the point?

With Ginger I have to make coming back the best thing ever, treats, happy high pitched noises, and LOTS of praise if she comes to me even if it's only a step. If she goes away from me, I use the ULTRA BAD sound, it's not even a word. It's like... an "ANNNT" sound very loud, very alpha. I only use it when she's doing something she needs to STOP right then.

Also, I'd recommend keeping her on a long lead until you get her recall under control. I've got a 30 ft lead now and I make Ginger run her little butt off and she uses the full 30 ft. Sure it's not the freedom that your girl is used to, but it's better than her getting out in the road and becoming roadkill or getting lost or stolen... your imagination can fill in the rest, but the point is, buy that leash now and get her back under your control.

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She is turning it into a game with you. She thinks if she runs, you will keep calling after her for 20 min and that is what she does. You should practice off lead in a fenced in area and give her praise and treats when she comes back (never a smack, because then she associates, if i come back i get in trouble, if i run i get my fun). If you dont have a fenced in area, try a really long rope and practice recall, but if she decides to run you can stomp on the rope to catch her. Only call her once and if she doesnt come to her ignore her....do not continue to call her as she will associate the number of times you call vs how long she has to respond to you. Ignore until she comes back to you, treat and praise.

You also should work on a wait command at the door. where every time you open the door you treat for a wait. She shouldnt even come close the the door. My dogs can look at a wide open door and wont even think to run out. Lots of time and patience, but it will come.

this truly reminds me of when i was being a defiant teenager to my mother. i use to say "screw it, i no im gonna get in trouble for being an hr. late, so im gonna make the best of it and im not goin home at all" yes, i was a terrible at 17. but it seems as though your pei has the same train of thought i had. lola is never let off the leash unless she is in her fenced in area, she does get out on us once in a while n we all just get together, chase her down and eventually one of us will tackle her and get her back home. it sucks but im always afraid she will get hurt or stolen if i leave her out there. she loves it the lil shit, she really gives us a work out, sometimes i swear she is laughing at me. lol. but ill never no.

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Lola and Jenuine

Can I ask what made you decide to hit her? Is this something that was taught to you growing up with family dogs? Hitting the dog is never the answer. You can be arrested in the U.S. for animal cruelty if someone saw you hitting your dog.

She doesn't understand that you're hitting her for not returning to you. All she knows is that when she comes to you, you hit her That's the problem right there

What do mean you leave her? That's a recipe for all sorts of disaster. You're lucky she's coming back so far.

Get a long leash or a flexi leash and walk her with that. You can find them 16 ft up to 36 ft and work with her giving her more and more give on the leash when she responds to her name. She obviously can't be left off leash because she's not fully trained and even fully trained dogs have their moments. If you have to get up an hour earlier than normal to take her for a good walk to burn off her energy please do it.

Also work with her in your home. When you call her and comes to you reward her. Just please, please don't hit her

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All really good info. Your dog will not come to you if you smack her - it is just plain wrong - if you need assistance hire a trainer!
I teach a STOP command, STOP is dead in your tracks, It makes me able to catch up ! It actually has worked very well with positive reinforcement. We practice Stop several times and when I catch up she can get to go again. It is a harsher word than come , but it gets lots of treats and praise

When MeiLi is off leash on the beach, we practice stop all the time. She must wait for me to catch up to her. Once I get to her she gets the free dog command. I do have to be careful with her though. She gets selective hearing if she sees another dog or person on the beach. On those days she doesn't go free. Praise works much better than hitting. Sometimes I work with her in the house using the sit, down, stay and come commands. It's like a game to her and she really pays attention to me for the command. Of course she loves the treats. On walks I use the wait command before crossing the street. If you have a fenced backyard, it is another good place for training. Make her wait before you open the door to proceed out. MeiLi was trained to wait at the door before we go out first and not to go down the stairs until she is told okay. This really is a life saver when bringing in groceries. When she was a pup, she did run out a few times and gave us a heartattack. One night it was very dark out and she is a black Pei. That was really scary because we couldn't see her. Please be patient and work with her. She may never be good off leash and for her safety shouldn't be allowed to run.

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Leia 12/29/02 to 11/01/11 Will be forever missed.
MeiLi Birthdate 02/28/06

Never ever call your dog to you and then punish them in any way. Hitting, yelling, or anything else that is a negative experience will ruin your recall before it begins. Coming to you should always be a positive experience for your dog.

Never call your dog to you if you need to do something that they find unpleasant like clipping nails, bathing, ear cleaning, or medicating them.

Only let your dog off leash if you already have a reliable recall trained...for some dogs this never happens. Until your dog comes when called reliably it is not safe for them to be off leash. Teach the recall in a safe enclosed area.

Never call your dog out of play and then immediately leash up and go home. Instead call the dog, reward it for coming and release it again to play some more. Do this several times and then leash up and go. You do not want them to learn to associate you calling them with the end of fun time.

Also get your dog used to you touching or grabbing it's collar when you call her to you to allow you to have a hold so she can't just take off again.

There are games you can play with your dog that will improve her recall. Like hide and go seek and come catch me.

Also if your dog is running away from you do not chase her...get her attention and run the opposite way...this may get her to chase you instead. If she comes to you then reward lavishly and praise. If not try dropping to the ground and see if she will come to check you out that way.

These are just some tips for you that should help.

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I have never had a Pei that would come to me when they are off lead and running free well, i did when they were younger but it seemed as they got older they wanted some freedom I keep mine on a long lead.

I wish i could help goodluck!

Thanks everyone. I've contacted her trainer who has given me advice on training her on recall using a ACME whistle and longer training lead. I will get them and start her on recall training. I know hitting is counter-productive and I rarely do this - I can count the number of times I've done this on one hand. So from now on it's a long lead and whistle and possibly more remedial training with her trainer. I will tell you how I get on.

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Enjoying everyday with B!