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| Patterdale with a mind of his own !! | |
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| Topic Started: Nov 29 2008, 07:15 PM (343 Views) | |
| Richard | Nov 29 2008, 07:15 PM Post #1 |
Newbie
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Hi, i'm new to the forum and looking for a few tips for me and my dog. Jake is a Patterdale Terrier who we got from a rescue centre as the previous owners wanted to foster kids and could'nt have him as well. We were told he was about 3 1/2 yrs old which makes him about 4 now, he's really settled in well but I have 1 issue with him that really bugs me; he really loves his walks but only has one thing on his mind when out and thats hunting. When I let him off his lead i can manage to keep his attention for a short while and he comes back to me but after a few minutes he just looks at me and then decides thats it "I'm OFF" it does'nt matter what i do or say he just goes off to hunt, I can call him and he's just totally deaf, completely ignores me. When I eventually find him he still just ignores me until I put him on his lead again and drag him away from whatever he was sniffing/digging at. Any advice on how to change this will be appreciated, I've tried taking treats out with us but after a couple of recalls he's not bothered in them anymore. Thanks Richard |
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| zandd | Nov 29 2008, 07:56 PM Post #2 |
Moderator
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:welcome: and oh dear you've discovered the downside of Patterdales.They have very strong hunting instincts and I'm afraid once it kicks in appear to be very difficult to control.My Border Daisy was the same when I got her from rescue.After losing her in woods for over 2 hours I decided I couldn't cope anymore with this.I did not want to keep her on-lead all the time so we spent a lot of time on the beach and in public parks where there were no scents to follow working on her recall without distractions.Is this viable for you? She has improved enormously but sadly I still don't trust her in very heavy wooded areas where there is a lot of undergrowth that entices her so we avoid these,but in lighter woods and fields she's o much better now - even returned from chasing a fox one day :o She was easier than Jake sounds because she's the greediest little pig so treats work very well with her.Is Jake interested in squeaky toys say.If so maybe keeping one special toy that he doesn't have at any time except training may help with recall,or try a gundog whistle - many Terriers will respond to one.But you may just have to reconsider where he is walked,obviously there are dangers in a dog vanishing and not returning when called. |
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| Richard | Nov 29 2008, 09:38 PM Post #3 |
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Newbie
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We live on a 1700 acre farm with about 600 acre of woodland so avoiding scents is quite difficult !. Squeaky toys - hmmm, the last one we got him lasted about 10 secs before the squeak was out and it was no longer a squeaky toy. I think I'll try a gundog whistle, we have one for our cocker, she's pretty good at coming back but when they're both together they just please themselves for ages before one of them comes back. At least when he does go off on his own he's usually on our land and does reapper eventually, but he's usually down the barns looking for rats :lol: |
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| zandd | Nov 29 2008, 09:43 PM Post #4 |
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Moderator
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:rolleyes: right well yes 1700 acres - why would you want to take them elsewhere for a walk :lol: Might be heresy and I may well be shotdown for suggesting it but if he is definitely on your land and not harassing other livestock etc is it really such a worry? Does he go to ground at all,every Terrier owners nightmare that one.And he's doing a good job with the rats ;) |
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| Tafia | Nov 29 2008, 09:46 PM Post #5 |
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Total Gas Bag!
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My eldest will be 8 in January and naturally only has one interest in life, hunting so you have my sympathy! I had to find other interests for her, ones that I could be involved in cos basically I'm just plain rubbish at ratting, rabbitting and chasing the odd fox. I still have to play lots of games etc to keep her attention and unless she's absolutely exercised out I can't take my attention off her for a second, if i do she's gone hunting. Some dogs you can just take for a walk and others you have to work with. High value treats won't cut it with these dogs unfortunately but you can attempt to turn that obsessive gene to your advantage with pretty rock solid results. What's he interested in playing with, squeeky's? Tuggy's? Choose what it is, build on it, give it a key word and then keep it for walks and then have lots of fun utilising it. I'm imaging that he's a bright dog and bright dogs love nothing more than learning as long as it's interesting and fun - the more you do together, the more they llisten to you. Now I can still loose Boo for a while but I'm 100% confident that immediately she's finished she'll return and I really like Zandd's suggestion of beach walks. She's right - their behaviour is totally different there to in a woodland setting. |
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| Tafia | Nov 29 2008, 09:50 PM Post #6 |
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Total Gas Bag!
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Just read the rest of the thread! If I had 1700 acres and thought that the dogs weren't going to inconvenience anyone then I'd probably just let them get on with it - I might invest in one of those tracking divises to be on the safe side though! |
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| Richard | Nov 29 2008, 10:13 PM Post #7 |
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Newbie
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I would'nt mind him roaming about on his own but sometimes he thinks anything thats moves is fair game, I watched him one day with the cattle and he never gave up investigating them even when one rolled him about a bit, I'd hate him to get injured or worse. I don't think I'd trust him with the sheep and lambs either really. Now I might be treading on thin ice here but has anyone ever tried one of those spray collars or are they not highly thought of ? |
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| Tafia | Nov 29 2008, 10:20 PM Post #8 |
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Total Gas Bag!
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No never used one but that only because I haven't had to. Yeah well I can totally understand how you feel where the livestock is concerned. I was talking to a friend about this self same subject a while ago and she said that they chucked their pups in with an old ewe .... I can understand how that would work but not so sure about an older dog. Think you need to get some proper advice maybe from a professional. |
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| Richard | Nov 29 2008, 10:27 PM Post #9 |
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Newbie
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We have 3 tups with the ewes at the minute, maybe chuck him in a shed with them when they've done the business :D . I may try a pro for a bit of advice as I want him to carry on ratting etc. but need him to ignore the sheep. Think I'll leave him next time he disappears and see how long it takes him to come home, I just don't like not knowing where he is !! |
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| Richard | Nov 29 2008, 10:36 PM Post #10 |
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Newbie
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Oh and yes he loves going down fox holes aswell :err: |
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| zandd | Nov 29 2008, 10:54 PM Post #11 |
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Moderator
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:( your last post throws a totally different perspective then.I'm sure you're aware this is extremely dangerous for Terriers.Think a pro is needed here as well,Angela Stockdale has an impressive record with livestock and dogs,not sure where you are,she's down here in Somerset up on Exmoor.May be worthwhile talking to some working terrier owners as well,any Working Terrier/Lurcher shows in your area? |
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| Linda & Fred | Dec 6 2008, 09:59 AM Post #12 |
Chatterbox
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Spray collars - I was recommended to get one for Fred by the behaviourist who came to see him, but so far I have not felt I needed to. If you do get one it is essential you get a professional in to train you how to use it. If he is going down holes then I suggest you do get one of those trackers. If there is a cave in, or he gets hurt you may never know what happened to him. I know it is a different breed and a different method of searching out prey, but my Greyhound will never come back if she has something in her sights. I can't get her away from rabbit holes, but if she's chasing a squirrel she will come back when it's gone and do most of her 'hunting' from my side. The first time she went off she was gone for a very nerve-wracking half an hour, but is never gone that long now - as I don't drag her away I assume she feels there is no reason not to come back? |
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| piwoodhouse | Dec 7 2008, 03:35 AM Post #13 |
Total Gas Bag!
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First question, obviously: are you married? :lol: :lol: Seriously, I've had a slight problem recently with my male Cairn who ever since the arrival of our younger female has decided he is our personal bodyguard and heaven help any friendly but bouncy dog who cantered over to introduce himself on our walks! I felt as if I needed to reinstate myself as She Who Must Be Obeyed At All Times. Someone recommended the Multivet Spray Commander - operating from remote, it gives a dog a quick blast of scentless or citronella spray and I can tell you it has stopped Widget in his tracks when having a go at some poor unfortunate dog he's taken a dislike to. In the space of a week, he has dropped this rather unpleasant behaviour and is sweetness and light with dogs we bump into now. It has also cured him of jumping up to greet people and of course the spray is totally harmless so while I'm not using it excessively anyway I don't feel guilty either! The feeling of control/confidence I now have is incredible. I bought mine off Ebay for a total cost of £67 and honestly, I feel it was money well spent. I can think of so many different application where it could be used successfully, from chasing, scent marking to aggression etc. And of course since you can operate it from a distance of 350ft, the dog, once sprayed, runs straight back to YOU because it sees you as security! |
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| ziggyhendry | Jan 27 2009, 12:25 AM Post #14 |
Squeaker
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I've got a Patterdale like this. Thankfully he's very much a mummies boy so as long as I keep his attention and keep him interested in his ball he's not too bad. I try to avoid woodland but obviously this is not feasible for you! I did try a spray collar for him initially but his hunting instinct was too strong and he just ran through it so may be better with a behaviourist initially. |
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| RJL | Jan 27 2009, 12:34 AM Post #15 |
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Chatterbox
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I love the title of this topic :) I have yet to meet a Patterdale who did not have a mid of his own :rolleyes: Are you around still to update us on progress Richard? |
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