suddenly stubborn-selective listening

[Estella'smom]

Stella has suddenly turned stubborn. She seem s to have selective listening. When it is time for a walk, she always has to sit before I put her leash on. She used to sit immediately. Now I have to repeat myself and even push her but down to get her to sit. Interestingly, if I have a food item in view, she will sit immediately.

Worse, she has always walked off leash in our linear park and had good recall. She would love these outing running with other dogs. Now, she will zip off in to the forest and ignore my calls for 5 minutes. I can see her zooming in and out of the trees. It is always in the same spot on the trail.

An owner of an aussie recommended a vibrating collar to alert her when she has gone too far. Thoughts?

She just turned 2, BTW.

 

[Caro]

Forget a vibrating collar. I have a vibrating bark collar and let me tell you, it instils fear when they see it. Put it on and they won't even move, they are that scared by it. The vibrating is like a vibrating mobile phone. So honestly, putting one on a soft dog like a sheltie (frankly I wouldn't put it on an Aussie either) may be asking for the dog to run off and not return at all.

Do you walk the same route all the time? I've found this can be a problem for recall. They get so familiar with the area it's like wandering around at home, they feel safe enough to separate from you. If I keep going to the same place and then let my two off lead Deska will head for rubbish bins and Tully will go off in search of bunnies or kangaroos and I'll be left alone. Best way I found to prevent it is change walking places. Plus Deska rarely gets off lead in places where he tends to wander off to bins. It's a behaviour he isn't going to change so he just has to be on lead in those areas (usually a long lead or flexi lead on a harness).

When you reach the area she wanders off, put her back on lead (a long line would be good) and go with her. Don't let her rehearse the behaviour.

And with the sit - yea all dogs just get complacent. Wait her out, don't force it.

 

[Estella'smom]

Your reply made me laugh out loud.

Stella is very opposed to articles of clothing. At the groomer, they will giver her a jaunty bandana to wear. Once they put the bandana on, Stella will refuse to move until the bandana is removed. I think you are spot on about the vibrating collar. Once she got a sense of what it does, she would go on strike.

Stella always goes on walkabout on the same point on the trail. My husband theorizes that there are lots of deer scents and droppings in this area. Deer poo is like caviar to Stella.

I think you are right about mixing things up. We will try some new haunts for a time. I will take my money that I was planing to spend on the vibrating collar and spend it on a long lead.

Thanks for the good advice!