I want to say I am shocked at reading this but to be honest I am not

Gnasher lets her dog chase deer because it helps with her sad delusion that she has a 'wolf cross' She doesn't want to run him in a harness or keep him on a long line because that isn't the thing a 'wolf' would do She wants to let her 'wolf' run free because keeping a 'wolf' on a lead isn't natural

Gnasher you have a crossbreed DOG that needs to be kept under control for his own safety and if that means being on a long line until you can teach a recall then so be it. It isn't being cruel as you have a DOG not some half wild wolf beast

Incidentally my 'wolf dog' had 100% perfect recall and absolutely no prey drive whatsoever, in fact I have never owned a dog with a prey drive as I have always taught a good recall!

You need to get your head out of cloud cuckoo land and get it throught your incredibly thick scull that you have a crossbreed DOG and for Ben's sake train him properly!!

Precisely, Ben has already attacked her o/h and seriously attacked her other dog. But it doesn't seem to bother her or her o/h that Ben could do this to other humans or other dogs as long as Ben can be a "free spirit". Where is the common sense in that? Poor Ben needs to have owners that understand his needs and traits.

OK, I have read through the last couple or so pages, and have run out of time. There is just a few things I need to clear up.

1. We tried a citronella collar, Ben took absolutely no notice.

2. We tried our extending lead, and then an extremely long line. Ben took absolutely no notice, we never managed to get him to come to us ONCE, he is like his father in that respect. I spent several weekends trying to get him to even vaguely come away - unless HE wanted to, and there was no set pattern, rhyme or reason for this, he would not.
3. OH is not "just" a scientist, he is a Zoologist, having been offered a job by no less eminent a person than Sir Peter Scott back in the 70's. He is a practical, logical thinker and no bunny or tree-hugger it is true, but neither is he a typical "scientist". He used to rescue and nurse back to the wild birds of prey, and for a long time kept a sparrow hawk and a tawney owl in his bedroom (much to his mother's disgust!) (not at the same time of course). He would never deliberately be cruel to any animal, but like me thinks it the HEIGHT of cruelty to keep a dog like ben permanently on the lead. All the long lines, recall techniques, bells, whistles, treats, are not going to work. The e collar was our last resort, our very last hope. So far, we have not been disappointed.

Ben has been behaviouristed and trained using every technique known to man, by ourselves and by experts. It is true 6 months - actually it is nearly 8 months, is not a long time, but time is a luxury we do not have. We needed to fix this problem, and fix it now.

I so hope that we have succeeded, but touch wood, so far looks good.

I want to say I am shocked at reading this but to be honest I am not

Gnasher lets her dog chase deer because it helps with her sad delusion that she has a 'wolf cross' She doesn't want to run him in a harness or keep him on a long line because that isn't the thing a 'wolf' would do She wants to let her 'wolf' run free because keeping a 'wolf' on a lead isn't natural

Gnasher you have a crossbreed DOG that needs to be kept under control for his own safety and if that means being on a long line until you can teach a recall then so be it. It isn't being cruel as you have a DOG not some half wild wolf beast

Incidentally my 'wolf dog' had 100% perfect recall and absolutely no prey drive whatsoever, in fact I have never owned a dog with a prey drive as I have always taught a good recall!

You need to get your head out of cloud cuckoo land and get it throught your incredibly thick scull that you have a crossbreed DOG and for Ben's sake train him properly!!

He has it too, when it suits him. My dog can walk off lead perfectly well, even keeping close to me and coming instantly ... unless there is something worth chasing, even old tyres in a field. Hell, from a distance it could have had feathers or fur. At least he comes back when he's done ... . Perhaps I am rubbish at training. Still, I keep trying ...

I can empathise with some of Gnasher's frustration, even though I do not condone the use of an e-collar.

2. We tried our extending lead, and then an extremely long line. Ben took absolutely no notice, we never managed to get him to come to us ONCE, he is like his father in that respect. I spent several weekends trying to get him to even vaguely come away - unless HE wanted to, and there was no set pattern, rhyme or reason for this, he would not.

.

2. We tried our extending lead, and then an extremely long line. Ben took absolutely no notice, we never managed to get him to come to us ONCE, he is like his father in that respect. I spent several weekends trying to get him to even vaguely come away - unless HE wanted to, and there was no set pattern, rhyme or reason for this, he would not.

Ben has been behaviouristed and trained using every technique known to man, by ourselves and by experts. It is true 6 months - actually it is nearly 8 months, is not a long time, but time is a luxury we do not have. We needed to fix this problem, and fix it now.

.

We don't I think what I may have said is that I believe in PINNING dogs to calm them. I can't remember EVER having had to pin Hal, or ben for that matter.

I NEVER use the term alpha roll - if I have, then please correct me, but I cannot believe that I would have done so. I would have said pinning if I said anything at all.

It is great post, and I agree with you Liesl and I also agree with Linda below, as I am in the same boat as her. 95% time is wonderful, but he will/would chase and kill small furries,deer, livestock given the chance ,so I don't allow him to do it. It is frustrating, when you work so hard at it, and I know how Linda feels. Some dogs do have very high prey drives As owners we have to be responsible and manage and control that drive, and I feel Gnasher isn't at the moment.

Not justifying Gnasher's actions for a moment either.

What did you do the other five days of the week?