best way to train when off leash??

[lime4x4]

We have 2 rotties one is a female the other is a male.Never had any formal training classes..Both will sit and give paw and the usual commands.They listen well when in the house or on the leash but if we take them to an open field it's like c yeah.They will come back after calling them 10 or so times.It;s like they don't know there names anymore..lol Any ideas on how to have them listen better when off leash?? We like taking to a local state park where they can run and go swimming and rough house with each other.By thw way the female is 14 months old and the male just turned 1 year

[Sargeant_C]

You first train them on leash and get that down 199% then do off leash. Apparently your recall is not good. If it was down pat they would come when they are first called.

Get a long leash and practice recalls..

[Skip]

Originally Posted by lime4x4

We have 2 rotties one is a female the other is a male.Never had any formal training classes..Both will sit and give paw and the usual commands.They listen well when in the house or on the leash but if we take them to an open field it's like c yeah.They will come back after calling them 10 or so times.It;s like they don't know there names anymore..lol Any ideas on how to have them listen better when off leash?? We like taking to a local state park where they can run and go swimming and rough house with each other.By thw way the female is 14 months old and the male just turned 1 year

You can use a 100-foot long clothes line for training. Let them wander around a bit until they are distracted with something...call them, and if the response is not immediate I would give a quick correction and pull them to me. I would not let them off leash anywhere until their recall is very reliable. Sitting and shaking paw are good basic behaviors, but a good reliable recall is probably the most important behavior you can teach.

[Sharon Marples]

Any reason why you have not taken them to obedience classes? Seems like they have bonded with and look to each other more than to you (prime example.......ignoring you when you call them).

I would get them into obedience classes (separate classes for each) immediately and when you work them at home, separate them. Put one in a crate or lock him in another room when you are working the other.

And, as said above, use the long line to get that "come" down pat. I'd hate to think what would happen if a stray dog came along or another animal that they choose to chase, possibly into traffic.

[RottsNScotts]

I agree with putting them on a long line although I would recommend about 30 feet. However, I would recommend that, instead of picking it up and giving a correction which tells the dog he is STILL on leash, step on the leash and walk up it to the collar. Take the collar and make corrections ALL THE WAY BACK to where you were when you called him in the first place. The corrections do not have to be life endangering but the dog should be WELL aware that not being where you are after you have called is DEFINITELY NOT pleasant! Once you reach the place you were when you called, gently stroke them and tell them "Good". This is a quiet praise to make where you were the "good" place but not a party as they DID disobey!

This is very effective! I would also work one at a time until, as mentioned before, it is 199% reliable, even under distraction. The second dog could be used as a distraction in the yard so each learns to come no matter what they are doing together.

I agree, too, that they are fulfilling each other and don't quite see the need for you!