Unpredicatable recall

[Kate Dixon]

Its been a while since I posted - Zeytin and I are nearly at the end of a 6 month, very isolated stint in France so she can qualifiy for Pets Passport after our escape from Turkey. Socialisation has taken a massive back step and I have a problem I don't know how to deal with. For the majority of our walks she is on lead (she is 13 months old now) but in the morning I take her to some fields, set well away from the road and deserted and give her the chance for a good old forage and wander and most importantly, a time for her to stretch her legs and have a good run. However, if she sees anybody up on the road before we get to the field and even if I keep her lead on until we are well into the field and the person she saw could be 10 minutes earlier she turns tail, races out of the field and back to where she saw them. (Sort of puts pay to the idea they can't hold cause and effect for longer than a few seconds). Her recall is excellent, as long as nothing big is distracting her but if the distraction is interesting she becomes deaf and blind to me, apart from a backward look which I swear is almost human in its knowingness. She is such a gentle dog and wouldn't hurt anybody but if I can't trust her not to bolt, should I never let her off the leash (extendable but still)? I feel she is desperate for different company, all wags and licks and submission to anybody we do ever see on our walks but life will proabably always be a bit isolated but she is with me 24/7. We practise recall all the time and she is spot on, until it really matters. Is she still a pup in her development? Am I expecting too much too soon still? Will this improve when we get back to the land of the living and have more interactions? What can I do to train her to be consistent? If I have to go and catch her she is growled at, leashed and then the rest of the walk is pure exercise, all fun denied. We have equal amounts of walks on an extendable leash and a fixed short leash. Any advice? Thanks.

[targonrotts]

first off, i would not have her off leash until recalls are perfect anywhere and under any distractions...and actually, i would rather never have them off leash unless in an enclosed area or my property to avoid any incidents(you never know).

practice recalls often and in every situation and around all kinds of distractions. make them fun. do not call her to scold her. praise for quick recalls.
it is not too late to get enrolled in a group class and continue socialization and advancing her obedience skills.
try it.

[Carol Burke]

I agree with Jackie. She should not ever be off lead unless she is contained. Perhaps you could give her an opportunity to interact with some people while on lead so that doesn't become so attractive that she totally forgets everything else.

[Kate Dixon]

Thanks for the replies - hopefully when we are back in the land of the living we can work more on her socialisation.