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Posted by muttz on February 16, 2003 at 23:17:26:
Sorry - I wasn't able to reply to your post so thought I'd post a new response.
I did laugh at you asking if you could possibly keep a lab out of water! Especially water with ducks! Your dog must think he's in pure labrador heaven!
One thing I would suggest. Get yourself a really long lead - I find a horse lunge lead very good - but not one of those retractable ones. Keep your dog on this while walking - that way, he can have a sniff and a run. Then call your dog to you. Reward him for coming back - then let him go off and run again. What you are teaching here is - if you come back to me, you get a reward and then you get to go back to whatever you were doing anyway. This compares favourably to "If I go to her who is calling me, that means my fun is over". If you do this for a period of time, your dog will know to come and check in occasionally (which I randomly reward) and will also come when called. Don't let your dog off lead until he comes to you immediately and 100% of the time.
HOWEVER, when a dog, particularly with lab in it, gets on a scent of something exciting, or sees a duck etc, they can actually get this selective hearing. The idea is to call them BEFORE that happens. There is this little window - you say yourself you can see the change happening. You have to call immediately. Its hard to do. If you miss it, and your dog does run off, hide that frustration etc when he finally returns. Don't be angry adn don't tell him off. He came back.. eventually. I'd say good boy and put the lead on. Don't go praising too much - but you want coming back to you to be a good thing - and one grumble and he can learn its a bad thing, particularly if he's sensitive.
But, well GOOD LUCK - with a Lab, some water, and ducks - you might just need it. But boy I bet that is one happy lab!