My BT Harley is 1 yr old (14 mos) and I'm getting frustrated because his recall skills are so bad - he has been through kindergarten and jr. high at the puppy school and has passed with flying colors - but once we step foot into the real world he suddenly "forgets" everything he learned. When I'm 1-on-1 with him, he is great - he does all his tricks (sit, down, shake, high 5, etc) and is very good and well behaved. It's just some fundamental things that he hasn't mastered yet - despite daily training and routine. My dog trainer actually told me that he is trying to outsmart me - I know he smart!! I'm wondering if anyone here has a similar experience and if so, how do you correct this behavior?

Here are some examples:

When we're at the dog park, he knows when it's about time to leave - even*before I take out the leash or stand up to approach him, he gets a look in his eye that he knows, and he becomes impossible to catch. Once I stand up or he sees the leash, he will run away if I take a step near him, unless he is so tired that he wants to leave. Sometimes it takes me over 1/2 hour to catch him!

When we're at home and we're getting ready to go somewhere - if he doesn't want to go, he will run under the dining room table and not come out when called. If you squat down near him to try to grab him, he runs all over the house and then back under the table. It's really hard to catch him, even with a really high value treat (bacon, meatballs, etc).

Harley is very independent, and not afraid of anything. He would rather be alone exploring and running around than by your side. He once accidentally got out of our gated parking area when a neighbor came in (we were playing fetch) - and I ended up chasing him about a mile through the neighborhood. It was frustrating because I even stopped and called him very enthusiastically (not in a "you're in trouble" kind of way, but a "lets go!" way) and he didn't come. Finally I trapped him in a fenced parking lot and he couldn't run past me. It was so scary - it was nighttime and he is black. Fortunately I was wearing sneakers and he has a white fur band around his neck that I could see! He's escaped like this about 3 times...

Any suggestions? Ideally I'd like him to be good off leash at some point in his life - or at least be able to have him come to me when called... he is definitely a smart cookie and you can see the wheels turning in his head with just one look at him!

OMG!!! He's SO CUTE!!!! Don't worry, diesel was like that. I think they calm down with age. for the first couple of years we had him when my dad would go out in the yard (not fenced) we'd tie him to a tree with a realy long leash. He used to try to dig in between the roots and since it was so hard he really hasn't tried anywhere else. Now he knows the boundries of the yard. I think the last time he took off in the neighbor hood it had been raining so there was mud everywhere and of course he had to run through all of it, and you can forget chasing him. I ended up catching him by tricking him into thinking he was getting a car ride. by then I was so pissed that he, my car and I was muddy I gave him a bath and I wasn't really the nicest about it, plus he doesn't like water unless he's drinking it. He hasn't runn off like that since. He does occasionally still take off, but if you watch him and yell at him he generally stops before he leaves the yard. He's hard headed for sure and I usually have to threaten to beat him, not that I ever do.

He's got that wise guy look like Bogie. Fortunatly Bogie can't resist a treat so a shake of the treat bag sends him running to me in a flash. All my dogs are the same, My first two Bostons ( 15 years ago) were ones that would escape and run away every chance they got. Girl would get out and Boy followed her. One time I just found Boy as someone was loading him in their car. Boy settled down alot after he and Girl got divorced. I had Bogie trained to come real good but after awhile he decided it was treats or the heck with me. One good thing is he's a chicken at heart so when away from the security of the back yard he sticks right with me. I never use a leash when taking him to the car. Read my other posts and you'll see why.

Maybe you need a treat he can't resist. Like Chicken or Liver. A Treat he only gets at the dog park. Good Luck. I love the little impy ones

Sounds exactly like my pup who is only 6 months old!!

I have to start back at the basics, it was suggested to me to change my recall word to something other than what I'd been using because he got use to not responding to it. Also, I have to work more with him in the house and the backyard first cause if he doesn't respond then he wont at the park. I was told that everytime he starts coming towards me on his own and I know he is going to keeping coming to me to give my recall command, never give it if you know he is not going to listen.
Walk away from the dog while giving the command, crouch down and play bow, act silly...don't walk towards the dog while looking at him directly and call him cause that will make him stop or go the other direction.

To get Tank to leave the park I wait till he is close to me, I call his name to get his attention then I run the other way, he chases me then I turn and scoop him up really quick, give lots of praise then put the collar on. I run away and get him to chase a couple times during the visit so it doesn't associate it with leaving.

At home I've been running around the house calling him so he'll chase me and come to me, it's starting to help.

He'll get it eventually, just keep at him. I LOVE that first pic!!

Stormy is great offleash. But ever since she was a puppy I had her offleash anywhere we went.
Don't chase. EVER!! Because then it is a game. There is a 'game' that you can practice indoors and out. Either tell him to stay (or if he won't listen have someone hold him) then run away and hide. Have treats and call him, whistle. Do all the things you would do/say if you were to want him to come to you. Continue doing this. Soon he will learn that its good to come.

Also say if he's running away. Walk the other way. Dogs hate to be left alone or left behind in such ways. Don't pay attention to him. When he's running away from you, and you make a big deal and chase after him he's getting attention. Dogs enjoy chase games. So if you run the other way he will chase you.

Good luck!

My Opie is the same. He was also perfect in class, but will NOT come when called. JRVL is correct. NEVER chase. It goes against your instinct, but you should actually run AWAY and then he will chase you.

If all else fails lay on the ground LOL they will come to lick you in the face LOL

Chloe is exactly the same way. I have tried it all and she still will not come back to me when i take her to the dog park. Once she escaped from the yard and made it very difficult to get her back. I tried using a clicker and conditioning her with treats, but that didnt seem to work. i am just hoping that she will calm down when she gets older. The only hints of success we have had wither he is when a food bribe is involved. Good luck!