Dealing with distractions

I would love to know how to continue training with distractions? We are struggling with our labrador around other dogs. It is inconsistent as some days he won’t bother, but on others temptation is too much. We have been trying to implement self-control by using a sit or wait command, but occasionally he will sprint to another dog.

Distractions are always the challenge. Most people can get their dogs to do anything at home or somewhere where there are no distractions. So while you may believe you have heel or sit, or even recall, trained, if it is not proved it is next to useless. Start by ensuring he fully understands the heel, recall and sit commands at home. Reward and praise when he gets it right.

Then begin by introducing a small distraction. This may be leaving the house and walking the first 50 yards up the road. As he is a working dog, it would also be beneficial to start to introduce some retrieving and/or hunting games, so you have a more interesting focus for him apart from simply heel. Slowly increase the level of distraction. If he struggles, take him back a step where he will succeed again. It is better to have several small successes than one huge disaster.

If possible, get him to a gundog training group where he will learn that the more he ignores other dogs, the more retrieves and work he will get. The other benefit is the other dogs will be under control and won’t encourage him to engage with them.

Train at his pace, not yours. Dogs in particular can take more time to mature, so take it slowly and do not move on a stage until you have perfected the one before. ES

Training a gundog to ignore distractions is a painstaking process GUNDOG TRAINING