PenelopeBerman

Excellent information. thanks very much. This is totally ingrained so for now I will keep her on leash in the parks she knows where the turkey nests are located and keep the off leash for other areas. I might try working with treats while on leash in the areas where I know there are turkeys.

Thanks very much for your advise. She has never actually caught a brush turkey - but when she has a scent or knows their hideouts she is off! I prefer to walk offleash on some of our bush walks as she gets much more excercise and is usually very good at recall - except when a turkey is involved. I'm more concerned about her surprising a snake in the bush and getting bitten. Since I've had her (about 1 year - she is 5 years old) she has become a lot more confident and happy to run around and come back to me when I call or have a specific whistle. It's this confidence that has made her go further into the bush where she used to just stay close to me. Street walks are no problem as she is on a leash. I'm not sure the fake bush/bird noise will work because it's the scent she picks up on. All other noises etc in the bush she ignores. The impulse control training is tricky because she doesn't exhibit those things at home. I'm more concerned about her chasing a turkey into a bush and surprising a snake so want her recall to be better - but it goes out the window when a turkey is around.

My spaniel is generally pretty good at recall except when she gets a scent of our bush turkeys (in australia) which are found not only in our suburbs but many through the walks we do. If she is on a scent I can't get her back - until the bird flys away. Do you have any tips on how to train her to come back from a mission she is on? She will do a "leave it" for food on the ground but when she is after a turkey/bird I can't get her to return.

Thanks very much for your response. Some great information there. Pen

Thanks for your response. This is new behaviour that has started recently. I have had her for 1 year and no previous issues. It is quite random and doesn't happen every time we walk. She has always been ok walking on a leash - although she does walk slow and usually behind me. Off leash in a bush setting she flys around and loves it. She is used to a leash and harness and not scared of anything, although is startled sometimes by loud/close noises. She was a show dog and is very calm. I was using some kibble to get her to keep up/heel. If we turn around to go home after she puts the brakes on she starts trotting happily and runs around excited for a minute when we get home. Tried to continue in the other direction from home but she stopped again. She is black and gets hot easily but I usually walk early in the day when it's not so hot. Not sure how to get her some excercise if it's too hot for her outside. Any suggestions? I will try some different treats when walking rather than kibble.

My 5 year old cocker spaniel has recently started to put the brakes on and stop walking shortly after we go for a walk. It is not too hot and I have tried using treats. She was responding to treats but now won't even walk for the treat. Usually when we walk on leash she walks behind me very slowly. When we are in the bush off-leash she is happy to run in front and keeps checking I am in sight. On-leash - she doesn't keep up and now will stop and not walk. How do I get her to keep walking?