Ranging

[ibstockpeter]

I have acquired a castrated vizsla (18 months old) as a companion for my 8 year Weimaraner. They seem to get quite well with the weimaraner being the boss of the Vizsla

However in the last month or two I have noticed that whilst out walking ,the vizlsa will run up to the weimaraner and nudge him with him nose , bark and then run away. After a while of this activity my weimaraner will lunge at the vizsla with teeth bared however there seems no real intention to bite just a warning.

However this activity seems to have caused the weimaraner to increase the distance that he walks with us to a level that I am uncomfortable with. Prior to the vizsla he used to remain with 15-25 feet now he seems to have increased that distance to over 50 feet and sometimes can be out of sight around corners.

I have tried everything to stop this
a) calling him back , his recall is good but after a while i get a sore throat and he will come back but within a few seconds he has returned to the original distance.
b) hiding, again he returns but as soon we set off again he returns to the original distance.
c) turning back or stopping again he will return very quickly once he realises he is too far but again will increase the distance as soon as possible.

I also am trying to stop the vizla from nudging the weimaraner but to my human perspective it is the vizsla trying to encourage or tease the weimaraner to chase him as a game and that the weimaraner puts up with it until his patience runs out.


The reason for concern is that whilst he is close I have complete control but obviously the further away the less control I have and he can be aggressive with other male dogs that challenge him.

Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated.

[daniela]

I used to have a Weimaraner bitch that used to do this. She was a different line to what I was used to, very wiry and flighty. When I would let the dogs off the lead, she couldn't wait to whip the others into a frenzy by nuzzling into their necks and barking at them. In the end I used to let her off the lead last. She always did it but it would take the pressure off somewhat, if the other dogs could run off before she chipped in. However, that said, my other dogs never ranged too far.

Have you tried a whistle and some reward treats for when he comes back?

[ibstockpeter]

I always carry treats and treat little but often but the same thing happens.
The weimaraner comes back very quickly and they both sit quietly for their treats but as soon as I release them, the weimaraner goes charging away.