You need to do some very strict callback training, go somewhere quiet like a football pitch, put him on a really long lead, let him wander off then call him, if he doesnt look at you straight away and start coming, reel him in, reward him. i think you just have to keep doing that until he comes of his own accord, then introduce distractions while he is still on a lead, then start to let him off the lead. It's not gonna work straight away but if you can make it so that coming to you is a good thing, he will grasp that he has to come when called. xx I've got a booklet thingy, i will scan it when im not in work and will post it on here :) xxx

thanks for that, he seems to come for everyone else but me these days he used to wander n come straight away ... he's like his dad put on this planet to test me lol, i'll give that a go at weekend, need to get a whistle as well mines crap lol i sound like a spluttering bird lol

I got mine off e-bay they're little black plastic whistles and i think its 210.5 is best for spaniels... some listings tell you, they're all different pitches or something. I still havent started using mine because i'm a 9 til 5'er so its always dark when i'm at home apart from weekends, wait til the clocks change :) xx

know that feeling im ere 8-6 n then some 5:30 am shifts on sat i don't see civilisation lol, i'll have a look in a min anyways :)

we have this problem with our springer, something catches her attention and she bounds off! we are taking her to school next month so will let you know how her training gets on. we just need some guidance. she's very good in doors and on the lead, we have a whistle for her and she's great on commands in doors. I think it's keeping them interested in you, i hear that cooked liver as a treat for recall training is very good. At the moment it's difficult for us as like you we are 9-5 people, with my boyfriend going home at lunch for her toilet break but all walking is done in the dark for now. We were knuckle down when we have the lighter nights, I also have 2 horses to fit around. Roll on summer.....

Sometimes our 17 month old only comes back when he feels like it today being one of them, whereas our 8 month old is, so far, touchwood, brilliant and comes back to his own name, his big brother's or the whistle.

Hi yes you need to get his recall training done and also train them that it's you who goes through the door or gate first and that they can only go when you say so Pringle will sit by the door until I tell him he can go, he won't move unless I give him the command, it takes training but it's worth it in the end

on Saturday i called seeley he came straight to me, looked at me as if to say 'right, now what?' i said sit close, and he sat right close to my leg. on Sunday i tried the same thing, in exactly the same place, and he completely ignored me, didn't even show a flicker of having hearing abilities when i shouted his name over n over again. little S**t ! Selective Deafness is another springer trait! LOL !!!