Dog Safe Parks/Spaces in Surrey & Sussex
Discussion
I posted this in my regional specific section but I thought I'd broaden the audience to you animal lovers as you may have some tips or suggestions 
.
To tell a story, my Mum has adopted a dog from a Greek Rescue centre. It's becoming a popular thing, perhaps some of you have one of these dogs or know someone who does; it is a real lifeline to these animals who seem to endure some of the worst animal cruelty I have heard of. Poison, burning, burying alive, shooting, bait...you name it. There are many which are worse off but in my Mum's case her dog was recused by tourists in the Halkidiki area who spotted a crazy local pointing a gun at the dog ready to shoot 'as vermin' with her pups by her side.
The Greek nutter only wanted rid of the dogs which is fair enough I guess, dogs aren't for everyone but not to that extremety as he could have called the charity for free and been humane. Anyway, mother and pups recued and rehomed with loving familes (pups went to Belgium).
Now, the problem we face. Mum's dog is a Greek Hunting Hound and was bred most likely to hunt rabbits and such however, she became 'useless' once pregnant and game over so to speak. Maybe she knew Greek commands but we have tried and nothing works although she is learning her name and a few things as time goes on. This means that she cannot be let off the lead at all as she just bolts into the fields and will not come back; training is ongoing.
She's a big girl, German Shepard size, gentle with children and our Border Terrier and she loves to run, play and meet people/other dogs but it has to be enclosed so she can't leg it after then local wildlife. Can anyone recommend any dog safe parks or spaces in the Surrey/Sussex area where she can be let off to run about, play and be captured if she decides to ignore her calls? If we can find somewhere like this then her training will speed up greatly.
.To tell a story, my Mum has adopted a dog from a Greek Rescue centre. It's becoming a popular thing, perhaps some of you have one of these dogs or know someone who does; it is a real lifeline to these animals who seem to endure some of the worst animal cruelty I have heard of. Poison, burning, burying alive, shooting, bait...you name it. There are many which are worse off but in my Mum's case her dog was recused by tourists in the Halkidiki area who spotted a crazy local pointing a gun at the dog ready to shoot 'as vermin' with her pups by her side.
The Greek nutter only wanted rid of the dogs which is fair enough I guess, dogs aren't for everyone but not to that extremety as he could have called the charity for free and been humane. Anyway, mother and pups recued and rehomed with loving familes (pups went to Belgium).
Now, the problem we face. Mum's dog is a Greek Hunting Hound and was bred most likely to hunt rabbits and such however, she became 'useless' once pregnant and game over so to speak. Maybe she knew Greek commands but we have tried and nothing works although she is learning her name and a few things as time goes on. This means that she cannot be let off the lead at all as she just bolts into the fields and will not come back; training is ongoing.
She's a big girl, German Shepard size, gentle with children and our Border Terrier and she loves to run, play and meet people/other dogs but it has to be enclosed so she can't leg it after then local wildlife. Can anyone recommend any dog safe parks or spaces in the Surrey/Sussex area where she can be let off to run about, play and be captured if she decides to ignore her calls? If we can find somewhere like this then her training will speed up greatly.
Sorry I don't know of anywhere suitable as we are in Sussex and also adopted a Greek dog 18 months ago and have similar issues. Once she gets the scent of a fox or rabbit she is off like a shot. We've spent hours practicing recall in the garden and provided you have a high enough value treat it works most of the time, but it has to be sausages or liver. We have worked with a behaviourist and his tip was to use a long line and a whistle. You let the dog run around and you stand on the lead when you whistle. The dog learns to think it is the whistle bringing them to a halt. We're still working on it, particularly as our dog was an ex-stray and not used to people telling her what to do and more used to being chased away by them.
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