How do I stop my Cavalier K C Spaniels for running off after birds every time I let them off the lead?

they are 18 month old brothers I took them to puppy classes and they used to come back when called we did a lot of work on it then last spring when all the bird came out ( Pheasants mainly ) they started to just put down their noses and go its got gradually worse until now I dont let them off at all because I'm afraid that as there are a lot of sheep around here if they disappear 3 fields away I have no idea what they are doing is it because they have each other I have tried taking them out on there own and its a bit better but v time consuming Help!!

Put them on a 30 foot lead then use it to enforce the come command

Don't let them off lead where there are birds and you can't control them.

Go back to remedial training, but they're spaniels, meant to hunt birds. No amount of training will make them 100% reliable under these conditions.

My bassets are very well trained, have won awards at obedience competitions, but I sure wouldn't trust them off-leash if there were bunnies around.

BTW, if the farmer catches your dogs around his sheep, he has the legal right to shoot them. Dogs can upset pregnant and lambing ewes just by their presence and cause miscarriages and injuries to the lambs and ewes.

You need to go back to classes for a refresher course.

It's instinct for them to track the birds. Don't let them off lead when there are distractions or keep them in a fenced area.

maybe a refreser corse would help if you had time. have u watched dog borstal? they use an old bottle with stones or something in it and shook it everytime they need to say no to the dog! maybe this will help...everytime they go to run relate this noise with a stern no.....try it whats to loose??? xx vikki

our 1 year old ckcs is the same fortunately its just crows our lucy chases but she has very good recall and comes back when called!

have you tried extendable leads? if not try those and every time they go for the bird just lock the lead at certain length so they cant get to bird, and call them back if they come tell them `good boys` and lots of praise!

hope you work something out

Buy some extendable leads so you don't have to let them run free.

Don't let them off the lead and go back to the training club and when you take the dogs out its not the same conditions as training at the dog club or at home you should take them to different places and practise. (the local park)