"RECALL" - Page 1

Also the "COME" command or whatever you might use for that "recall"...

What is your most effective correction if the dog does not come to you immediately?? Lolly gags along but finally comes to you at his free will, that is after repeating the command several times, then finally they decide to do it. Do you reward with cookie, "good boy" or whatever? Or do you want to kick their behind but know not to as the come is so vitally important or do you put them in their crate which is where you wanted them in the first place "after the doorbell rang" and they wanted to answer it...

Well as you can probably tell, I am beyond frustrated. This is a young adult male 2 1/2 years old, KNOWS BETTER. Now I am upset. Thx Nan

I don't keep "repeating the command". Nothing says
more to a dawg than the handler using the same word
over and over again; they can hear the frustration that
builds in your voice, and the reaction is "this is quite
good fun, I can say 'up yours' to that !" Repetition of any
command just gives the dog the idea that it does not have
to obey the first time the word is said ...

What DO I do ? Apart from always making it worth the
dog's while to respond to me EVERY time I call them in, if
something "more interesting" than me crops up and gets
the dog's attention, I walk briskly away in the other direction.
And mean it. They do eventually decide you really are
abandoning them, their meal-ticket is fading into the distance,
and they better come running.

I do not allow a dog off leash anywhere I cannot get it back to
me safely (i.e. without disappearing over the distant horizon,
in pursuit of a rabbit or whatever), and without risking it to traffic,
until I am sure I HAVE got at least a 99.9% Recall happening.
To ensure that, I always train at first in enclosed spaces.

And the old Training saw applies: teach the dog the exercise; test
it for as many hours / weeks as it takes to make sure the dog
understands the exercise; then teach it the exercise / command for
an additional fortnight, even though you are sure the dog has "got"
it.

Hope there is something helpful in there somewhere Nan !

Yes thank you, just reminded me how agitated I get and he knows it when he does not do it. This particular instance was in the house, he at the front door me near the room I wanted him to come into; calling "COME"; no come, Roddy COME, no come; COME--NOW, finally he did but was going to blitz out again but I caught him which he did not like and quietly put him into the crate. Little turd. Now where to start again, can't do long line in the house, too many turns and walls; back to 6 ft leash I guess; don't call him if he is not leashed?? Not sure. Set him up for success, I do know that. No mistakes allowed here. Damn. Thanks Hund; a great reminder for me. Nan

Oh, one more point: nobody likes to feel they are
rewarding a dog that has just, finally, come back -
don't want to send the dog the message it has done
the right thing by being so slow ! But I meant that
I always reward, every time ... no matter what method
you use, praise / play / food, the dog gets it for returning
because that is more effective than NOT praising the
return (or, worse, offering that kick up the bum !) BUT
the dog, on return, has to do another command first -
I find a minute or two Down Stay useful in that context.
So then: dog is reminded you are the source of reward;
dog has still had to obey a command.

 

You might want to try teaching  "Go into that room /

place / crate" as a separate exercise from a general

Recall from distance.   Then you can break it down

into different smaller steps with praise/cuddles/food

(maybe less so toys/Fetch  indoors,  LOL) as specific

indoor control ?

What do you mostly do once he finally does decide to come? If he gets thrown in a crate or scowled at after coming, his recall speed will for sure slow down.

Always reward for the come no matter how peeved I am; not about that. This time I did not have a treat, but usually a treat. No I do not throw him in the crate, in fact try not to do that at all. This time I had people waiting at the door. Nan

I would go back and polish up your recall with some obedience.
I see slow recalls a lot with my pet dog clients, dog is either always put in a crate, yelled at once he does recall, or yelled at to do a recall, so he takes his time coming back.
Good luck!

Thanks Hntr; will proceed forward with more obedience; no learned a long long time ago not to blow the recall with any type negative rewards when they come; always a good lots of praise session. Although I wanted to kick butt this time, did not do so and he tried to make it up to me by bringing his favorite ball just for me. Gotta love'em... Nan HEy thanks...

If you repeat commands, you've taught him not to come the first time. I issue one command. If they do not comply, I go to them, wherever they are, and I enforce compliance. NEVER correct a dog who comes to you, regardless of how long it took them. That's your mistake, not theirs. Coming to you is praised, any correction given needs to be after you came to them.

Bringing you his favorite ball was for him, not you. Sounds like we need to go back to the basics...he's doing whatever he wants and you're allowing it- however unwittingly ;)

Yes Jen that is probably the case. Although I do feel I have been more prompt with the come command; possibly not. Well whatever the case, have plenty of work and proofing to do again, well forever I guess. But thank you for your help. Nan

Hntr: Also thank you for your assistance. Nan