Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 7:44 am Post subject: Recall......
Tilly is now 6.5months old.
When on her playtime in the field I would say that 80% of the time we can recall her even with distraction.
However the remaining 20% is a nightmare!! My husband and I walk her together at the moment and she responds to him far more than me as he is her master. My worry is that when it's my turn to take her on her own I'll not be able to get her to come to me.....!
We never walk towards her if she is being distracted we walk away from her, as my husband says that as soon as she sees we are leaving she will come, which on most occasions is true. I have to admit though I feel uncomfortable with the walking away bit because to the other dog owner who Tilly is playing with their dog might think 'oh look at them, not bothering to come and get their dog....'
I would invest in a long line for Tilly - something about 30-50ft long, ebay sell them, or have a look for a horse lunge line.
Everytime you are out pop the line on and allow it to trail behind her. That way if she starts to make a dash toward something or you want her to come back you have the security of the lead.....you can also practice her recall by walking along the line toward her. They are a godsend in my opinion....
You also need to be the most important thing out on a walk- play ball with her or do some training, make her ignore everything else around her because Mummy and Daddy are so exciting
She is still only a baby remember, most people would say that you should only probably have a 100% reliable recall once the dog is 2 Good luck though, you will get there
i would be careful with using a line of that length out in fields tho, or on walks, i know where we walk bailey we wouldnt use one as there are so many things it could get caught on etc, also if bailey had that trailing behind him he would spend all his time distracted by the line anyway lol
I think recall,along with heel work !! are the hardest parts to training, so you are not alone!
Long leads are a great help if training recall in quietish area, but I found trying to use one in our local park ( very busy) difficult and potentially quite dangerous.
I am sure you will get there it just takes lots of practice and being consistent.
My Lab Cadbury is the first Labrador I have had and I have found teaching recall with him much harder than other dogs I have had. I think they just love other dogs and people so much they have this in built need to go and say hello!!!
Cadbury is going to be 2 in Nov and we are very nearlly there now (recall 95%).
I've started recall already before anything else and Blue is only 12 weeks old and I've only had her 2 days! Having had and trained several dogs now I am firmly of the opinion that it's more important than being able to walk nicely on a lead!
The line is a good idea - I've seen it used before but it's only really beneficial if you can use it in an area where there are no obstacles.
Have you tried training with a whistle or using some other noise than calling huis name? The squeaky sill y voice too - works a treat! I can get all my dogs to come to me with my special doggy voice whereas MOH has a hell of a job cos he just won't do it!!
Have you tried training with a whistle or using some other noise than calling huis name?
Yes we use the whistle - one blow means 'stand still' and two blows means 'come'. She knows the voice commands for the above also, but she doesn't always respond to them!
My husband is far more confident when out walking with her, I worry far too much about everything - will the other dogs she approaches try to attack her, will she come back to me, will the other dog owners get really annoyed at her and me etc etc
Someone invent an anti-worry pill please - I'll buy the whole batch!!
I agree with a few above. The long line can be lethal in some places.
Getting tangled around trees, bushes, other dogs or peoples legs!
You dont want it getting tangled in something and then the dog/puppy running off at full pelt! Can cause a serious injury to the dog and god forbid, someone elses dog or even another owner!
If using the long line, i'd use it in a big open field, where you can spot people far off so you can get hold of the line safely so not to tangle anyone else or another dog up if another dog does approach.
I find a whistle to be very effective. Leo's recall is super, but under heavy distraction sometimes a voice command can get ignored. Not because the dog is being disobediant on purpose, but with me being 50ft away and the dog being half way accross the field playing with maybe 4 or 5 other dogs, its hard to throw my voice so far. This is where the whistle becomes very handy. It's loud and high pitched and the dog can clearly hear it.
On many occassions i have had Leo run back to me followed by about 5 or 6 other dogs!
On many occassions i have had Leo run back to me followed by about 5 or 6 other dogs!
lol jill - i was just thinking that - had a talk with my OH the other day while walking Bailey - we heard a whistle for a dog - and I wondered to him, if bailey was whistle trained and the guy used the same amout of blows (excuse the word) as bailey was trained for recall - would he shoot off after the man with the whistle?
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Good luck though, you will get there 
