I only bought my pup home on Friday. I have started with some of the basic training bits from Pippa's books. I'm finding it a bit difficult as the majority of time we go outside she just sits at my feet. The initial exercise for heel she can't find the treat when I throw it out of my circle so I can't get any distance from her. I'm guessing I need smellier treats?! On recall I struggle to get any distance from her. Any tips. She is a very polite puppy haha!
It sounds like your puppy is really young and trying to stay close to you right now - your pup needs some time to settle in. I wouldn't be too worried about recall only 4 days in - call her to you, have her chase you etc from even close distances at this point. Think of it as a work in progress...we started recall training by sitting at opposite ends of the hallway indoors and calling her back and forth between us.
We found that pups just want to stay close for the first few weeks. You can use this to start recall training. Every time she comes towards you give her the recall signal. It'll start to imprint it on her. And make LOTS of fuss when she gets there.
When my two were little they didn't understand about things being thrown, so you have to make it really obvious. Have big chunks of something smelly and make the throw short and slow. Lots of changes of direction will help you get away from her a bit more easily, or have someone hold her a little bit away from you and then use your recall to get her to you.
When I taught my puppy off lead heel work I was told to have the titbits in my right hand, do a few steps with the pup beside you, transfer one titbit to left hand and reward, then continue, a few steps, reward and continue for a minute or so.
Try doing recall exercises when someone else is with you so that they can hold the pup while you move away to recall. Room to room is good too.
Bailey did that too for the first few days, we took that time to get him used to his name by using it lots and taking it in turns to call him to us. Even now at 7 months old if one f us goes into the kitchen or to the bathroom, Bailey will trot after us with his nose almost on the back of our legs - unfortunately that is only in the house, outside he is very inquisitive (or just plain nosy!) but his recall is very good 99% of the time...still working on that other 1%
