Oz, who came to live with us at 7 months is a treasure & is now 3. We've been learning to compete in Rally - and he's achieved level 2, though with not terribly high scores. For those not in the know, there are 6 levels: 1&2 are done on lead, so we now need to work off lead. He's actually pretty good, judged by the average family dog. On a walk he never goes far away from us when off lead, and will come back to the call UNLESS he's doing something far more interesting. Therein lies the problem. If he detects something like horse-poo in an equestrian hall (where many trials occur), he will go to it and be in heaven - he cares not where I am! So, I've returned to Total Recall which we started but didn't finish for various reasons a year or more ago and am starting to work on raising our game there. I've blown the dust off the book and worked out where he currently is - about page 120. My big question which the book doesn't address quite enough for me is adding a cue word along with, and to sometimes be used instead of the whistle. We are using a whistle to train with as it doesn't get stressed, is totally consistent and he responds very well to it. In the Rally situation though, I cannot use it. Also I am not going to always have a whistle to hand in life - so I need a really strong cue word recall too. His "Old" word is "come" and as Pippa says in the book, he gets that it means come to me, but "in your own time" will do. Is it possible to re-train the word COME? Or is the only way to find a new word? If so, HELP!! I cannot think of the ideal word - one that doesn't sound like another cue and one that I will instinctively use when I need it! (Here, for example is too much like Heel). Also, when is a good time to introduce the use of a word - when we've completed the programme with the whistle or earlier?
I would train the ping pong game with a cue like GO,GO GO! instead of the whistle. In the ping pong game you have roughly 8 pieces of largish high value treats. I used venison sausage or hunks of roast chicken, and use an area of short grass so the treats are easy to find. Then throw a treat to your left around 10 - 15 feet...as soon as you dog finishes the treat, shout "GO,GO,GO!" and throw another treat the opposite side ..to your right...dog grabs eats a treat, looks up..cue "GO,GO,GO!" and off they go. This encourages a whiplash response to your recall. So "GO,GO,GO!" means turn quickly and come back FAST!
In Germany some people use "here here" as a cue - which would sound different to heel. I use "over here" as a more casual recall. For an actual recall I use the whistle or "look at me" - I trained both going through the steps in Total Recall, and went through all the steps which each cue individually. If you have trained a hand target, you could use "touch" as a recall? I use a visual cue as well - I hold both arms out horizontally, and as he gets closer I clap a couple of times. I find it helps keep him enthusiastic. Good luck with the training!
