So, I've been letting Finley off the lead around dogs where I know I will have no control over him and also to let off a bit more steam. : We have had a lot of successful recalls up to the river and I am pleased with progress. ;D New environment and more dogs = higher value rewards. out comes the cat food. Finley loves the smell, taste and seems to respond very well even when I've just torn open the sachet. I meet two bouncy dogs by river, recall with success and so remove his long line as a reward and to go and play. (read bowl over and jump on). Two dogs run away and Fin follows; now 50 or so yards away. Quite confident by this stage and I go for it.. PIP PIP "Fin come" and at Mach 2 he comes back to at least a jackpot 1/3 sachet. ;D Don't push your luck I think, re-clips his long line and walks back to river for a recall from another dog. Now in the river I have to remove line for safety. Dogs walks on, Finley mooches around with no agenda. PIP PIP "Finley come". NOTHING, not even a glance. Cannot use the recall again so I start walking away, NOTHING not even a glance. Change wording "this way" NOTHING not even a glance, so I rustle the sachet and get the glance, C & nothing. He has found some BREAD left for the ducks. How on earth can bread compete with cat food. It seems I may have been wasting my time on making cheese cake, liver cake, cooking roast chicken and clearly wasted my money on cat food. When the bread had gone and he decided to return, I just walked away, chucking some hot dog sausage on the floor and back homeward very dejected and "back to square one" thoughts. :'( Back towards the car, we did have a few successes, but very limited distractions and where he really should have anyway. Any suggestions on what I could or should have done at that not returning stage?
Re: High Value Vs Low Value Treats Lots of that sounds great, really impressive, I don't think you should be so downhearted at all! You say he had found something to eat when you tried to recall him at the end. Recalling away from food (even when what you have is better -and it's not really a swap deal anyway, as you have to fade out the food reward) or in our case also dead fish, dead seagulls and fox poo is really, really, difficult! It needs lots of proofing before a recall is successful in these circumstances, starting small (and close) and working up. I think you should give yourself a huge reward for the good stuff you did achieve!
Re: High Value Vs Low Value Treats Michael, I agree with Julie that was some great work and I would be thrilled I think next time don't recall Finley when you are not sure he is going to respond and therefore you will set him and you up to fail. You said that when Finley had eaten all the bread he decided to return, I would have blown my recall whistle at the point to reinforce it and let him know he did eventually do the right thing and then lots of hot dog sausage. We have all been in this situation so maybe just a step back to calling away from tasty food indoors for now. Don't be disheartened it was all successful apart from the last bit. Keep going.
Re: High Value Vs Low Value Treats Exactly - what they said. Mostly very good, don't get down in the dumps, remember just to call him when you are pretty sure he will come, for now.
Re: High Value Vs Low Value Treats Patience is clearly something they don't teach in training classes and something I need to work on. Maybe I should pay more attention to Pippa's "Don't move on til you have said yes to the following" a little closer. Thanks again for your words of encouragement and support.
Re: High Value Vs Low Value Treats Michael that check list of Pippas is brilliant!I was really slow working through Total Recall,I was quite OCD about every question getting a tick and even though it did and we got to the end,we still have areas of weaknesses that will take a lot longer to proof ....recall from other dogs,recall from an exciting game of football ;D.....he will do it but I can't rely on him everytime. You are never back to square one,just a step or 2 backwards but you'll move forward with more practice opportunities ,hang in there,Finley is shaping up well ;D
