How to get a really reliable recall

Re: How to get a really reliable recall

;D ;D ;D ;D
(I have it!)
Jac

 

Re: How to get a really reliable recall

Got it! Lady is just trying to find her reading glasses.

 

Re: How to get a really reliable recall

Mine's arrived. Just got to find time to read it now .................

 

Re: How to get a really reliable recall

Started the book and enjoying it so far.

Just a quick question if someone has some advice.

George is about 9 1/2 months old, he stays close when out walking off lead, always checks where we are etc, partly down to us doing the run the other way routine from when he was younger i think. Anyway recall from other dogs is none existent, so do we do the puppy recall exercises, or go to the pre-recall for older dogs?

As George is technically still a puppy, acts like one but doesn't look like one!

 

Re: How to get a really reliable recall

Hi Jez, the place to start is pre-recall for older dogs.

Pippa

 

Re: How to get a really reliable recall

Just a query. We are on holiday just now and plan to start the recall programme once we get Lilly back from HER holiday (spoiled rotten by my sister in law and family!). We have used the whistle before not always successfully _ the acme one _ but after a break and using 5 peeps instead of the 2 we were using, will it be as successful? Just looking for advice on this.
Missing Lilly loads. Ooing and ahhing over every dog we see can't wait to see her on sunday even though had a great holiday in the US.
Jacqui.

 

Re: How to get a really reliable recall

Hi Jaqui, you can retrain a recall using the exact same command, but is harder and may take longer, because the dog associates the old signal with being naughty!.

Using a different number of pips is a good idea. A different 'tone' of whistle would be even better. Basically, the more different the new recall is from your old one, the better.

Enjoy the rest of your holiday

Pippa

 

Re: How to get a really reliable recall

Thanks Pippa!
Jacqui

 

Re: How to get a really reliable recall

Started total recall today, with whistle and tasty treats; think he is getting it as he is sitting waiting whilst i get the whistle out!

My only concern is he will be massive come the end with these large tasty treats!

 

Re: How to get a really reliable recall

We're into exercise 3 - Moving Dinners.

I have to say that even though I'm still only using the old recall (as instructed), plus "close" when I want to put her on a lead for example. She is responding much better having started Total Recall. A big factor seems to be what she's doing at the time. At the shoot on Saturday she was being worked for her money with lots going on and I actually couldn't fault her except once when she found fox pooh next to a bird feeder - doh!

 

Re: How to get a really reliable recall

I have another Total Recall question if anyone can help....?

We are at the point where we get George to move towards us, blow whistle 'good' reward....

George is well aware i have his dinner or a treat though so just follows me around and is always next to me.

Would it be okay to make him sit move away then say its okay to move towards me and as he approaches... whistle 'good' reward...

Or is this defeating the object of the exercise?

 

Re: How to get a really reliable recall

Hi Jez

Putting some space between you and the dog can be a problem. Especially once he has grasped that there are some good rewards available for getting himself close to you!

The main problem with calling or releasing the dog from the sit/stay, is that is can weaken the stay as the dog begins to anticipate the release.

So, if you are going to call a dog from the sit then do make sure that you return to the dog many times more than you call him to you.

On balance, it is best to avoid calling the dog from the sit if you can help it. At least until he is very well schooled.

The best way to achieve plenty of recalls therefore, is to always have some treats with you, so that you can take advantage of any opportunities to call the dog when he eventually gets bored with following you around.

Pippa

 

Re: How to get a really reliable recall

Thanks Pippa, i'll try and get the treats ready distract him till he has forgotten, then as he trots over whistle and reward..

 

Re: How to get a really reliable recall

I have a query regarding Pippa's chapter on proofing with other dogs. We have two dogs , one 11 month old pup and a two year old. We are following the recall programme with both. My question is as follows, can I train one dog while my partner is the assistant with our other dog? My concern is when it comes to exercise 3 when I recall my dog whilst the assistant RESTRAINS HIS. Will this confuse the dog being restrained as he is not able to recall as well and will it teach him it is okay to ignore me sometimes? Is a way around it to say the dog's name you wish to recall just before you blow the whistle?
Thanks.

 

Re: How to get a really reliable recall

Hi Sharon,

That is a really good question. Sadly, I think it might well confuse the restrained dog. It is better to use a dog that has a different recall signal, and no strong attraction to you, as the assistant dog.

If I am recalling a dog from a group of dogs that I have left sitting together on the 'stay', for example, I would always recall the dog I want using her name. It would be unreasonable to expect the other dogs to remain seated otherwise.

Likewise, in your situation, even if you precede the recall whistle with the dog's name, the restrained dog will probably (if you have laid the foundations correctly) still feel the urge to run to you when he hears the whistle and will be confused by being unable to do so.

One answer if you are training two dogs simultaneously and want to alternate them as 'assistants' might be to teach each dog a different recall signal.

You might also want to take into consideration the fact that the dog he lives with may not be sufficiently distracting or interesting to provide a 'proofing' effect for the purposes of this exercise.

Pippa

 

Re: How to get a really reliable recall

Hello Pippa,
Many thanks for your advice. They would prove very attractive as a distraction to each other as they love to stalk each other and love to play together, but as I feared it would confuse them to attempt to restrain one. Their recall so far is excellent and both respond immediately and enthusiastically, so as I feared, to restrain one would be counter productive. I guess I have got the answer I was expecting. I shall seek a suitable assistant as I would prefer to keep the same recall for them both. The only pity is that if we could do it with our own dogs at home we would be able to get in a lot more practice before moving out to practice with other dogs. It's more important not to undo the good work or confuse or frustrate them. Thanks again.

I hope you and Meg are feeling a lot better. I read your article on the gundog site and it sounded very worrying and I was glad to hear that Meg should recover quickly which is excellent news.

 

Re: How to get a really reliable recall

We're not at the point of whistling and waiting for him to come.

Which is harder than it sounds as he knows i have a tasty treat on me, have to wait ages for him to forget as he follows me around.

Anyway should he come instantly to the whistle?

As in i was in the other room blew whistle and he was in the kitchen with my g/f, at first i think he thinks its her who has blown it, pauses then runs through to me.

Is this okay as he came in the end we're talking a few seconds pause, or should be be practising with more than just me around so he can distinguish who is blowing the whistle and come quicker?