Today, we had a life/death situation with our 4.5 month old puppy. I took him out to potty, using his inside leash. He jumped the step of the porch and somehow the leash slipped out. If I had any doubt now about where he will go, I don't anymore. He headed down the driveway, and into the road, with me running after him. Finally he stops in the front of the house, in the middle of the road with me about 20 feet away. I put my down and say, COME!. And, wonder of wonders, he comes right over. But .... we never practiced Come outside before, only in the house. My road is normally heavy with traffic at this time of day. But at that time it was empty luckily. Just a reminder to everyone to start practicing recall ASAP, and outside a ASAP too, everytime you go out. If I had not done this, I might no longer have a dog. I never expected this to happen, and still can't figure out how it slipped off his collar.
Phew! What a great outcome. You're right, practice, practice, practice. If ever Coco is running toward me, I use one of our recalls AND I reward. Every time. Even at nearly four years old. The most valuable thing your dog can learn. And practice.
I'm very relieved for you that your 'come' worked but I do have to question how you can have a 4,5 month old pup who has never once practiced 'come' outside. I know some areas have had lots of snow for weeks and very low temperatures but you only have to have a longer lead and use the cue word as the pup comes towards you and practice a few times.
Just because we never did, more than a few times. He's always been very well behaved for me when he's outside, and when I say "wait for me" he does, and when I say "slow down", he does. Even on a 25 foot leash he stops when I tell him to do so. But when he was "FREE", I never thought to use those commands, as he's running down the driveway toward potential death on the road. That's the point of the message: Practice outside too, even when there is snow everywhere. We got 20 inches last night again. He needs to be on a long multiple knotted rope that makes him think he's free, not on a long spring leash where he knows there is an end.
OK.... We just went out to potty on his long spring loaded leash(25 feet). When he got near the end, I yelled "Come" and he jumped to come back and get the treat, with my hand down in the treat position. While we didn't practice much outside, this has always been the behavior, even from another room in the house, more than 40 feet away. But in all these instances, he knows that he's not totally free. He's a very very smart dog. I'm reminding people that they need to practice recall in a situation like a 50 foot 1/8 inch thick nylon knotted ever 12 inches rope, where the dog thinks he free even though you can step on the rope. Then you know whether he'll come when he is free. Mine did, as soon as he actually heard me. But when he was running free down the driveway, he didn't hear me; he was reveling in his new freedom. There are no dog runs near me, and fields are covered with 3 feet of snow that he falls through.
I need to Re-start my recall training as my 13 month old is not as keen to come as she was at 9 mos, can I continue with whistle that I used earlier or do I need a new signal- I used whistle name come as my signal (from puppy kindergarten and obedience). Also starting book Total RECALL for inspiration- so that is where my question stems from - not young puppy and not older adult... Any advise will be appreciated. Two Lab pups in the house 11 month old is a bit better, just sticks closer to home.
Snow gets in the way of our training too. But only in the sense that it take me time to clear paths in it. 80cm of snow here and the covering arrived 5 months ago. No need to pause training Have to admit though, Nelson's recall isn't everything it should be. It works when he has nothing more interesting to do. But when we really need it, he will quite happily ignore it. Yes we've read Total Recall and yes we have practised recall from 8 weeks old.
I hope you don’t have any more heart-stopping moments like that! It’s a very timely lesson and I’m so glad it didn’t end in disaster.
