Bella's been great at checking in and now she'll go play and say hello to other dogs BUT does come back. I blew the recall whistle yesterday and she came running away from 2 others dogs back to me! Yay so proud
Well done you! Keep on training and practicing through the dastardly teenage months and don't be discouraged if you have to take a step or two back on occasion. You're doing all the right things and getting the results. It's so gratifying when they come back from challenging things, isn't it?
I'm sure you're right - after all, the checking in is because they think you're interesting and worthwhile popping back to. If they thought you were boring, they would have no reason to come back to you on recall
Easy peasy. At first, when you're out on a walk, click and treat for every time your dog even glances in your direction. Over time, increase your criteria so he has to come into a certain sized imaginary circle to get a treat, then reduce the size of that circle. Mine now get a reward for voluntarily walking to heel for a few paces uncued in low-distraction environments, but in higher distraction, they get C&T for coming back to me in any position.
Yes, the check ins are defo important as Bella rarely goes far away and always keeps coming back to my side during walks and I did lots of c and t initially too. I also hid from her a couple of times which also got her staying close
