Dear folks. My very stubborn black lab has defeated me a person 71 whose trained four other retrievers successfully and three of the best Rainey’s in my area who simply gave up after first saying no problem they could do it. We follow and apply all four steps of recall twining any and all help appreciated. My conclusion is he is one of the most sensitive nose dogs ever for example he found my lost glasses under a foot of snow a month after I dropped them from fifteen feet away where we were walking! It seems to me he becomes totally lost in whatever scent he picks up and away he goes. If we ever leave a door ajar he bolts out and is gone from the yard ASAP crosses busy streets and is found miles away usually by a helpful local or the dog catcher. We are scared to death of ever making a mistake. He gets regular long walks in the woods of a couple of miles so he isn’t bored. Help!!!! B Shaw
Hi Bernard Shaw your account tells us that he really likes sniffing. Why not use sniffing as a reinforcer? Find an area with hard surface but grass on the boundary. Put him on a long line. So, that he can sniff the grassy area without doing something for you. Call him. If comes, then use the grassy area to reinforce. But first shorten the long line. Can sniff a specific spot as long as he likes. But don't allow him to pull you from that spot. As soon as he looks up at you, go to hard surface and do another recall. Reinforce with sniff in the grass once again. This is a variation on Jo Laurens's Go Sniff game, which she uses to reinforce heeling. It's her variation on Leslie McDevitt's exercise.
Michael thank you so much. I’m an eternal optimist and the folks here are creative and know a lot! I’ll give it a go. Be well and do fun things. Thank you again
Happy to report my 11 year old lab who three trainers failed with and me now is a certified total recall lab!!!! Followed every step in recall book times 10. And advice here. He’s a success. I am stunned. I have never seen a more comprehensive program for this anywhere. Amazing.
Try “be a tree”. The moment there’s tension in her leash, you stop walking. You walk again once the leash is loose. This may take forever. You may get like 2 steps in between stopping, but be consistent and she’ll get it. Kodi nox
