I've got a real problem with Pongo's recall. He is not too bad at coming to Paul's whistle - if he chooses to - but he now completely ignores me calling his name. My guess is that it is partly because the whistle is a much more distinctive and consistent noise (too much variation in the way I call him, and too much like the sounds I just normally make when just talking to him during the day). Paul can whistle through his teeth loudly and properly - but I can't! So in the New Year I'm going to get myself a proper dog whistle and try starting from scratch with recall training using it. Now, bearing in mind that Pongo is a year old now, can anyone suggest what my basic 'first steps' approach should be? I have a feeling he's quite a difficult pup to train because he is not particularly interested in balls, toys or playing; and even food treats are not irresistible (despite the fact he is a labrador). Very few things are more interesting to him than a new smell to explore or - of course - another dog. We do nearly all our walks off-lead (we live in the middle of nowhere). We've also got a large garden to train in if that would be better. Any tips very gratefully received! Rosie
Re: Starting again... First step - buy Total Recall if you can And the reason I say that is it's structured programme that builds up the level of difficulty and distractions as you go. If you follow it it will stop you from taking any shortcuts through inexperience or moving on too quickly which we're all guilty of sometimes ;D Very few pieces of food or toys waved about will work against the strongest distractions (other dogs in our case) without significant proofing. Good luck ! You can do it ;D
Re: Starting again... Yes, I would get Total Recall and a couple of whistles. There is a chapter for re-doing recall which has gone awry.
Re: Starting again... [quote author=Boogie link=topic=9156.msg131247#msg131247 date=1418921504] There is a chapter for re-doing recall which has gone awry. [/quote] Ah, good! I wasn't sure if TR was only for new puppy owners....
Re: Starting again... [quote author=Rosie link=topic=9156.msg131252#msg131252 date=1418922383] [quote author=Boogie link=topic=9156.msg131247#msg131247 date=1418921504] There is a chapter for re-doing recall which has gone awry. [/quote] Ah, good! I wasn't sure if TR was only for new puppy owners.... [/quote] No TR can help everyone with recall problems for sure ;D
Re: Starting again... Good luck Rosie. I have done whistle training with Harley and it works 99% of the time. My voice can be hit and miss due to surgery damaging one of my vocal cords - the whistle is more consistent
Re: Starting again... [quote author=Naya link=topic=9156.msg131272#msg131272 date=1418926905] Good luck Rosie. I have done whistle training with Harley and it works 99% of the time. My voice can be hit and miss due to surgery damaging one of my vocal cords - the whistle is more consistent [/quote] Cheers.... I'll take some tips from you on our Forum walk! (Won't be starting with whistle til the new year...)
Re: Starting again... We use a whistle...5 pips for a recall. We have no idea on Caspers previous life, but assumed he hadn't been trained and started him straight away on the whistle and clicker. We use the clicker as a behaviour marker as he runs towards us. The clicker is really useful, as he associated pretty quickly the clicker with doing something right therefore going to get a TREAT!! . He is very, very good now, unless in his "I have just been shot out of a cannon mood" ;D ;D
Re: Starting again... If Charlie's recall gets a bit dull, I can sort of "charge it up" again with recall games. The best one is ping pong recall. Get 10 bits of chicken - or whatever - big enough to be found in grass. Find a quiet field, get your dog's attention and fling a bit of chicken to your left (as far as you can). He rushes for chicken, as soon as he has got it, blow your recall, once he looks up, fling a bit of chicken to your right. This time, he should whip round (after all, you are flinging hunks of chicken around for free...). Blow your recall on that instant whip round. Rinse and repeat until that whiplash turn back to you is firmly associate with your recall whistle... Move the game closer to distractions over time.
Re: Starting again... [quote author=JulieT link=topic=9156.msg131298#msg131298 date=1418938605] If Charlie's recall gets a bit dull, I can sort of "charge it up" again with recall games. The best one is ping pong recall. Get 10 bits of chicken - or whatever - big enough to be found in grass. Find a quiet field, get your dog's attention and fling a bit of chicken to your left (as far as you can). He rushes for chicken, as soon as he has got it, blow your recall, once he looks up, fling a bit of chicken to your right. This time, he should whip round (after all, you are flinging hunks of chicken around for free...). Blow your recall on that instant whip round. Rinse and repeat until that whiplash turn back to you is firmly associate with your recall whistle... Move the game closer to distractions over time. [/quote] Wow what a great game. Rolo is coming up to 6 months and is gradually ignoring me more and more. Especially around another dog. I take kibble out with me so I think I need to upgrade my rewards get his attention back to me.
Re: Starting again... Get the sardines on the go! Stinky fingers galore but worth it for a sharp recall!
Re: Starting again... I bought some frozen anchovies (the fresh kind, not the salted ones) which I used this morning. Now there's a way to get your puppies' attention
Re: Starting again... I started Total Recall when Simba was around a year and a half and completely deaf to any form of recall using a voice or body language, or treats, etc. Used a whistle which was a completely new signal for him, and worked through the book (okay I confess I haven't finished it yet, it's on my to dos for this year). I have an 80-90% recall, but it's not solid as I haven't gone through all the proofing (as I said, I haven't finished the book). It's a really good way to start at the basics and just work through it.
Re: Starting again... I agree about using a whistle for recall and someone advised for vocal recall (if you forget the whistle) make sure you have trained with a high pitched voice so the dog can't confuse with the normal repetition of come here, come on etc. I'd also go for the scrummy food option to sharpen up recalls. We have some leftover turkey and I have been using that with her dog food and at the mo, even indoors, her eyes are following me everywhere.
