First successful recall.

I've been working on recall indoors with Casper. Not that I intend to go letting him off lead outside as I can't take that risk and we use an extending lead when out on the country lanes and field walks so he can go some distance..but I do think recall is a good idea just in case he slips a lead or sneaks out the door past the kids etc, and also on walks I try and keep him close to heel when people walk by as he does jump and lunge. So recall will make it so much easier to get him back just for that. The training has not been going that well, he has an amazing ability to go deaf when it suits him! But with the help of the clicker being pressed while calling him he has turned mid-run (we have a long front room) while in the process of chasing a child (one of my own) and come straight to sit by me and wait for the second click and treat. Now just hoping that we have cracked it and it can be done outside..time will tell

Sounds like it certainly is going well. Clickers can be fantastic

Sounds promising.. Let us know how it goes  

Wayhey!!

Great, keep at it   

Let us know how it goes

Well done   

Outdoors didn't go too well cos I broke the clicker on our way to meet a friend and her pup! But I did take him on the expanding lead and once he'd got over the initial excitement of being around a girl, he did return to me when called. So I've got to buy a new clicker next week and get back to the training with it.

Instead of buying another clicker you could try using a word, such as "yes" in place of the clicker. I'm sure it was Sazzle (sorry if wrong) that said about this before. I thought it a great idea because you always have your voice with you

Totally agree about the yes as a marker, I do this also clickers are great for some dogs, but I'd always forget it and then worry I couldn't get her to comply without it lol!

Great to hear his recall is going well. The more successes you have the better. Use the recall frequently indoors too and it will eventually ( in theory at least ) become a " learned behaviour.I use the " come" command while at the same time holding my arms outstretched. The purpose is to give him a visual signal that I want him to come when he is off-lead and may, for one reason or another, not hear me e.g. wind in the wrong direction or at a distance etc. If experimenting with his recall outdoors, where there are more distractions, be sure to use a high value treat ( cheese is a big favourite with Bacchus).

I use the word 'Good' when he obeys me and do a little clap as a signal that he has done something I like. I do silent claps too but I'm sure he knows the signal as he 'smiles' more and bounces around me.

Niffer wrote:I use the word 'Good' when he obeys me and do a little clap as a signal that he has done something I like. I do silent claps too but I'm sure he knows the signal as he 'smiles' more and bounces around me.

Whatever works for him is great. Glad he's doing well. I often don't use verbal commands at all eg. for "sit" I place my hand, palm inwards at the top of my chest and for "down" I just hold out my hand with the palm facing downwards.

I use the visual commands long side the verbal ones to get him to sit and stay..but in all honesty thought there little point in doing it for the recall as he usually has his back to me and is off in the opposite direction when I call him back, so he can't see the visual sign. On reflection I probably didn't give him enough credit for yesterday.. We were in the woods, he's never been there before and were with my friend, her kids and pup, and he hasn't met any of them before. So considering all the new sights, smells and people plus the pup I guess he actually did well to come when called and without the clicker. I think I will go get another clicker but use it to get his attention when he is ignoring the verbal commands, which he does do sometimes when asked to sit, but when the clicker is used he sits straight away

reuben wrote:

Niffer wrote:I use the word 'Good' when he obeys me and do a little clap as a signal that he has done something I like. I do silent claps too but I'm sure he knows the signal as he 'smiles' more and bounces around me.

Whatever works for him is great. Glad he's doing well. I often don't use verbal commands at all eg. for "sit" I place my hand, palm inwards at the top of my chest and for "down" I just hold out my hand with the palm facing downwards.

Yeyeyey wow that's exactly what I do too and for stay I hold my arm out in front of me with my hand up as if to stop traffic lol.

Niffer wrote:

reuben wrote:

Niffer wrote:I use the word 'Good' when he obeys me and do a little clap as a signal that he has done something I like. I do silent claps too but I'm sure he knows the signal as he 'smiles' more and bounces around me.

Whatever works for him is great. Glad he's doing well. I often don't use verbal commands at all eg. for "sit" I place my hand, palm inwards at the top of my chest and for "down" I just hold out my hand with the palm facing downwards.

Yeyeyey wow that's exactly what I do too and for stay I hold my arm out in front of me with my hand up as if to stop traffic lol.

What I also do is....I only use the " stay " command if he is in a down or sit and I walk away and intend RETURNING TO HIM. If I am doing recall training I put him in a sit and give the command " wait " rather than "stay", walk to the required distance then when ready either give the " come" command or the visual prompt or both. He is then required to come to me, sit in front of me, then on command come round me and finish with a sit at my left side.

Very good   - we're doing the 'finish' thing at doggy school. At the mo he sits in front of me but is slowly getting the hang of walking around me bless him.

Niffer wrote:Very good   - we're doing the 'finish' thing at doggy school. At the mo he sits in front of me but is slowly getting the hang of walking around me bless him.

With his lead on and facing you in a sit, step forward to his right side and at the same time use the lead to guide him around you and to your left. But sounds like you are getting there anyway.