Lesson one, teaching your pup the recall.

[poohbearsmom]

It matters not the age of your pup or dog, but the sooner you begin to teach your companion the recall, the better.

Let me begin by stating that I've seen more pups and dogs lately that have been taught the "anti-recall"... with owners cheerfully bragging how much their beloved dogs just LOVE the "chase game" !!! This is a bad, bad game, and teaches your dog to run FROM you, rather than TO you. In principle, this is bad, and can truly be a dangerous and life threatening habit for your dog, if it should slip out the front door and towards a street.

One can start teaching a reliable recall by remembering a few important points:

1. NEVER EVER EVER punish your pup or dog for coming to you. EVER.

2. Do not ask for a behavior that you cannot reinforce. (This applies to all training) In order to reinforce your pup/dog, you must be attached to it. So, have a 6 foot lead, a lightweight long line (laundry lines work great with an inexpensive clip attached) on hand, and plenty of treats and a favorite toy.

3. Use "formal" commands for behaviors that your dog MUST comply with, and informal commands when you cannot reinforce the behavior 100% (i.e. "Come" means you come to me no matter what... "Come along" or "Come here" might allow the dog to just come closer to me.)

4. Use correct timing for your praise/reward. You have less than 2 seconds to reward your pup for offering you a correct behavior. Be quick, and be correct about WHAT you're rewarding. By the same token, you have less than 2 seconds to correct your pup for a wrong behavior. Something to keep in mind.

5. Keep all training sessions very short. A few minutes at the most, but if you receive an unusually wonderful response, end the session right then and there. It's good to remember, that your pup is very smart, and they remember everything they learn... so if you always end on a GOOD note, it's the quality of the session that's much more important than the quantity of time you're taking up.


To begin the recall training, start with the shorter leash. Let the pup wander around at the end of the leash, then call the pup's name, and tell it "Come". At the exact moment that you utter the command, give a slight pop on the leash, and move backwards in a happy, receptive manner. As soon as the pup has made it to you, reward verbally and with a tasty tidbit at the same time.

Rinse and repeat. Perform a happy dance with each quick and correct execution. Before too long, your companion should not need any further prompting with the leash.

Once your pup is offering a solid recall on the short line. It's time to generalize the behavior. Practice this with the longer line in the same environment. Practice at a park. Practice with a short lead in the vet's office. Practice in the grocery parking lot. Take cookies to your local Fire Station, and practice in their parking lot. (get the idea?).

Practice makes perfect.

Once you have a reliable recall on lead in several different environments, begin at home again off lead. Start with a VERY short distance (remember, you must be able to reinforce what you're trying to teach!) Practice in the backyard, then, once your friend has bat 1000, try it in the house around corners and such.

Remember, coming to you should be the MOST FUN THING your pup can do. This helps to promote your pup paying attention to you, and you both will reap the rewards of having a mutually happy time together. You'll spend less time being frustrated with a dog who thinks it's fun to run away from you, and your dog will thank you for it.

Any questions?

[BostonRott]

I like to work restrained recalls with puppies. Have person A hold the collar while the owner walks away, calling, skipping, and getting the pup's attention and excitement up.

Have pieces of something REALLY good (hotdog, cheese, left-over meat). On your cue, call the pup and have the person release their hold on the collar. Pup comes flying to you!

There's also a video out called The Really Reliable Recall which is being lauded on the Agility lists. I haven't seen it yet.

[damp]

I do cringe when I read posts where the owner chases the pup/dog.

I start teaching a pup recall at 8 -9 weeks old and I don’t use a leash. I take the pup to the wood and just walk and since I am the pup’s ONLY fixed point in it new life… it will follow me. I make many stops, sit down and turn my back to the pup… when it comes (and it does), it is rewarded with praise, play, a ball or grand mom’s meatballs.
If the pup is interested in something and focused on other things, I hide and watch the pup from the hide, wait until the pup finds out I am out of sight… then I call it. If the pup has the flock drive, it will find you. (It also stimulates its desire to use the nose and in away it’s the first “tracks”)
There are many ways to teach a pup recall, but please keep in mind, it's not fair to think a pup will come to you if it is sniffing around, looking at kids playing with a ball etc. Wait till the pup has focus on you, first then call it, in a happy voice. Running away from the pup, throwing a ball in the air will stimulate it’s prey drive and the pup will find “come” is a big game. Also in the teaching phase, I just want the pup to come and come fast. I don’t care if it sit or any thing else.
If you trigger the pups drives...prey or flock... you make a good foundations for a reliable and fast recall.

No matter what method you use, the recall must be fun and rewarded!

[poohbearsmom]

Originally Posted by BostonRott

I like to work restrained recalls with puppies. Have person A hold the collar while the owner walks away, calling, skipping, and getting the pup's attention and excitement up.

Have pieces of something REALLY good (hotdog, cheese, left-over meat). On your cue, call the pup and have the person release their hold on the collar. Pup comes flying to you!

...

Another fun game to teach the recall! I use this a lot with my own pups, and offer up similar games to my students... the advice above is the formal way that I teach in my puppy classes. With novice owners, it's a good thing to teach new behaviors with as much control as possible, in order to alleviate mistakes that may take the training back instead of forward.

Originally Posted by damp

do cringe when I read posts where the owner chases the pup/dog.

Me too!!!! Forget the front door, if a dog slips the lead in public, many horrific things could happen.

Originally Posted by damp

I start teaching a pup recall at 8 -9 weeks old and I don’t use a leash. I take the pup to the wood and just walk and since I am the pup’s ONLY fixed point in it new life… it will follow me. I make many stops, sit down and turn my back to the pup… when it comes (and it does), it is rewarded with praise, play, a ball or grand mom’s meatballs.
If the pup is interested in something and focused on other things, I hide and watch the pup from the hide, wait until the pup finds out I am out of sight… then I call it. If the pup has the flock drive, it will find you. (It also stimulates its desire to use the nose and in away it’s the first “tracks”)
There are many ways to teach a pup recall, but please keep in mind, it's not fair to think a pup will come to you if it is sniffing around, looking at kids playing with a ball etc. Wait till the pup has focus on you, first then call it, in a happy voice. Running away from the pup, throwing a ball in the air will stimulate it’s prey drive and the pup will find “come” is a big game. Also in the teaching phase, I just want the pup to come and come fast. I don’t care if it sit or any thing else.

No matter what method you use, the recall must be fun and rewarded!

This is also an excellent example *IF* you have a safe place in which to take your pup off lead. I would only recommend this for a new pup, after it's gotten to know it's new master for a few days, and never for a youth or adult that is new to someone's home, or that has never had a good recall, or that frustration syndrome is likely to pop up..

Yes, it's true.. the recall MUST be fun and rewarded, and there's nothing more beautiful than a pup or dog that is making tracks towards you because it knows that good things are in store!

[debbiej]

these posts are going in my "when I get a puppy" file. my guys are pretty good about recalls. Boris only has done them on lead out of the yard and house, but when he is out in the yard he dashes in. Hilda is pretty good, and even better if she knows I have treats in my pocket. she will always come if I act like I am going to leave her, or hide behind a bush.

[Wolfram]

Thank you everyone for the tips on recall. I was wondering how to get started with this. Bear is 11 wks ols. He sits and stays and our next project is the "come when called" command. I was wondering how to do it. I appreciate your advice!!

Wolfram

Proud papa to Bear the wonder dog...

[Fast4dr]

Originally Posted by Wolfram

Bear is 11 wks ols. He sits and stays and our next project is the "come when called" command. .

Let's also remember that he is a PUPPY and don't forget that. At this point in his life, ALL learning should be up tempo, FUN, FUN, FUN with HIGH PRAISE and reward. This will build a VERY good strong foundation for later on, when obed can be a bit more stressful for both parties involved. I would NOT be pushing the pup and working on sit or stay. It's way to early for that IMO. If you hammer the pup now, it will come back to bite you later on...(not literally).
Good luck and have fun. He is only a puppy once!!!

[N2006]

Hi - yes, let's all remember he is a puppy. Excellent advise from all. We tend to forget, but must remember that we teach our children to crawl before we teach them to walk...same with beloved pets.
My question(s):
Age of bringing Puppy home: I agree with all of the above info. I need to know: - if I decide to bring 2 pups - rotties - (8 to 9 weeks old I will see what the breeder suggests) I am thinking of a male and a female, not to breed but as companions in my home, the last one I had lived 10 years, his only other companion was my cat! They were the best of friends.
Do I get:
two males rotties or one male and one female.
What are the drawbacks...?
some friends - not breeders - said that they should not be from the same litter, they would affiliate with each other more more than they would with me; others said that not to introduce the second before the first is at least a year old.
I would appreciate any help to help me make up my mind....thanks

[poohbearsmom]

Originally Posted by N2006

Hi - yes, let's all remember he is a puppy. Excellent advise from all. We tend to forget, but must remember that we teach our children to crawl before we teach them to walk...same with beloved pets.
My question(s):
Age of bringing Puppy home: I agree with all of the above info. I need to know: - if I decide to bring 2 pups - rotties - (8 to 9 weeks old I will see what the breeder suggests) I am thinking of a male and a female, not to breed but as companions in my home, the last one I had lived 10 years, his only other companion was my cat! They were the best of friends.
Do I get:
two males rotties or one male and one female.
What are the drawbacks...?
some friends - not breeders - said that they should not be from the same litter, they would affiliate with each other more more than they would with me; others said that not to introduce the second before the first is at least a year old.
I would appreciate any help to help me make up my mind....thanks

Welcome N2006.

There are many threads regarding rearing two pups at a time, which is off topic in this particular thread. This is best a question for another thread, once you've researched the topic a bit on the forums. I think you'll find that even the most experienced dog folk prefer to rear one pup at a time.

[N2006]

Thanks for the info. I shall research more.

[N2006]

Thank you once more: I have found the thread (Puppy Development) 12-03-2005, 04:02 AM
poohbearsmom
Member
Raising Two Puppies Together - Good idea?

I am glad I found it ...very informative. Thank you

[Gunsey'sMom]

Thank You very much for this thread! I have recently been working on recall with my 7mo Gunner. I am not sure if he had been punished for coming out of my presence, but it is still something we need to work on. He is progressively getting better and I am very pleased. This information is very helpful to me, because I constantly wondering, am I doing the right thing? He is not perfect yet, but I am seeing the results of practicing every day with him. I think I will try hotdogs with him- that is a good idea!
In my situation, It was hard at first to practice recall, because we live next to a very busy road and I thought I had to do it off leash. I did not want any possibility of Gunner running into the street.
I now practice with him on leash, and outside on a tie. Me and my boyfriend also practice with him around the house now-out of sight.I also always make sure everyonre knows that he is to be rewarded when he comes and use the same words (ours it come) so training is consisitent.

Those of you who are having the same problems that I was having (consisitent recall) remember to practice, practice, practice. It doesnt happen overnight, so stick with it. I never thought Gunner would be better, but he is. We are not offleash yet, but we will get there.