Praise

[JemarsSerena]

Here's the deal. We are in our last week of basic OB. One of things we were given for homework was remembering to reinforce the recall via praise, praise, praise. The trainer says that the recall should become the most pleasurable experience in the dogs world, which I agree. OK, that being said, Serena does not seem real keen on physical praise. I always try to use a positive tone of voice. I never call her name or ask her to come when I am up set with her. The only form of punishment I use is to ignore her and stop playing when she is being a PITA. I have never use my hands to correct, leash only. She will almost always work for food, but even that is becoming less of a motivator for her. Around other dogs, I cease to exist in her world.
She likes to be pet when I first come home. She will let me rub her tummy when sleepy. She lets me brush her when sleepy, but at no other time. SO here's my question. If she does not want to be pet for praise, how do I reinforce the recall?

[Ayoka]

What about a favourite toy or perhaps rotating the "treats"?

I am learning with Bear that often a tennis ball is a better reward than a piece of liver...especially when I want him to move fast!

[Cherry Heart]

In our class (which is currently Obedience level 2- partially off leash) the teacher also suggested using a toy. They said hold the toy right at knee level with feet apart, call the dog and as it runs to the toy, toss it between your legs, close legs and the dog SHOULD come to a halt right in front of you. Then "GOOD BOY/GIRL" and run to get the ball and play a quick game. I haven't tried this as Arwen is totally food motivated, but it was a suggestion from our trainer to a women with a very calm dog who only gets hyped to play ball.

[Sharon Marples]

When we train for the recall, we hold the bait/treat in our mouth. We start out just a few feet from the dog, pointing to our mouth so the dog focuses on it. We call him and when he comes (it doesn't matter where he sits or stands, at this point we just want him to come), we drop the treat from our mouth so that they can catch it. If the dog does not know how to catch food, that is to be taught first.

We always try to do this when the dog is hungry and not too tired for a workout mentally. The fact that they have to think about looking at your mouth, coming to you and then catching the food is a full plate for many young dogs.

[spoiledbabies3]

Is it possible that Serena is going through that tumultous "teenage" phase? There are times that I lose Deja's attention completely, so we simply stop working and I give her some "down time" in her crate. I've noticed many times she just wants to nap or be left alone. She is more challenging of her role and not too happy when she doesn't get to be "queen". She has "come" down really well but we are having issues with "leave it". When she gets really stubborn I simply give her time alone...in the crate with no toys or treats. Simply to let her know that she is not "in charge". Per my trainer Deja is going through the phase of trying to "challenge" my role..but then again that was the consensus with both of my "2-legged teenage daughters also". Generally after some time alone we retry practice sessions and Deja is back to working again. She is also highly food motivated and this helps alot...but one thing I do is to alternate her treats...we have 3 separate "high value" treats. It tends to keep her interested since she isn't bored with the same one over and over. I hope this helps...(I like Sharon's idea about the bait in the mouth).

[spidey]

Praise is REALLY low on the list of reinforcements for a dog, no matter how much we'd like to think otherwise. Something is only a reinforcer (i.e. something that the dog will repeat a behaviour to get) if the DOG thinks it's a reinforcer (my trusty old example is that if you don't like broccoli, no matter how much broccoli I offer you, you're still not going to want the broccoli enough to work for it). Play (tug, fetch, run around, whatever), food (every dog has SOME food they like enough to work for, try cheese or steak), playing with other dogs, the opportunity to mark, whatever, you just need to find something that works as a strong reinforcer for YOUR dog (and praise is rarely enough to really solidify a behaviour as important as a recall, especially since we're often asking a dog to give up something it REALLY wants (like running free or playing with other dogs) in order to come when we call, so we need to find something that's AT LEAST as reinforcing as running free).

[JemarsSerena]

Thanks all. I guess now that I think about the real challenge is finding what motivates her. We've tried a small fortune worth of toys, and as of yet there is nothing that she gets attached to. When we play fetch, it doesn't really matter to her what I throw. I'll try some different food treats. I mainly use small pieces of hot dog which she seems to enjoy, but maybe she's getting bored with them. Thanks again and we'll try some of the ideas. Anymore thoughts are definitely welcome.

[moondog]

Chili was taught her recall by using a long line (if needed) and having someone hold her for me. I then pulled out a BIG chunk of my tasty freshly cooked chicken, and (while she was being held by the other person) I'd bend over towards her, giving her a whiff of what I had and a few soft bumps on the nose with the hand that was holding it, while saying "Ya ready?" "Are ya?" "Ya SURE?" Then I bolted about 20-30 feet, whipped around and called "Chili, COME!!!" as the helper dropped the line, and she flies!

I held the chicken hand just below waist level and as she got about 6 feet from me, I would draw my hand up my body and stop at about my chin. She skidded into a PERFECT sit at front every single time, doing it this way. Of course, then she got the full-on "Yahoo, Puppy!" from me, as well as the chicken!

Chili's recall is straight, enthusiastic, and fast as lightening from giving her this foundation. I think if I threw a toy between my legs, she would knock me flat, LOL!

[JemarsSerena]

Originally Posted by moondog

I think if I threw a toy between my legs, she would knock me flat, LOL!

I had this happen with my last rott Isabelle, not fun. She nailed me square on the knees. She was VERY toy motivated.
I use "ya Ready" as prep to get her excited, so this might fit in with what we are alreay doing.

[moondog]

It really helps to pump them up a bit and then bolt away - just remember that you need to give her a "target", which in Chili's case was my fist full of chicken.

[Gunsey'sMom]

I know someone already suggested toys-but I know a short game of "tug" is how I was able to teach Gunner the Leave IT Command. Try picking a toy maybe that she has indicated she favors. I know GUnner favored his Invincible Rings because he would always try to initiate playtime with them. (slick guy that he is)

[Ayoka]

Originally Posted by moondog

Chili was taught her recall by using a long line (if needed) and having someone hold her for me. I then pulled out a BIG chunk of my tasty freshly cooked chicken, and (while she was being held by the other person) I'd bend over towards her, giving her a whiff of what I had and a few soft bumps on the nose with the hand that was holding it, while saying "Ya ready?" "Are ya?" "Ya SURE?" Then I bolted about 20-30 feet, whipped around and called "Chili, COME!!!" as the helper dropped the line, and she flies!

I held the chicken hand just below waist level and as she got about 6 feet from me, I would draw my hand up my body and stop at about my chin. She skidded into a PERFECT sit at front every single time, doing it this way. Of course, then she got the full-on "Yahoo, Puppy!" from me, as well as the chicken!

This is also a great idea....in fact that's how we worked on recalls when Bear and I were starting classes in flyball. Of course now his recall is perfect in the lane as he understands his "job" there but we continue to work on it in different situations.

[BostonRott]

Not all dogs are motivated by toys. Bort certainly is not. He will, *on rare occaision,* play with a toy at all......therefore, they are not motivating and would be a poor choice for him. I have my first dog who is TRULY motivated by praise (Xcel). All I have to do when working him is give him a super happy "YAY!" and he sproings straight up in the air (be sure you're standing straight!). The rest of my dogs work for a combo of food/toy.

As has been said, it is what motivates the dog that matters. For Froli, the dearest thing in the world was a frisbee. For Banja, it's an "evil cuz." Vik likes soft squeeky rubber balls. Each will work for other things, but I know that these are their TOP items. If we're working on something that can get boring quickly (heeling), the top item comes out. If we're working through a problem, they get the top reward when done.

If using food, rotate through: hotdogs, string cheese, chicken/turkey hearts, chicken/steak. Be sure the dog is HUNGRY when training......if this means skipping the morning feeding the day of class, do so. It won't hurt the dog.