Help! She's slowing down in her recall

[Miabella]

We *were* having a problems with crooked fronts, but I seemed to have resolved that. She was anticipating which hand would have a treat, so I learned to spit treats from my mouth. But now a new problem...

She is slowing down. She used to take off like a rocket, but now she takes off in a lope, and then slows to a trot before sitting in front. How can I turn the speed back on? (Judi, Dawn? Help! :) )

[DNeff]

A lot of times when you start to add accuracy (straight fronts) your dog starts to slow down because they are working on trying to be correct. It's a pretty normal reaction.

I would not practice my fronts always with the recall. Practice your fronts seperately. Try having someone hold her and take her favorite toy or treat and run away from her while waving the toy/treat and talking her up. Get a good ways away, don't do short recalls. I would work a minimum of 50-60' recalls. Call her and then have the person holding her release her. As she gets in towards (5-6' out) you throw the toy behind you or through your legs, don't do a front.

The other thing I do is get a large treat that is easily visible on the flooring your are on. I throw the treat as far away from me as possible and run in the opposite direction. As soon as she gets the treat I call her to a recall and throw another treat behind me (as she comes in - no fronts ) and race in the opposite direction again. This starts a great fast paced recall game. Which later works great for fun drop on recall practice sessions.

Be sure to use the highest caliber treats or toys for the recall until you can get her speed back up. Practice fronts as a seperate exercise only putting your fronts with the recall once she is zooming again.

Dawn
U-CD Cammcastle's Msytic Riven CDX OAC OJC OGC NA NAJ TT CGC
http://members.aol.com/dplantier
http://members.aol.com/rottweilerworld

[Miabella]

Thanks, Dawn! I will try those suggestions out. :)

One more quick question. My trainer has impressed upon us in the past that we need to be conscious of what we mean by each command. For example, "come" means sit in front of me. She is always telling us not to use our formal command unless we want a formal recall, and that using "come" for a more casual recall will confuse the dog.

So in this situation, where I don't necessarily want her to sit in front but I am trying to train "come", what should I say? :) :D

[DNeff]

I would use "here" for your informal recall word. I actually use "front" for my come to front and sit straight word. I was very inconsistant about using "come" so I dropped that from our obedience vocabulary.

On the drop on recall exercise, I say "Riven, here", give my drop signal, and then "Riven, front" for my come to front position.

Dawn
U-CD Cammcastle's Msytic Riven CDX OAC OJC OGC NA NAJ TT CGC
http://members.aol.com/dplantier
http://members.aol.com/rottweilerworld

[Jamie & Odin]

I've noticed the same thing when we began the DOR; more hesitancy on the recall in general. I'll start using better treats;) and mix it up. Maybe I should back up and start out with the "game" you mentioned Dawn, instead of starting straight away with the down command?

Personally, I use "come on" or "let's go" and a higher tone of voice for an informal recall. At this point, he knows "come" means serious business, and the others just mean to come in my general vacinity or to follow me if I keep going.

[DNeff]

Originally posted by Jamie & Odin
I've noticed the same thing when we began the DOR; more hesitancy on the recall in general. I'll start using better treats;) and mix it up. Maybe I should back up and start out with the "game" you mentioned Dawn, instead of starting straight away with the down command?

I use "front" for my recall command and "here" for the start of my drop on recall. That helps him know ahead of time what exercise we are working on. I didn't have any slowing or anticipation problems.

You will almost always see a tendancy to slow down on the recall when you introduce the drop. That is why many trainers tell you to never work your drop heavily before you trial for your CD. I never had an issue with it, but some people do.

The DOR game is great and I mix in sits and recalls to see if he is really paying attention. It builds speed and enthusiasm which is what it is all about for me.
Keeping things a game is so important, we all tend to make obedience training so serious. It shouldn't be!

Dawn
U-CD Cammcastle's Msytic Riven CDX OAC OJC OGC NA NAJ TT CGC
http://members.aol.com/dplantier
http://members.aol.com/rottweilerworld

[Judi W]

I've never found the need to use different terms for the recall. If I am standing there static with my hands at my sides, - the "come" includes a sit in front. If I break my position as they are moving in to do a run away, or toss a toy or jump up and down, whatever they are quick to interpet that it does not require a sit in front it might be the beginning of a game. It is the variance of this that helps keep that recall fast. Dogs are quite situational and most of that relates to the handler's position and body language not specific words although tone makes a difference. Make sure you are using a "movement stimulating" tone which is higher pitched with a zing to it.

[Miabella]

Hi everyone,

I just thought I'd tell you how last night's training session went. We went to the park, and we worked with toys and me running away. Also, I made sure all the recalls were about 100 feet. What a difference! My speedy girl was back and having fun.

We did about 6 or 7 fun recalls, and then to finish it off I tried one formal one from about 100 feet away. Fast and a perfectly straight front. Woohoo! I'll keep mixing it up from now on, I guess it was getting a little stale and stressful for her.

[DNeff]

That's excellent news!! Glad to hear she was having fun and back to her speedy self.

Keep up the great work!!

Dawn
U-CD Cammcastle's Msytic Riven CDX OAC OJC OGC NA NAJ TT CGC
http://members.aol.com/dplantier
http://members.aol.com/rottweilerworld

[Miabella]

Thanks again for all the wonderful advice, I don't know we're I'd be without all the free advice I get from such wonderful experienced people here. I've come to realize that whenever something goes awry, it's always something I'm doing that's the cause. Poor girl, she'd probably be much further along if she had a better handler. :) But with my next dog I'll be able to avoid some of these little pitfalls I create for myself!

[Judi W]

Everyone also needs to keep in mind that if they have not laid the foundation carefully, dogs that are busy concentrating on being a good dog and keeping their stay will be conflicted when asked to break that stay to come. This will slow down the most willing dog because they see a contradition between the two. That is why I always do almost all of my beginning come work with someone restraining the dog or with a hide and seek game. It is easy to think a dog "knows" what come means or that stay simply means stay until I ask you to do something else, but dogs that have been corrected for breaking the stay can often become reluctant to come until they build confidence in their understanding.

[Miabella]

Thank you, Judi, another good point. :) I don't think that's my problem here, as we started off doing our recalls without stays for quite awhile and I've never actually had her break her stay in anticipation of a recall (watch that will be our next problem).

I try to prevent her anticipating by telling her to stay, walking away like we are going to do a recall, but then coming back to reward her for a nice stay. I probably do this fake-out for one out of every 4 recalls. I hope I'm doing the right thing?

[Judi W]

OK, well so much for that idea, however, I hope others looking at this thread keep this in mind. Sometimes what looks like disobedience is actually the dog trying very hard to concentrate on the last thing that was impressed on him.