Working recall

[gomer9855]

So Frau's recalls are great, only once in a great while will I have to repeat myself.

However. If we're at the park and I release her to run free, she races around, and is VERY fast. I'll tell her to come, and she'll do it at full speed, fly past past my leg, turn around about 15 past me, then come back and sit in front of me.

How do I teach her to SLOW DOWN and stop in front of me on the FIRST pass, not the second?

Oh, and if she's on lead, even a long long line, she's won't run like she does when free. So I can't do the long line practice with her, she acts entirely different.

[Judi W]

You are trying to skip ahead of yourself.

As she is nearing you, you should be guiding her into position with bait and giving her a sit command before she zooms past you, but I would suggest that you save the formal command for more controlled situations and use something less formal for playing in the park times.

[damp]

No big problem if she obeys!!! We LOVE the fast running in the recall, don’t we??? You just have to work a bit on the finish. A ball/toy/treat in your hands in front of you will teach her to run and sit in the position you prefer.

[gomer9855]

So for just playing in the park, as long as she still comes to me, it doesn't really matter if she has to double back becuase it's not formal? I guess I'm being too critical. I use "Frau Come" in class, which she does, but sits slightly to the right of me instead of in front, and "come on puppy!" or something to that affect in the park. I just wasn't sure if this was going to become a bad habit for more advanced training later on.
She also does this if I throw her something, she always runs past it, then has to double back for it.
I don't think she's knows how to slow down.

[gomer9855]

I'll try the squeaky toy to get her to stop near me, if not in front, and see if that helps. That's our main problem in class right now, long stay with sqeauky toy distractions. Eesh!

[Judi W]

Frau Come is a formal command and as such should have a front sit. Come on puppy is informal which is what I would recommend if you are not going to ask for the front and simply want her to return to you.

[gomer9855]

Okay, gotcha. Poor dog. I think I've been too strict with raising her. Too concerned with her turning out 'bad' I guess.

Well, she turned out 'good' so I guess I can give her some leaway now.

[RottsNScotts]

Lots of people I know - and me too! - use separate commands for formal obedience and informal response to commands. In this instance, for a formal recall with front, I use "hier", the German command for a recall. For a informal "get over here near me" -and that means right now so it is formal in that sense - command when just out and about, I use "come". It helps as my body positioning for a formal recall is one way and a "get over here" command is something else.

[gomer9855]

That would be a good idea, I'll have to make sure to do that. I've started with some commands, so I'll have to keep it up. Makes Frau less stressed, and me, becuase I'm not expecting perfection anymore.