Hey guys, first post here. Need some help, been disciplining my Rott w/ spankings :(

[Netty]

I hope you and your dog are progressing. Here's a tip that I found on another dog site:

I like to start recall training in a smaller area or room, no leash. My living room or kitchen is perfect. Some trainers will tell you that you should do this or do that and “do it right” or no success. I don't disagree with the other trainers about that; I just don't do it that way. I'm not positive there is a right way to train a recall. Unless you're training for obedience competition where your dog has to come to you, sit in front of you in a perfect sit and wait for your next command, you simply want your dog to come back to you when you call her.

To set the recall training up to win, please hand feed your dog her daily diet. It's a great way to bond with your dog, too. Every bite, every morsel of her daily food, hand feed. When you give her a bite, say her name. “Lucy”. Every time, every bite. Say her name in all tones of voice, loud, soft, whisper, yell, sound mad, sound happy, sound sappy. Your dog will learn quickly that her name means a bite of something yummy. When you say her name, it's a good thing, rewards follow. And someday when she runs out into traffic and you have lost your mind screaming “Lucy!” at the top your lungs, Lucy will turn and run back to you, no bodily damage and with a smile on her face. Here's something else that will help the training go more quickly. During dinner, take a few steps backward, dog comes to you for the bite, say “Come” and give the food. Next time, skip backwards a little faster, say “Come” and give the food. You have a wonderful start on the perfect recall.

This worked well for me, especially since my dog is highly food motivated. He can never get enough to eat, and he is as voracious about treats as he is about dinner.