Recall, a backward step!!

jas · Recall, a backward step!!

Oscar is now 7 months old and until a couple of weeks ago his recall to voice and whistle was really good. A couple of weeks ago i noticed that if he was biting a stick or sniffing the ground he would ignore me. If i went to him he would look at me and run hoping for a game which I didn't provide. Today he ran off and crossed a road and ran to the another park. He refused to stop to whistle and voice which usually happens. I went and got him and didn't tell him off in case he associated it with the recall.
What do i do next? I've bought him a 30ft lead and going to take him back to basics. I call him and if i have to pull on the lead i don't reward him, If he comes back on a slack lead he gets a reward.
It really is disheartening to see all that work go downhill so quick!! Am i doing the right thing here?

DesO'Neile

Start from scratch again. I don't use treats or the clicker so I can't advise what to do about treats other that to say stop using them.
To me the drop command is everything and it is taught ad nauseum until perfected and reverted to pretty sharpish if the wheels fall off.

www.glencuanpointers.com

In "The Glencuan Way" is a section on the drop which you may find of use.

josie

How are you rewarding him when he does come to you? If with treats, what sort of treats?

countrygirl

At 6 months your dog is very much a baby still.

Back to basic's lots of heel work and blowing of the stop whisle and your dog needs to know you expect an instant responce.

Running him on a long line is a good ideal and if you blow the whistle and he ignors you get after him and give him a good telling off how hard depends on his nature.

I use treats, find something he really likes, I use Wilkinsons treats as the dogs love them, play with him in the garden and make coming to you a big game lots of praise dont be afraid of making yourself look and idiot and give him a treat for coming back and then move the game to outside your garden.

I wean them off treats when they get older and even my 12 year old likes the odd one for being a good boy and coming back when asked.

Hope this helps

Caz

windem bang

I agree with the idea of teaching the drop and also would try using treats to help with the recall.

From time to time I add hiding myself to this. I watch where my dog is, judge when its not looking at me then dodge behind a tree and blow the recall whistle. I can peek out at the dog to make sure it isn't getting into trouble but I stay hidden and my dog has to find me.

This gets varied with me blowing recall before going at once into hiding . My dog then has a couple of seconds to spot me and get to me before I do disappear. I put the onus on the dog to find me rather than have the dog think it's my job to find it.
I did this hiding method this morning with two spaniels and a riotious G.S.P. running loose in thick woodlands - it didn't take long before they began to head back towards my whistle at a great rate of knots !

Bill T.

jas

For treats i use mainly packet treats like James Wellbeloved ones or bits of cheese. I am now working him on the stop whistle a couple of times a day for about 5 mins on a long leash and have started the bits of cheese cos he seems to love them, the lady next door is baking me some lliver cake at the weekend. I agree he is still a baby but I dfon't want him to think bad habits/disobedience is ok!

josie

I would increase the value of your rewards - anything dry, like processed dog treats - is not as tasty as fresh food. Try garlic sausage, pate, sardines... That sort of thing. Make sure you vary it as well, so he never knows what he's going to get, only that it will be something good.

BenB

Train the dog WELL away from ANY roads.

Josie - can you send me a food parcel please. For the dogs of course!

jas

Yes, my dog would love a picnic hamper from you too! Joking apart, I agree with you and will upgrade his treats and vary them regularly