[nagdu] Off leash recall

[Julie J.]

Most of my dogs have had very good off leash recall.  However, my older dog, 
Belle, does not.  Monty, my current guide, does have the most amazing off 
leash recall I have ever seen.  I frequently take him in my yard, farm 
fields and to the dog park where he runs off leash.  The dog park is fenced, 
but the farm pond area is not.  I can call him away from rabbit chasing or 
playing with other dogs and he will come quickly and happily.

He came with a decent recall, which I have reinforced highly.  I think there 
are two factors that contribute  to a really good off leash recall, early 
training and a strong need to be with his person.  In my experience the 
older a dog is, the more difficult it is to teach a solid recall.  I believe 
it can be done, but the dog has learned how exciting running free is and 
often that is a greater reward than what you have on offer.

I start in the house, when the dog is just relaxing or not doing anything in 
particular.  I call the dog in a happy voice and give a high value food 
reward.  I repeat this randomly throughout the day, varying the distance and 
where I am or what I'm doing.  I want the dog to come to me like it's 
Christmas.  When that is down solid, I add in distractions, maybe the dog is 
chewing on a bone or there's someone walking a dog across the street or 
something.  I want my dog's attention to be elsewhere, but not so engrossed 
that he won't come.   I repeat this a lot.  Then I do the same in the fenced 
yard and anywhere else where the distractions are just a bit more.  I keep 
increasing until I can call the dog away from whatever is going on or until 
I get to the point where I'm content with the level of recall or the effort 
in training is taking up more time than I am willing to give up.

With Belle, I trained her recall to a level where I can call her in from the 
fenced yard or back from the front door when it is open.  She will also come 
to me in the dog park.  she is however, not trustworthy in an unfenced area. 
I have come to accept that this is the way it is because I'm not willing to 
work further on it.  It works well enough.

I guess each person has to decide how important a certain skill is and then 
how much you are willing to put into it.   After having the experience with 
Monty and the happiness and freedom his off leash manners have given both of 
us, I think it will be very difficult for me to have another dog with poor 
off leash skills.

Julie