[nagdu] Off leash recall

ichoosechrist2 at gmail.com ichoosechrist2 at gmail.com
Tue Nov 12 14:58:23 UTC 2013



Thanks for your advice. 
Sent from my iPhone

> On Nov 12, 2013, at 7:49 AM, "Julie J." <julielj at neb.rr.com> wrote:
> 
> 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
> 
> 
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