[nagdu] Off leash recall

Tue Nov 12 15:15:12 UTC 2013

Most of my dogs have had pretty good off leash recall. One dog could be
absolutely trusted outside in a non fenced area, and so can Olga now. But
Bianca, my retired guide had the worst recall. If she was outside, she would
not come till she was darn good and ready to do so. This was what finally
sold me on food rewards, because treats could often get her to come and
saved her life at least once I'm sure. But it was still a struggle. Then a
field manager from GDB took me aside and gave me some advice that really
worked. Normally, they tell us to use a warm happy sweet voice to call them
supposedly makes them want to come. But it didn't matter how sweet I sounded
Bianca just would not come. So, this person was working with me in a fenced
area and he said:

I'm going to break protocol. I don't think you should make yourself sound so
happy and sweet. With Bianca, you need to become a drill sergeant. You need
to make her feel like she had better get her little rear over to you, or
else. 

So, I took a deep breath and said loudly and sternly, though not yelling,
Bianca come!

She came and I praised the heck out of her and gave her some carrots, which
are her favorite treats. It took a long long time and lots of consistent
work, but she now comes easily, most of the time. I have a fenced yard and
it's nice to know that she will come to me when I need her to, though I'm
always cautious that people are sure the gate is latched when they come to
my door. 

Now the GDB puppy raisers are supposed to practice off leash recall with
food rewards. When I was applying for retraining, I told them that off leash
recall, consistent and reliable recall was an absolute must. And Olga is
everything I wanted in almost every way, and especially her recall.

Sherry

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Tracy Carcione
Sent: Tuesday, November 12, 2013 7:13 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Off leash recall

Hi Lora.
My first dog was terrible at off-leash recall.  She loved the game of 
you-can't-catch-me.  I hated it!  But she'd always come if I could show her 
the harness.  Still, I learned pretty quick that she just couldn't be in an 
unfenced or large area off leash.

Ben used to have a poor recall, if he was out in the yard enjoying a good 
sniff, but a few treats solved that.  He's very fond of treats.  But some 
dogs just don't care; they want to play keep away.
Sorry, that's not very helpful.
Tracy

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <ichoosechrist2 at gmail.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, November 11, 2013 8:29 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Off leash recall

> Three years, with a 6 month break about 8 months ago.
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Nov 11, 2013, at 6:26 PM, rhonda cruz <rhondaprincess at gmail.com> 
>> wrote:
>>
>> hi lora, how long have you had your dog.
>> it takes time,
>> good luck,
>> my school had me do leash recall,
>> in my days in tranning class.
>> my dog does good with it.
>>
>> all the best.
>>
>>> On Nov 11, 2013, at 4:25 PM, ichoosechrist2 at gmail.com wrote:
>>>
>>> Hi list
>>>
>>> This has probably been talked about before. I have tried using a long 
>>> leash and increasing the distance, but my dog knows when he is on and 
>>> off leash and act completely differently. I have tried treats and I've 
>>> tried corrections. The treats that I have tried include cheese, 
>>> snausages, kibble, chicken, and nothing works. My dog acts great with 
>>> other dogs and my dog watches whoever has the toy except me but when I 
>>> try to do training with out dogs it is as if I am not there. My dog 
>>> keeps showing me time and time again that he can't handle freedom. He 
>>> will not play on Flexi lead. I know he needs to play but it is hard to 
>>> let him play when I can't trust him. Any suggestions?
>>>
>>> Seems to me that a guide dog school would teach off leash recall seeing 
>>> as we are blind it is a good skill for the dogs to have. Am I Just being

>>> too strict with my dog?
>>>
>>> Lora
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPhone
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m
>>
>>
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