[nagdu] Off-leash recall.

[Daryl Marie]

My whistle is a high-pitched one... I once had another dog come to it, too (oops!)

Whenever I take Jenny girl off-leash, I give her a treat as I am taking the leash off.  This shows her two things:
1) she is allowed to be off-leash and run, and it's good
2) I have one treat; I have more

Occasionally I will just call her to me to work on her off-leash recall; when she comes back, especially from a long distance, she gets a treat.

Same with the whistle.  Occasionally I will need to use it (I can count on one hand the number of times).  Even if I have to use it, I reinforce her coming back with treats.  The only time I do not is if she is misbehaving, when I call her back to me (she comes) and I put her on-leash.  She always knows exactly what she did to cut short her trip to the park, because she is the most well-behaved doggie EVER walking back to the bus/car.

I know that does a crappy job of explaining it, but that's what I learned, anyway.  Lately though she'll come back without treats, which comes in handy when I run short (mommy guilt!)

Daryl and the wonderful Jenny who got her around a HUGE puddle flooding the sidewalk!
----- Original Message -----
From: Deanna Lewis <DLewis at clovernook.org>
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users (nagdu at nfbnet.org) <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Fri, 14 Mar 2014 09:04:37 -0600 (MDT)
Subject: [nagdu] Off-leash recall.

Hi,
So all the talk about fenced in yards and off-leash recall got me thinking that I really should be working on improving my dog's off-leash recall. He is not bad, but sometimes, he gets sniffy and is really stubborn and doesn't want to come back to me. His obedience is good, but when he gets outside and more than 10 feet away, he likes to poke around and I have to call his name several times.
So, what are some good techniques for re-teaching a dog off leash recall? Any tips and tricks?
I know some of you mentioned whistles, is there a specific type to use, or will any kind do?
Food? Clicker? Etc?
Thank you.
Deanna and Pascal
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