Help with recall during agility please!

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NellRosk

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I have recently started agility with my little JR x. We're on our second week and both absolutely love it! Slight problem... We do it on a football pitch on a Sunday morning when there's a match on so there's a lot going on. There's also a pavilion where people make bacon sandwiches. On Sunday Ruby was doing really well, she's really getting the hang of it all so the instructor said to let her off. Her nose was straight to the ground and she ran off into the pavilion after the smell of bacon :o Her recall is good on a walk (unless we spot cats or rodents) but she is very food orientated so how do we combat this problem? She just wouldn't listen to me at all, I had to go and retrieve her!
 
Maybe find an agility group that trains indoors ? The set up you describe it's hard to see working for a terrier.
 
bonny said:
Maybe find an agility group that trains indoors ? The set up you describe it's hard to see working for a terrier.
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I'm doing a 10 week beginner course so may have to keep her on the lead for this and then find an indoor one? She is the only terrier! They're all collies, spaniels or labs. Oh and a whippet but she's very well behaved!
 
Problem with that though is she isn't really learning much if she has to stay on a lead and if you find an indoor course you will probably have to start over again....
 
Work on your recall at home and make it really hard for her - set up a temptation alley etc so that its actually easier for her to recall at agility than at home, where you can perfect it.
 
I agree, we won't be able to get to the bit where I can point and send her round the course. I'm not going to do it competitively though, it's only for a bit of fun and to give her some mental stimulation!
 
samlf said:
Work on your recall at home and make it really hard for her - set up a temptation alley etc so that its actually easier for her to recall at agility than at home, where you can perfect it.
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'Temptation alley' lol! I'll line it with bacon! Good idea though, I'll give this a try!
 
There's something about the two words; 'Terriers' and 'Compliance' which are at odds with each other! :)

Whilst I genuinely admire your sense of determination, in your shoes, I'd give in, NOW!! :D I've never really worked out whether I love terriers, or hate them. If I still kept them, they'd send me to an early grave!

Alec.
 
I love 'em! But I haven't met one with a good recall, or any recall... Maybe there are some, somewhere!

We had a jrt when I was a kid, and he had no recall at all. When I met my OH's gsd, he had perfect recall, which I found mildly shocking! My other two gsds also seem to have inbuilt recall so I think breed makes a huge difference.

However I'm no defeatist so I think it must be possible, if she is food orientated could you try something really tasty and unusual like bacon scraps or meaty pieces, chicken breast etc? So your food is more interesting than the distractions?
 
if she is going after the smell of bacon is it really such a stretch of thought that maybe if you have bacon and give her the odd treat that she wight stay with you?

Alec and Ken you do downers ;-) my terrier (1/4 staffie, 1/4 english bull, 1/2 jrt) had the best recall and drop on (going away or toward me or in full flight after game) command of any dog I have worked with-in fact he is the one that really got me into attending dog training and then going on to teach. he gained his good citizen gold at 5 months some of which I don't think much of but they do have to stay in and out of sight and stop on command when going at speed. he still is after 14 yrs the most willing to please try his heart out dog I have ever worked with-I know it is not the norm but they are out there.
I would insert silly smilies as this is not a rant but I have more patience with dogs and horses than I have with computers and I can't be a**ed to work out how, but happy smiley faces here * * * * *
 
speak to whoever is running the class; if they are holding a foundation class in an environment with so much distraction then they should be willing and able to provide you with support. That said, many groups require a solid recall and basic obedience in place before you attend. Perhaps you could have a couple of 1:1 general obedience sessions at the same venue with one of the trainers. Ultimately you have to make what you are doing more value than the distraction:)
 
Twiggy I knew there would be at least one, somewhere! I saw a husky recall once, it was like the loch Ness monster or Bigfoot, I got a video but it's all out of focus so you won't believe me if I put it up here!

*above post entirely facetious and for comedy purposes only... I think all dogs are capable of being trained, it's just easier to teach some breeds certain things. Like I doubt my gsds would be able to dig a rabbit out without a lot of hard training, but it'll come naturally to most terriers.
 
Alec Swan said:
There's something about the two words; 'Terriers' and 'Compliance' which are at odds with each other! :)

Whilst I genuinely admire your sense of determination, in your shoes, I'd give in, NOW!! :D I've never really worked out whether I love terriers, or hate them. If I still kept them, they'd send me to an early grave!

Alec.
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Never!!! We've paid 50 quid for a beginners course so she WILL be going :) I may be changing my tune in a few weeks..

SadKen said:
I love 'em! But I haven't met one with a good recall, or any recall... Maybe there are some, somewhere!

We had a jrt when I was a kid, and he had no recall at all. When I met my OH's gsd, he had perfect recall, which I found mildly shocking! My other two gsds also seem to have inbuilt recall so I think breed makes a huge difference.

However I'm no defeatist so I think it must be possible, if she is food orientated could you try something really tasty and unusual like bacon scraps or meaty pieces, chicken breast etc? So your food is more interesting than the distractions?
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Lol SadKen! I do love the terrier mentality I must say. And for what it's worth her recall is excellent out on walks (cat/ rodent permitting). She's quite a 'clingy' dog so stays very close when out on a walk and will keep checking to see if I'm nearby. However at agility or somewhere she's familiar with she's just off! Good idea about the tasty treats, for off lead work I might bring something irrestible.

twiggy2 said:
if she is going after the smell of bacon is it really such a stretch of thought that maybe if you have bacon and give her the odd treat that she wight stay with you?

Alec and Ken you do downers ;-) my terrier (1/4 staffie, 1/4 english bull, 1/2 jrt) had the best recall and drop on (going away or toward me or in full flight after game) command of any dog I have worked with-in fact he is the one that really got me into attending dog training and then going on to teach. he gained his good citizen gold at 5 months some of which I don't think much of but they do have to stay in and out of sight and stop on command when going at speed. he still is after 14 yrs the most willing to please try his heart out dog I have ever worked with-I know it is not the norm but they are out there.
I would insert silly smilies as this is not a rant but I have more patience with dogs and horses than I have with computers and I can't be a**ed to work out how, but happy smiley faces here * * * * *
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Thanks Twiggy, for Sunday I might try microwave some bacon to a crisp and take a little bag of crispy bacon bits to get her attention. Your terrier sounds lovely, have never seen a mix like that before! Well done on achieving that! Ruby can only dream of that level of obedience..
 
NeverSayNever said:
speak to whoever is running the class; if they are holding a foundation class in an environment with so much distraction then they should be willing and able to provide you with support. That said, many groups require a solid recall and basic obedience in place before you attend. Perhaps you could have a couple of 1:1 general obedience sessions at the same venue with one of the trainers. Ultimately you have to make what you are doing more value than the distraction:)
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I think that's just the only space available to them unfortunately! Yeah they did say basic obedience on the form, I thought we had that... I didn't realise it would be on a football field with tasty treats oops! The class is lovely though and we're really enjoying it, if we have to do it all on the lead then so be it. Poor Rubes will just have to deal with me lumbering after her!

Wishful said:
Surprised the labs weren't over to the bacon dragging owners behind...
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No they're all impeccably behaved!
 
NellRosk said:
I think that's just the only space available to them unfortunately! Yeah they did say basic obedience on the form, I thought we had that... I didn't realise it would be on a football field with tasty treats oops! The class is lovely though and we're really enjoying it, if we have to do it all on the lead then so be it. Poor Rubes will just have to deal with me lumbering after her!



No they're all impeccably behaved!
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ask them how you can work on this, seriously! Just resigning to working on the lead for the whole thing wont get you anywhere. Get yourself out to the same venue and train :D People forget, you have to condition your training in all environments; just because you have a great drop, recall etc in your garden doesn’t mean it works elsewhere. You have to build up the level of distraction and in turn ramp up your rewards! Good luck!
 
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For treats try those frankfurter (sp) sausages that you microwave. They smell strongly for dogs and you only need to use very small bits.
I slice them lengthways in half and then chop into bits. Think they're about £1.50 for a pack of 10.
Just pop them into a treat bag and take to training.

Even the halfwit Saluki x Afghan pays attention when I have these! :-)
 
NeverSayNever said:
ask them how you can work on this, seriously! Just resigning to working on the lead for the whole thing wont get you anywhere. Get yourself out to the same venue and train :D People forget, you have to condition your training in all environments; just because you have a great drop, recall etc in your garden doesn’t mean it works elsewhere. You have to build up the level of distraction and in turn ramp up your rewards! Good luck!
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Yes very true! Looks like she's off to bootcamp then, thanks for the tips :)

Baileybones said:
For treats try those frankfurter (sp) sausages that you microwave. They smell strongly for dogs and you only need to use very small bits.
I slice them lengthways in half and then chop into bits. Think they're about £1.50 for a pack of 10.
Just pop them into a treat bag and take to training.

Even the halfwit Saluki x Afghan pays attention when I have these! :-)
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Ooh yeah that's a good idea, they're really strong smelling aren't they so that might get her attention. I googled strong smelling treats and a few suggestions said something really fishy would be irresistible to them but the thought made me want to puke!
 
SadKen said:
Twiggy I knew there would be at least one, somewhere! I saw a husky recall once, it was like the loch Ness monster or Bigfoot, I got a video but it's all out of focus so you won't believe me if I put it up here!

*above post entirely facetious and for comedy purposes only... I think all dogs are capable of being trained, it's just easier to teach some breeds certain things. Like I doubt my gsds would be able to dig a rabbit out without a lot of hard training, but it'll come naturally to most terriers.
Click to expand...

I (similarly tongue in cheek) present to you a husky recalling away from a carvery van :p

vywc5k.jpg


It's taken almost five years of training and approximately a ton of cocktail sausages - back in the early days we wouldn't have coped with the OP's situation. Little steps. :)
 
Little update, last Sunday I took some little bits of grilled sausage and I was able to let Ruby off the lead!!! She was absolutely flying round, was so pleased with her. She still doesn't stay very well so I need a willing volunteer to hold her before the first jump as she won't stay when I ask but we're working on it. Thanks for the tips everyone, can't wait for this weekend's session... we both love it!
 
NellRosk, well done you! Sometimes with the 'wired' woofers, it's a case of preempting the 'riot', like recognising what they're about to do, before they work it out for themselves, and then mentally, 'heading them off at the pass'!! It aint easy, but once the trick is acquired, so it's the equivalent of F1!!

I once watched an obedience test and every dog was sat down and sent out on a blind retrieve. Most did well, until they reached a certain point. It was a big fat juicy cooked sausage!! The looks on the dogs faces, even the more experienced, was priceless! They'd find the sausage with ease, look back at the handler, look again and then "You are kidding me, aren't you?", and then most would pick it up, turn to the handler and then temptation being what it is, the sausage was gone, in one!

One Labrador delivered the sausage to hand!! No, I didn't believe it either, but it's true!

Alec.
 
Thanks Alec, that made me laugh, my GSD's were trained to wait for food/treats, the male would dribble from his nose and mouth if I kept him waiting long enough, but his nose in overdrive was entertainment in itself, what I could never get him to do was leave food he found outside, he would dive forward and eat it before I could say leave, his greed was his one fault, a manure heap was an all you could eat buffet to him.
OP, Set up a lane in your garden or living room, get your dog a halti, then have cheese or pepperoni as treats to distract your dog from the meats set up along the lane, use plant pots to cover the lane meats, so your dog can smell but not snatch, have a treat in your hand (an old showing trick) keeps the dog focused on you
 
You need yourself an "aid" in association with your "food" :) As suggested work at "home" start with some (primula) call her and allow her to take a lick.....repeat this (Lots) when she is distracted, in the garden, in her bed, asleep, simply call her name and allow her to suck from the tube lol (only a small amount) each time. (I have seen folk empty the tube into the dogs gob hole in one go) "I kid you not" ha ha.
A tube of primula lasts forever and is as alluring as crack cocaine to a hard core user. :P
So once you have spent a week simply calling her name and allowing her to lick the primula, simply call her name and blow a "whistle" and feed her the cheese..........stick with this routine in the house and for a few weeks then take it outside with a long line (don't feel the need to let her off) the biggest mistake people make with recall is being to inpatient and letting them off to soon. spend a good month doing this until you can begin to test her off lead and using (only your whistle).
 
Our labradoodle is very food-orientated too, we've been doing agility with her for about 18 months now and found the best thing for her was one of those balls (its purple and green) which opens up via velcro like petals on a flower, so you just throw it (as the reward) and the dog opens it themselves to get the treat. Our dog adores it and two of the other girls have bought the balls too ;)

Our dog was dreadful at recall to begin with, in fact we STILL struggle with it and occasionally she will still run off although all she does is run in circles madly! She does it if she does an exercise wrong twice (and doesn't get the ball) she loses interest very quickly so we have learnt to switch onto something easy that she does enjoy and then come back to it later. We're still working on the stay though...! Annoying now as she's getting pretty awesome now if only we could get her to religiously stay put at the start!
 
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