I have a dog with RECALL!!!!!

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After all my many, many frustrated and despairing posts about ‘that bl❤️❤️dy lurcher’ (aka Millie) taking off after deer and being found a few miles away, what a revelation today!

I can’t be sure it was a deer as I didn’t see it, but the reaction of all four dogs suggested it was.... and Marty shot off after it on the walk today before I could open my mouth! So I stopped, I called firmly and loudly, and you could have knocked me down with a feather when 20-30 seconds later Marty came back!!!!

Sure instant recall would have been great, not going in the first place would have been even better, but he is a greyhound and that would be nothing short of a total miracle so I am absolutely delighted 😊😊😊😊

I gave him massive praise and hugs which he absolutely loved (he is a right mummy’s boy and adores me!) and we set off again.... and the deer had crossed over the path and was skipping around only a few feet ahead of us again! Never assume wildlife is intelligent enough to go away when chased 🙄

So Marty took off again (faster this time!), I stopped and called him loudly and clearly, and 20-30 seconds later he came back!

At which point my nerves had completely had a meltdown so I gave him massive praise and put him on the lead for the rest of the walk 😄 But I’m so pleased with my boy, it is wonderful to have one that comes back at last!

He is very tired now.... 😄

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Blazingsaddles said:
Off lead sighthounds manage to arouse immediate anxiety in me - I called it The Fear.😀
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I recorded the dog walk on my Garmin.... it’s hilarious, you can see the two points where walking stops and I stand and call, and at those two points my heart rate rockets up to twice what it was before! Definitely The Fear!
 
Blazingsaddles said:
Off lead sighthounds manage to arouse immediate anxiety in me - I called it The Fear.😀
Click to expand...
Which rapidly escalates to the 'Oh God' (depending on the stillness/extra pointy body language) for a millisecond to the 'Oh F**k!' (no dog).
As demonstrated by the whippity thing when on an early walk in the woods, mildly wondering when I would consider what degree of exercise intolerance would indicate his heart murmur was getting worse- 'Oh F**k! He's chasing a fox!'
 
I never used to call my lurcher when she was hunting, so no one knew I had lost her (again). I only ever walked her on the farm although she did once bring a fallow buck to bay in the middle of next doors big field.
Anyway, back on topic, well done and that is amazing! Set yourself up as a trainer immediately - you have cracked the mystery of sight hound ownership.
 
Levrier said:
I recorded the dog walk on my Garmin.... it’s hilarious, you can see the two points where walking stops and I stand and call, and at those two points my heart rate rockets up to twice what it was before! Definitely The Fear!
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Fab - well done!! That is very good. Have you been working on this with him?! I love the expression 'The Fear' - I think all dog owners have felt this at some point about some aspect of their dear friend's behaviour :) :)
 
palo1 said:
Fab - well done!! That is very good. Have you been working on this with him?! I love the expression 'The Fear' - I think all dog owners have felt this at some point about some aspect of their dear friend's behaviour :) :)
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I have been working on it when we go to the dog field, but I think the seminal moment was a few weeks ago when he cantered off after a squirrel on a walk. I called him.... he came back 80% of the way getting loads of praise.... then he heard the rustling of the squirrel again.....

It was one of those classic ‘dog looks at me, dog looks at direction of rustling noise, dog weighs up options’ moments, and he went back towards the rustling! I smacked him when I got hold of him, he was absolutely mortified and has been fabulous ever since! 🙄 I’m not advocating smacking your dogs when they misbehave, but there are occasions when it is effective 😊
 
It's all about timing isn't it? The right admonishment at the right level at the right moment can be amazingly effective but it is so difficult to get it right that it's usually not the right thing to do. I have probably only smacked my older dog once (never the pup): she was absolutely professionally stock trained when she came to me at 2 years old but one day decided that cows were fair game! It wasn't long after she arrived with me and frankly I was her last chance saloon, I knew that she knew better and tbh I lost my temper :( However, that was that - she has been perfectly professional for the last 10 years and I rarely have a cross word with her. That was not only the right thing at the right time but in all honesty saved her life. There were no other options for her if she couldn't be sensible with stock so I guess it was worth it.

Blooming sight hounds though, they are incredibly difficult so it is hugely impressive to get a decent recall!! Usually a vague wandering back in one's direction is considered a success in these parts...!
 
I did feel awful when I did it, it was one tap on the bum but his face was a picture as if I’d thrashed him! But yes for once the timing was absolutely right, he is one of those dogs who wants to please so it got the message across really effectively.

I’m sitting in the sunshine in the dog field at the moment (it’s 10 acres) and Millie has done the most wonderful recall across the field, closely pursued by Ace who thought it had to be a race 😄 it’s a pity the little monster can’t do that at all when we are on a walk and there are smells and sounds to chase!
 
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