Re-call tips

[Grey_Arab]

We have recently got a new dog, she is a 26month old black labrador and is a sweetie. She has only be used for showing before, so is good on the lead and with other dogs, but not so good on the basic commands like sit, stay and come.
Bearing in mind she only arrived yesterday she has already started to get the idea about sit, but I think that trying to get a good re-call is important as keeping a dog like that on a lead for too long I think will drive her bonkers.

So, any tips that I an use to help with establishing re-call?
Thanks Jen (and Olive!

)

 

[Charmaine18]

My little sister's Jack Russel has always been terrible off the lead - if she finds an interesting smell she's off and no amount of yelling gets her back! We've found that if we just ignore her and turn around and walk back in the other direction, she thinks we're leaving without her and quickly runs after us! Then obviously she gets big praise when she does come back.

I think it helps to start out on a really long lead, and practise calling her back and praising her loads when she comes, then when she's got the idea you can let her off the lead.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Start out with a long line and use any of the following if basic 'come here' doesn't grab her attention.
Prepare to look like a crazy person.

Walk or run fast in the opposite direction. Hide behind a bush or a tree. Pretend to be really interested in something on the ground. Do something silly like roll around on the floor.
Reward with praise always and alternate occassionally with food or a ball, gradually phasing out to just praise.

 

[GinaB]

I can't give advice, I'm the one in the park standing yelling 'I swear to God, if you do not get back here RIGHT NOW...'

 

[Spudlet]

What Hacking Hack said

Also once she is off the lead and coming back, play hide and seek - when she is off ahead or behind leap behind a bush or tree and just keep quiet until she realises she is all on her own - once you have a bond (which you should have by the time you are ready for off-lead) she should come running to find you. I still do this with Henry sometimes to make sure he doesn't take me for granted and head off on his own theory without keeping an eye on me!

You may be mistaken for a flasher though, or someone going for a wee in a bush

I have been!

 

[huggz]

I'd use a longline & lure...the lure can be any toy but it's your toy NOT hers. She just gets to play with it when she's done as you've asked.

As you call, swing the lure & as soon as you have her attention throw it (into the area between you both) you can the reel 'em both in.
In time you should be able to just wave the lure & only throw it as a reward.

 

[CAYLA]

All of the above and maybe introduce a whistle if u would like her to eventually recall to the whistle, allow her to mooch to the end of the line call/whistle and when she comes treat, eventually u should beable to faze out call, and jsut whistle instead, and she will assosoiate this with a treat, decrease the treats also till u have jsut the whistle.

Remember for now though, jsut let her mooch to the end of the line, call treat/praise then let her go, for now u literaly jsut want to reward her for simply coming to u.