Hi everyone,
I have a 5 month old Dobie and have come across something new to me. Maybe you have some advice?
She sits and stays great, I walk away several yards and ask for a recall. She rockets towards me but hasn't figured out the brakes yet. She runs right into me. I don't want to mess up her wonderful response and discourage anything; however in a couple of months my knees will be broken. I've tried to ask for a 'sit' before she gets too close to me but she sits after she hits me :0 what a cutie. Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Lynn

If you are not training for formal obedience, then teach her an automatic finish, so that when you call her, she runs around you and comes to your side. Watch out when she gets that that rebellious stage - she might just run past you <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Back your training up. Teach her to sit in front of you close, but not touching first. For these kamikaze types <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I would teach her to catch a treat (piece of hot dog, steak, etc) that you drop from your mouth. Do this a million times, until she automatically is looking up at you from a front position.

At 5 months old, I don't know how many "formal" recalls I would be doing with my own dog. I would just be building the drive for speed (which it appears you have) and teach the sit in front separately.

Also make sure you have a very clear release word for her, if you see her running to you and she's got a lot of speed then release her with a toy or food before she slams into you. From her point of view right now, sit means slam into mom and then sit.. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Keep things clear and simple for her. She is very young and you want to keep that enthusiasm!

After she is doing the front the way you like 100% of the time, then start by stepping 1/2 foot back, recall her...build the distance very gradually with a dog like this.

Hope this helps!

Thanks so much for the replies. Yes, we are preparing for formal obedience (one day) and I've made sure to break it all up first. Sit close, square, in front was one step and she gets that one.

I'll try the treats/break idea. Also, I'll try to start with shorter distances (less speed!) and see where that leads us.

Thanks again! and Anne - you're tag line cracks me up. Love it!

If you have starting heeling, you can try heeling forward, then just start backing up real fast, saying "here", then have her sit in front of you.