We have good recall games started.

Trooper the 3 year old will come "out front, in public" (as discussed elsewhere).

In back on the deck we are playing "puppy catch" with both Trooper and the Sugar (the 4 month puppy) where we use a mixture of dry food (they like) in canned wet food they LOVE.

We are calling them separately and together and getting good results (almost 100%) at 5 to 20 feet.

We are also "partying" with the dogs in addition to feeding after the positive word.

My question is what to do to keep our momentum and the games moving forward?

My thoughts are two fold:

Work them some alone.

Work (each of) them out front in public and at longer distances up to my 50' long line.

Or together with 25' of line roughly on each.

Start mixing in lower value treats and sometimes skipping the treat. (Just party.)

We are learning as fast as we can but don't want to lose an opportunity because of what we "don't know that we don't know."

You can refer us to Michael's video (by title and "time" or just give ideas here if you have some.

What are our biggest risks and opportunities?

Absolutely work each dog separately. Your focus will be better.

Don't work JUST long distances. I stress all the time thqt "random" is best.
Whatever the behavior it's to easy to fall into a pattern. That how many steps you take in heeling, how long your sits and downs last, how far you are away when you do a recall, how often you add distractions, the level of distractions.
This could be a never ending list of how often, long,distance, etc but the simple fact is that you have to vary every bit of it to get solid response with everything.
Also remember never to add distance at the same time you add time. Never add distractions at the same time you add distance OR time.
Dogs can be very situational in training and time/distance/distraction is how "situational" proofed proofed.

I will edit this to add that you should never train to failure. Stop while the dog is still wanting.
Failure to do that will burn a dog out.
ALWAYS stop while the dog is still wanting!

Sounds like fun times over your place! Good to hear its going good!

You needen some hardcore games? I gots some games here. Shhhh, our secret. (haha)

1. Dont forget to really baffle them with epic things! AKA. Keep things very awesomely interesting.
Call them to breakfast or to kong toys, or new toys/chews.
Call them to favorite guests showing up.

"Trooper come!"
--- Oh moms calling me, i wonder whats shes got for me this time? Oh look! Its the neighbor Connie! I LOVE Connie! I didn't know she was here! And whats that in her hand? OMG an entire chunk of cheese! I love cheese even more than Connie! This is the most epic moment ever! I wonder what will happen NEXT time mom calls me!! :O I cant wait! ---

2. Keep yourself in check. NEVER train when not in the mood for a party. Your super fake, half butted praise, "oh.. so good.. dog. yeah... im so happy." wont get you the hauling butt, dedicated "come" you want.
Keep yourself in check. People be putting the dogs in too deep water too early. Don't unhook that leash til your dogs solid. Don't soil the command "come" by overwhelming the dog, and trusting he may come to you. Then having him book it the opposite way after another dog mid "come", because he was too distracted too early on. Come needs to be solid. Set dog up to win 100 percent.

3. Give breaks. Don't push too much too quick. And everybody needs rest. Cramming "come" down there throats 24/7 will only make them bored. Give breaks. Some dogs seem to get it better after a nights sleep.

4. Proof like heck. As you know and prob are doing. In fact. I bet you already know everything i am posting. Why am i even posting?

5. Oh yeah games. Recall games.
Let me know if you need any fun interesting games. Cuz i got em.

Best wishes.

Edited by Brianah Maloney (05/06/2014 11:52 PM)
Edit reason: AHAAHAH i noticed something... Im going to leave it though...

Use the recall for all good things. Even if it's from one room to the next (even in the same room), every time something nice is going to happen (supper, treat, walk, game), USE THAT RECALL! This cements the perception of the recall being a signal for good stuff.

And as said before (but this is maybe the worst fault), NEVER recall a dog to be corrected. NEVER use it for anything unpleasant. AsI mentioned earlier, if there something unpleasant in the offing (maybe a medical procedure or eye drop or something), I go get the dog. So my recall remains un-tainted, and IMO that's very good.

Thanks to both of you.

In no particular order:

1) Yes, I know (SOME) of what you are telling me but my request is to make sure I am not missing something essential that or that I wouldn't learn until later even though it would help my dog more NOW.

2) You are both posting because you are helpful -- thanks. I can ignore anything that know, or doesn't apply, or even don't agree with (if that happens). But again, I don't know what I don't know.

3) Different distances and contexts -- I knew that but we humans fall into this for a multitude of reasons. One thing I must watch right now is that working with limited space (30 foot deck or 50' long line) it's pretty obvious when you reach the end that is your maximum distance IN THAT PLACE or using THAT METHOD.

4) One thing changed at a time -- got it. Might need to remind myself and be remind.

5) One thing I noticed with the 'yummy wet food' (woke up in the middle of the night and figuratively slapped myself in the forehead) was that they KNOW the treat is there, they smell it and see the bowl, so we need to trick them into going back to playing, chewing on a stick, wandering around more than we would if just walking around the yard where lots of things will naturally grap their attention.

6) Don't train to failure (boredom, despite overwhelming distractions showing up etc.) Got it (but will need to continually be reminded.) We did that with training our human children -- try to always quit with them saying (figuratively) "One more time, Daddy!" -- Answer: If you are good we'll do more tomorrow, or later etc.

7) GAMES!!!!

Yes, tell me more. tell me more. We are having fun, but it's work, not so much long time as we are trying to do it multiple times per day every day and neither of us moves that well (age/arthritis)

GAMES ARE GOOD! I am pretty technical so the methods, procedures, rules are pretty easy for me but sometimes I overlook how to make the mundane interesting or make the complicated simple.

I play this game. Its called "push".
It asks for the dog to come as close to me as possible. It is good for dogs coming in towards you, but NOT coming all the way into you.
Its fun. I made it up many years back. We longer do it, only time from time. My dogs recall off anything is hardcore.

Hide and seek come. Keeps things interesting.
Maybe a bit too advance for now...

I also do this thing with a recall called "run under".
Its a recall, but with a twist?
I call dog to a ball in hand. Then open my legs and throw ball under. Over time i call dog for the "run under". Dog FLIES to me and under me. Great for dogs who obsesses about toys.
And considering i keep all toys to myself until we are using them, the dogs are DYING to play with the toys.


Just use of the recall in weird ways helps.
I use the recall at the vet. My dog is ready to leave. I have the vet assistant hold her back. Then i walk to my truck and recall her. She hauls butt.
She doesnt HATE the vet. Just sort of stands there like "ugh what a drag".
But she sure does enjoy getting back into the car to go home.
So that in itself is a reward.

Awesome information, my suggestion to the thread is to post what games and information you're willing to share whether the OP know's it or not - someone like myself reading the boards might not and the new person who comes on tomorrow, a week, a year from now can simply search "Recall Games" and boom! This thread, let's fill it up with helpful questions, comments, games, etc all in the same way we would teach our dog - POSITIVE!

One thing that this thread has taught me, I need to be more random. I have to stop putting him in a down stay, or sit stay then recalling.

Two issues we are having with rewarding :

- With ball : Doesn't always retrieve, I believe I read somewhere that this effects the training flow.

- With food : Doesn't finish treat, always chokes on it. Also need to work on a reward value system. Advice would be great.

I moved the food rewards discussion to

http://leerburg.com/webboard/thread.php?topic_id=34165&page=1#390765

- With ball : Doesn't always retrieve, I believe I read somewhere that this effects the training flow.


IMO, a tossed ball isn't the right reward for this dog at this time. You might want to start a separate retrieve (or "fetch") thread.

Our favorite recall game:

With treats, tug, or ball in my pocket-she is placed in a down stay, or sit stay. I go to a remote hiding place in the house (say behind a door, in the bath tub, behind a curtain) Then I joyfully call "come" she comes bounding to me, I mark it, and we have a big party!!

This is usually a rainy day activity. We get to practice OB, recall, "find", and marker training all in one exercise. Sometimes, I don't offer a reward and we just celebrate-she seems to enjoy that just as much as a high value food treat.

One more:

If my husband and I both take her on a walk, we practice restrained recalls (in a safe area) at differing distances. She LOVES this game.

Even though she has a solid recall, we still play as many recall games as I can dream up! I can't think of a more rewarding sight than a dog running full speed with tons of enthusiasm (almost in slow motion with great music) toward you.