I would make sure I had a very reliable recall before I exposed the dog to deer. Even then it should be quite a distance. Greater distance = less distraction.
Cars can also be from a distance of course.
With any distraction you want to stop the dog/get it's attention elsewhere before it builds more drive.
A simple flick of an ear, a lifting of the nose to actively scent whatever. ANY sort of early alert.
This is where the see, stalk, chase, catch, kill, devour chain sequence comes into play. The EARLIER in the sequence the dog is stopped, the easier it will be. Once the dog starts the stalk or chase the lever of intensity goes up and the harder it will be to call off.
The handler MUST be aware of the early signals.
This is why a LSGD (Live stock guard dog) can stop a coyote in it's track with a simple bark. Break the sequence and the coyote has to start from scratch. It can't carry on to the next part of the sequence when that chain is broke. The dog barking has much less effect on the coyote once the chase starts. By the time the catch or devour is done then the coyote may even stand it's ground to keep possession.
make sense?

" with any distraction you want to stop the dog....before it builds more drive"

That is really really true. I can control him pretty easily, recall him, load him into my Bobcat, stop it if I catch it before he's truely ignited.

Today my husband did his 4 mile run with the ES on a leash on our property. I'm thinking part of our trouble may have come from off leash runs with DH when anything is allowed as long as we eventually return to the house together......


I was hoping for a quick fix on this but I can see that won't be happening.

Lots of great information in here. I have a question that relates to all of you doing your proofing of your recall commands.

My GSD has a great recall. We have been training in Schutzhund since the day I got him at 8 weeks and now he is 19 months old. His formal recall is very good. I can recall him at a great distance and have him come to a front. Occasionally he will come in a tad off angle, but that's one of those things that we continue to work on.

I am about to start training with an E-collar. I am following Michael Ellis' methods after watching both DVD's several times.

My question is this: Should I be using a different command (i.e. "Come!" instead of "Here!") for a more "general" recall as opposed to the command that will be used during competition? Currently I am using "Here!" as his formal recall command.

My goal with the E-collar is to be able to have him off leash for retrieving and romping around in some uninhabited wide open spaces. Not near roads or any dangers. Only in some wide open spaces with good visibility so I don't have to hook up his 50' line to his 30' flexi and keep untangling it while we play. I'll also be using it for other training purposes as well.

"Here" is my informal command that means get over here now. It doesn't need a formal front or even a come sit.
If the dog comes and just hangs around me that all I require.

The formal commands for me is "front". That means get to me in a straight line and sit formally in front of me.
In Schutzhund the formal come front it "Heer". That German for come or here. I have always used an informal "Here" for yrs so I chose to use "Front"
Informal, for me, can also be "lets go", "come on" "move it" and a few others. I don't expect any precision with informal commands but I do expect it to happen now.
Using a formal command on a daily basis for informal recalls will only contaminate it for competition because you will become to informal in how correct it is.
The dog also doesn't need that constant pressure required of competition commands. That can only cause burn out.
Bottom line. Keep the formal and informal recall on separate commands BUT formal or informal BOTH need immediate response, just not the same precision.
I would add that my body language also cues the dog as to formal and informal. For a formal "Fronrt" I will always be upright with both hands to my sides. Informal, I can stand on my head if I choose.

Thanks Bob! That makes a lot of sense. It's pretty much what I was thinking. Right now, I do use the "with me!" command when we are out on walks to get him to stop sniffing, chasing a bird, grasshopper, leaf, etc. and come back around me. I haven't formally trained that command yet, so it sounds like I should do it now. My plan is to be sure he knows what I am asking before I condition him to the E-collar with that command.