Quote: lauren jeffery

Its not that you can't ever use your recall, its just that you should avoid using it if you think the dog is not going to comply.

Yup. That's MHO too.

Like the guy in the park bellowing "Fluffy! Fluffy! Fluffy! Fluffy, come! COME! Fluffy, come!" for 17 minutes. Not a solid recall.

 Quote: connie sutherland

 Quote: lauren jeffery

Its not that you can't ever use your recall, its just that you should avoid using it if you think the dog is not going to comply.

Yup. That's MHO too.

Like the guy in the park bellowing "Fluffy! Fluffy! Fluffy! Fluffy, come! COME! Fluffy, come!" for 17 minutes. Not a solid recall.

Hey! We worked really hard on that trick!


I once saw a woman chase her dog across a park, hand high it the air, clicking a clicker! That was a sight to behold.

 Quote: aaron myracle

Never, ever give a recall command that you don't have the ability to enforce.

In other words, never tell a loose running dog "come".

Laying down works. Running in the opposite direction works.
Calling their name, making a fool of yourself, etc, all work.

But don't give the recall command when they've already made it clear they're blowing you off.

Excellent advice Aaron - hard to remember when your dog is running away from you, but absolutely the right advice.

 Quote: tim curtis

Curious though, is there a protocol other than "come" for recall when your dog is gone, out of sight?

Fully understand the points regarding not using recall unless it can be enforced, and maintaining on-leash/control until recall is solid. I definately practice that since the deer chasing.

But a gone dog is a valid scenario. Rare perhaps. I'm just wondering if there is any standard procedure that people use when this happens.

 Quote: Lauren Jeffery

I once saw a woman chase her dog across a park, hand high it the air, clicking a clicker! That was a sight to behold.

Guess she didn't load it well enough before hand

You can call the dog's name, just don't use the recall word. The dog's name is not associated specifically with recall, it is letting the dog know where you are and that he can find you. Especially if you have loaded the dog's name with treats - ie. everytime you use the dog's name and he turns to you, he gets a click and a treat. You saying his name is associated with treats, not necessarily recall (keep the tone light and fun). That's what I use the whistle for. I've loaded the sound of the whistle like a clicker. When I blow it, it means there are treats on offer. The sound of the whistle is piercing, and carries much further than my voice. That is especially helpful when we are up the creek.

I have avoided using the recall word unless Jethro is on a long line, or he is barreling toward me and there is no way he is going to miss the connection.

The thing is, Jethro has become pretty darn reliable with his recall, not as a force relationship, but as an attraction - he is attracted to the treats in the pouch and if they are available, he isn't going to miss the chance.

You can call the dogs name, or whistle.

And of course in a true emergency you can recall the dog.

I think what everyone is getting at is that you don't want to use the command if the dog is being a butthead or majorly distracted to where there isn't a chance they are going to listen, but otherwise in a safe situation.

If my dog is chasing a flock of geese, in a feild, in the middle of nowhere its not worth it to chance ruining my recall.

On the otherhand, if my dog is about to run out into traffic I'm not going to care about compromising my training.

 Quote: tim curtis

Curious though, is there a protocol other than "come" for recall when your dog is gone, out of sight?

I don't know how others feel about this, but I use "lets go." If he is somewhere and I would like him to follow me, say outside peeing and I want him to come in, but I know if I say come and he doesn't listen I don't have a way of reinforcing it. He still gets treats or lots of praise for coming to let's go. but I never use it in formal training and never use corrections. Come I only use right now if he is on a long line and I know I can reinforce it.

Whistle.
Clap your hands.
Use the dog's name.
Say "lets go boy/girl!"

Reinforce through praise, treats, tugs and balls, alternate cues for a dog to return to you, that aren't a *command*.

Danke will come to all of those things, because good things happen. I only use an actual command if I have the means to correct for non-compliance.

Something that is really hard to remember... never chase a dog down until you have a toy, and a leash.

It can be nerve wracking to take that extra minute to go back into the house and grab them, but the sound of their squeeky bone or the sight of their favorite tug might end the chase right there.

 Quote: Mara Jessup

 Quote: Lauren Jeffery

I once saw a woman chase her dog across a park, hand high it the air, clicking a clicker! That was a sight to behold.

Guess she didn't load it well enough before hand

LOL!! That is one of the funniest damn visions... Can't you just picture this!!!