I have a Great Dane puppy (14 months). She is very obedient at sit/down/stay/place, and is coming along well on heel.

Recall though is a long way off from what I'm looking for. She charges at me with enthusiasm, and can not calm herself once she gets to me. I have her on lead, so she can't run away, and I don't play keep-away, but she's bouncing around like crazy as I reel in the excess lead.

Perhaps she just needs more exercise to moderate her energy level, but giant breeds are rather fragile, and breed people and her sports vet have discouraged me from giving her more exercise than she's getting.

Using a flexi might help me reel in the line faster, but in general I don't like using flexis for obedience work.

I could give the sit command after the recall, and only reward the recall after that sit, but then I have to correct if she refuses the sit, and I don't like combining a correction with the recall.

I stink at marker training, and I have tried it. I usually prefer molding techniques with rewards for teaching, and training collars for proofing.

She does do a fine dignified recall in the house, in a very familiar context, over a short distance, but I have not figured out how to transfer this calm behavior outdoors or over long distance.

She's excited to be outdoors. All that arm motion reeling in the line doesn't help. In this case I wouldn't hesitate to use the flexi-lead till you have the exercise down. The lead is just there to prevent her running off anyway.

A high value treat reward cupped in your hand upon her return should keep her in one spot and get her focused.

When she recalls well, then work on the sit. One thing at a time.

Howard

I start the recall with the dog very close to me, not alot of reeling in necessary.

Then I continually add distance.

Never really thought about it one way or another but I do just teach the sit from the beginning. But like I said, I start at a very short distance.

Hi Betty,

I think she has the recall down, she just has an over excited dog when it gets there. Rewarding for calm behavior is key here. Starting over at close distance is probably a very good idea. That way the calm behavior can be reinforced early.

Howard

 Quote: Denise Skidmore

... She does do a fine dignified recall in the house, in a very familiar context, over a short distance, but I have not figured out how to transfer this calm behavior outdoors or over long distance.

Slowly and gradually, adding a little distance at a time and not adding distraction or change of venue at the same time.

I love the enthusiasm

My Kobi was especially "enthusiastic" with his recall as a pup, meaning he would zoom all 90-100 pounds of him across the yard/field and forget to hit the breaks when he got to me

I learned that having his treat (first)/ball (later) cupped in my hand, and held out directly in front of me helped a lot!

I hold it straight out as he runs up to me, then just as he gets to me I draw it up higher in the same motion that I would use to "lure" the sit when teaching sit. Be careful to keep the treat close to the pups nose so that it's easy for her to stay focused on it! If I remember right, I never actually had to say "sit" for Kobi to fall naturally into a sit while staring at the treat. (it was hilarious to watch him go totally cross eyed as he got to me!!)

good luck!

PS I do use the dreaded flexi-lead when initially teaching recalls just for the sake of being able to concentrate on what the dog is doing and not about the line threatening to tangle us both, it helps

 Quote: Howard Knauf

Hi Betty,

I think she has the recall down, she just has an over excited dog when it gets there. Rewarding for calm behavior is key here. Starting over at close distance is probably a very good idea. That way the calm behavior can be reinforced early.

Howard

Gotcha, missed that the first time.

Thanks. I think the toy idea is an especially good one. It will draw her focus. She is very obedient when she can focus, she just gets so exuberant sometimes. (Not her fault, she's a puppy.)

Make sure you bend your knees when he comes running.
If they're locked or straight, and he slams into you... yay torn ACL!

Just a thought.

 Quote: Alyssa Myracle

he slams into you... yay torn ACL!

Oof. Tell me about it. We just had a practice session indoors. Given how slippery hardwood is, and how much trouble she was having sitting on it, I had the dumb idea to target her sit onto a dog bed. I stood on the edge of the bed to keep it from sliding when she came in. BAD IDEA. She came in at full speed, skidded onto the front edge of the bed, the bed crumpled up, she hit me in the knees, and then the crumpled bed uncrumpled and slid out backwards from under me. Down over her backside I went. I gave her the toy and told her she was good for coming to me. She seemed completely unphased by the incident and commenced cat-chasing while I was distracted by my pain. It's one of those times when I'm glad she's a hard puppy.

The good news is, the toy was working well, indoors, while she was in play drive. We did get a few passes in before my accident. And I'm just sore, not hurt.