Shelley
Bristol, UK
MH
Posts:693
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| 03/10/2010 5:55 AM |
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We have our first "puppy training class" tonight. I will let you know how we get on.
On a seperate note - recall. How do you guys go about teaching it.
I walk Hogan on a leash, but when we go to the river (big open expanse of riverbank) I let him off. Most of the time, he stays near me, and when I call him, he comes, but runs straight past me - just comes to my general area. I treat him when he actually comes to me.
I don't want to let him off the leash at the stables as I would never forgive myself if he ran off and was trampled by horses in the fields.
Can anyone give me any advice as to improve his re-call or am I expecting too much from a 12 week old puppy? Will it come with age?
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CL66
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Posts:399
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| 03/10/2010 6:15 AM |
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Good luck tonight, i'm sure it'll be fun. But be prepared for him to catch on far quicker than the other dogs!
I practiced recall a LOT. In the house..garden..field..wherever i was. And yeah treat whenever he comes back. Started on one of those extending leads so he wasn't able to ignore me. It's good at puppy class cos you get to do it with the distraction of other puppies.
At his age he should want to be with you, it's when they get older and more adventurous it becomes a challenge.
My dog is pretty good at recall, but if he sees another dog it's see ya later! |
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everbell
Kanata, ON
MH
Posts:2737
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| 03/10/2010 6:40 AM |
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We didn't really let Bo off-leash until he was neutered ... don't know if he would have been ready before, but we sure weren't. In reality, he probably was ready well before we were. We just weren't comfortable with the idea.
Fortunately, we met friends in the neighbourhood who also had two GSPs and we went to the dog park with them MANY times before we were comfortable enough to go there on our own.
Having said that, when he and Raz are in the forest, their recall amounts to "checking in" most of the time, that is making eye contact with us and then continuing on their way. We always have bells on them and bright orange colours so we can see and hear them. Occasionally they will come all the way back for a treat or a drink of water. But I have found the more I trust them, the more reliable they are.
It's hard to say when a dog is ready cuz they're all so different. I would invest in a long check cord, and start with that. |
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Joce and Rich
Bogart and Shiraz (GSPs)
Roxane (RIP: 1995-2009) and Tiger Lily (Cats)
The Everbell Adventures |
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:6748
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| 03/10/2010 10:45 AM |
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I train two recalls: 1) come which is the formal obedience competition recall where they come and sit in front of me, and 2) here which is the one I use when hiking, in agility, or elsewhere when off leash. Here means come back to me, but no formal sit. I train both commands simultaneously, but in there individual settings. So when doing obedience training I use come, when hiking I use here. To train either one you start with you dog on a regular 6 foot leash. Put them in a sit or a stand next to you (in heel position) and walk our in front of the to the end of the leash and turn around. Give you command and if needed give the dog a little tug, roll the leash up as they come toward you and back up. When they get to you if you are doing the formal recall have them sit in front of you and treat them. If you just want them coming up to you treat them when they get to you. Practice until you get them coming without a tug every time. Then add some distractions and practice until you get to 100%. Now take him off leash, but same distance and practice with no distractions until 100%, then add some distance and practice. Finally add some distractions and practice. Then practice in different locations but back on leash.
The hardest step is moving outside with distractions and each dog is different. My oldest got it and was perfect. Halo would bolt as soon as I got her off leash and she got out of my reach. Her little butt would fly. She would eventually come back, but on her own time. Not good. I got the ecollar for her recall and that fixed the problem with the bolting. Ringo was like my oldest and would come with no ecollar work. The real test though was when all three were off leash together. My oldest was still good. Halo was still good, but would Ringo astray. And Ringo would focus on Halo and ignore me, so back to the ecollars for both Halo and Ringo. Now all three are very good about coming when called. I will say though that I do literally thousands of practice recalls to get to the reliable recall. |
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Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
     
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
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Shelley
Bristol, UK
MH
Posts:693
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| 03/10/2010 2:08 PM |
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It was great Allthough I did learn one thing - normal treats are no way a big enough reward for behaving when there are so many exciting distractions!!
The trainer gave me some low fat sausage bits, and that worked a treat.
He was so well behaved, other puppies were barking incessantly, he sat next to me and "observed"!
I'm so proud of my little man!!!
A little pic for you:
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:6748
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| 03/10/2010 2:30 PM |
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Shelley -
Glad your first class was so good. I find my shorthairs always excel in puppy school. In fact all three graduated tops in their puppy classes. Shorthairs just love to learn and love to please. For training treats, I make my own. The two favorites are a chicken liver based treat and a ripe banana based treat. They are really easy to make too. If you want the recipes go to my website you will find the link on the left bar of the home page. |
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Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
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Shelley
Bristol, UK
MH
Posts:693
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| 03/10/2010 2:36 PM |
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Long distance come
Waiting our turn:
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Marie
Wisconsin
MH
Posts:2662
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| 03/10/2010 3:05 PM |
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Congratulations !!! Shelley and Hogan for doing so well in your first puppy class!! Just love how he is focused on you in waiting our turn picture!! |
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Marie and Rocky, a tall, high energy GSP
http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab18/Annette_Merryfield/100_0285.jpg?t=1287205231 |
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Splat
Illinois (Northern)
MH
Posts:2439
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| 03/11/2010 5:18 AM |
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Sounds great! Hogan just seem to be very well mannered and you seem to be doing great with him!!!
I was told with recall....that until they really know the command 100% you don't use it unless you can enforce it....so basically you need to get one of those no tangle check cords and keep that on him at all times so that when you do call him if he doesn't listen you can reel him in....you also have to have treats with you at all times! I was also told that the come command gets 3 treats and other commands just get 1...this way they learn to really like to listen to the come! |
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http://www.perfectpedigrees.com/4genview.php?id=2553
http://www.perfectpedigrees.com/4genview.php?id=2554 |
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Gunnar
MH
Posts:288
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| 03/11/2010 6:12 AM |
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| That's awesome and like Marie said the dog is very focused. I love the way they look at you and are so willing and eager to learn. Good job to you both. |
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MelB
MH
Posts:1196
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| 03/11/2010 6:14 AM |
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| Hogan is doing beautifully! I love it when they sit and you have their undivided attention,,,even if is only because they know that hand in that pocket means treats LOL! Mine are horrible that way |
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unowhoandwhy
Middleofnowhere, NH
MH
Posts:1794
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| 03/11/2010 11:15 AM |
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| I found that ham, cheese & hot dogs cut into tiny pieces worked best for training class. The cheese was the least stinky/greasy, but mine both seemed to love the nasty hot dogs best. |
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Daniel Yankee Flyer - 8/2002
Lady Layla - 1/2006 |
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