Emergency Recall Command

[Ileana]

Hello everyone,

Gracie has been training really well, she responds to all commands in 90-95% of cases. But sometimes, if the temptation of a click and a piece of her favorite cheese doesn't cut it, she just bolts and I cannot enforce a recall. I yell my lungs out, I use a whistle, and to no avail - especially when it's most critical for her to come.

Until now I had just a couple of annoying incidents when she disobeyed the "come" and resumed to roll over in mud, or in some leftover roadkill (ewwwww). But yesterday it was scary - we went to this almost deserted park nearby where they allow dogs to be offleash, and she was doing beautifully - that until a truck and boat trailer rolled by. She completely lost it, did not respond to anything, and chased the truck on a (thank goodness) empty road winding through a forest. Hubby hopped in his car - he caught up with her a mile away (!!!!) as she was trotting back, completely out of breath.

So, from purely annoying (mud, eww factor, etc), we moved up to life -threatening.

Unless we want to keep her on a leash for the rest of her life we need to make that "come" a 100% absolute obedience command. Any ideas how to get that to happen? She's the smartest, most sensitive yet obstinate 11 months old boxer girl... So far we've used only positive reinforcement - clicker training with food treats.

Ideas welcome - this is the first time a boxer girl of mine poses such issues... But then again - they're all special, aren't they?
Thank you

 

[ouesi]

While its certainly possible to have a solid recall at 9 months, its definitely not the norm. (I'm assuming Gracie is the age indicated in your siggy )

Recall training, like anything else, is done in increments. Only allowing the dog to graduate to the next level when you are sure they will be successful there. Now you have a situation where Gracie has self-rewarded for running off, so its a little harder to un-do, but still totally doable.

I would go back to the long line and gradually work in harder and harder distractions as her come gets more solid. Start easy with minimal distractions, and when that's solid, start adding things like a fun friend bouncing a ball - recall away from that. Or a play session with a good dog buddy, recall away from that, or a squirrel chattering in a tree... Always with the long line to help her be successful. Make sure also YOU are very rewarding and worth coming to. If you're recalling away from a play session, don't just give her a treat, play with her. If you're recalling away from a ball, don't just give her a treat, throw a ball for her. If its the squirrel, have her favorite squeaky toy handy or even a flirt pole to chase. Its all about making yourself the most interesting thing ever. Building in her a desire to be with you.

If you find yourself in an emergency situation, try running AWAY from her. If you're a clutz like me, you might even fall down with is even more enticing. :D

 

[Animommy]

Hope this helps!

I certainly hope this helps you! Ive also found its been VERY difficult to get our Boxers to come to us when very distracted & i believe the above poster has some AMAZING advice!

Another thing my husband & i had learned was the "watch me command", which helps them to focus first, kind of redirecting them, in order to be able to make them stop (hopefully!) & get their attention.

The way we were taught this was to hold a treat up to your forehead & say "watch me". Start off easy at first, we all know its hard enough to hold their attention, but especially in a young pup! She should be staring at the treat, & gradually make her wait longer & longer, & reward her BEFORE she breaks her gaze, so you dont accidentally reward her for looking away!

Clicker training is awesome coupled with this! Eventually, you can stop using the treat, but until that point comes, lots & lots of praise & yummies for watching you!

 

[Ileana]

While its certainly possible to have a solid recall at 9 months, its definitely not the norm. (I'm assuming Gracie is the age indicated in your siggy )


Well, I corrected my siggy Gracie's now 11 months... I am ssuming it doesn't make a world of difference in recall obedience though.

So we're back to the long line I guess... thank you both for your advice!

 

[myboxerlove]

hi ileana, i feel yu i had the same problem with cuddi.
feel free to email me with any concerns like this one & we can chat
cuddimylove@gmail.com

 

[madisonremy]

My sister actually lives on an open apple orchard farm with horses and uses an e-collar in case a recall doesn't work. She gives a warning signal when the dog gets too far or too close the horses (since he's a chaser) and if he doesn't listen to the warning signal, she calls him again, and then when he refuses, she gives him a quick zap and he comes running home. You have to train them with the collar. It's not a fear tactic but a way to give them an unexpected touch from far away. She's certainly never lost control of him on a recall since!

I'm not recommending you go straight for an electric collar, but a vibration one might be good if you're going to be out in the open a lot.

 

[elgerdes]

hi ileana, i feel yu i had the same problem with cuddi.
feel free to email me with any concerns like this one & we can chat
email

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[dqtran]

go purchase a 30-50 foot lead. I assume you already have a 6 foot lead. Have her sit, walk out as far as you can with the 6 foot lead, call her to come and keep moving backwards. Make it a game where she has to catch you. When she comes to you reward her with a praise and a treat; you don't have to give a treat every time. It can be recall, praise and a treat. Recall and praise. Recall, treat and praise. Eventually it becomes recall and praise. When you praise make a big deal out of it. You want the recall command to be as fast as possible.

The most important thing is that she comes to you. It's more important than the sit, stay or any of those commands. You never want a situation where you're chasing after your dog. That's backwards. Your dog has to always want to be around you. Once you got the 6 foot lead down, you can move onto the 30 foot lead. The lead is for you to have the safety knowing that she wont run away somewhere and you still have control over here (even at 30 feet away). What it also does is gives you a chance to give her a light tug if she doesn't pay attention right away when you call her. Call her at 30 feet out and reel her in. Hopefully you don't have to pull and she just comes running at you and sits right in front of you wagging her tail. That's ideally where you want to get to. With all things, practice makes perfect.