21-10-2008, 09:25 AM
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Pet Forums VIP Member
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Essex, UK
Posts: 1,778
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Re: The dreaded recall
Quote:
Originally Posted by dogpositivetraining
Hi Louise,
Sounds like you've found a good trainer, so you're doing the right thing.
You're trainer is right... with any training, whether recall, sit, come, etc. You first have to make sure your dog is reliable in a particular command/request at home before you build in adding distractions.
Thinking about it it's quite simple really, if we're not in charge at home with our dogs how can we expect to be in charge outside 
One very important training technique with dogs is called the
Premack Principle: An opportunity to engage in more probable responses will reinforce a less probable response.
If you're out walking Zach off-leash and he sees another dog it is highly probable that he will want to go say hello and play (I know my Harley would for sure, everytime  )
To explain the Premack Principle in humans terms, it is like telling a child "If you want to go out and play, you first have to do your homework" or "If you want to go ride your bicycle, you first have to tidy your room"
In canine terms, if Zach wants to go over and say hello and play with another dog, he first has to come back to you and check in, gets a treat and praise etc, then he can go play.
So what is happening is you are making Zach first perform a lower probability behaviour (coming back to you), and reinforcing this by then releasing him to perform a higher probability behaviour.
As with all training this takes time, consistency, patience, etc, and of course training starts at home.
An easy way to train this at home:
Have Zach on a 10 to 15ft leash/line
Throw a treat say 18ft away (idea is to throw it further than length of leash)
Hold on to the leash as Zach goes for the treat, just before Zach gets to the end of the leash
Give a gentle tug on the leash and call him back to you
Gently hold on to his collar while you praise, treat, pet etc
Then give your release cue and let him get the treat you threw
Gradually you can build in asking him to sit and stay 10 - 15 seconds before you release him, but to start off just release him within a few seconds.
Then when he is reliable performing this at home, start off from scratch out side, but with few distractions. When you build in more distractions, start from scratch each time.
Have fun!
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Brilliant post.
You have to remember - if your dog does not recall outside but is reliable in the house, it does NOT mean he is necessarily choosing to ignore you. Until you proof the behaviour in all sorts of different situations/settings, you can't really consider the behaviour "trained". You have to gradually work up to recalling in the face of distractions etc.
Has anyone mentioned whistle training on here yet? I've been using a whistle for my girl and although her recall was pretty good anyway, the whistle seems to work ten times better. I think A) Because the high-pitch is easier for her to hear, especially when she's distracted and B) She knows that when she hears the whistle, I am about to LEG IT in the other direction, and that when she catches me she ALWAYS gets the absolute best treats - chicken, garlic sausage, a game of tug....
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