Rectifying Recall Problems: Again sorry its so long
If you are already having recall problems then you need to go back to basics - you will need to initially practice the sit stay command at home. To set this well the dog should be on a lead, preferably 5 foot long with a Jingler (see my website for this device). Get the dog to sit with the dog on your left side holding the lead in you left hand. Using the cupped palm of your right hand bring it to the dogs nose saying “Stay” three times. Swivel in front of the dog so you are facing it pick up the loop of the lead but make sure you keep your left hand on the lead as well - this is your control hand. Slowly back up to the length of the lead with the left hand about as third of the way back up the lead. If your dog moves or tries to follow, lift the lead upwards with your left hand and say “Stay”. This will activate the Jingler, Keep repeating until you think the dog has the message, then start dropping the lead and moving further backwards. If your dog starts moving, you have gone too far too fast, therefore shorten the distance again. Do this about three times a day for about five minutes per time. Practice this till you can move 100 feet away without the dog moving then after a couple of days call your dog to you every third time, use either the Whistle, Come, Here or his name. Only treat the best stays and the best results. Once you feel you have mastered this, it is time to use the lunge rein. Practice the sit stay in the park or field but this time with the 35 foot horse lunge rein; take a friend who will hold the dog whilst you hide behind a tree or fence then call the dog. When he finds you give him a favourite treat and repeat the exercise. After a couple of days allow the dog to walk free but with the lunge rein still kept on dragging behind. Keep standing on it at different lengths whilst issuing the recall command - so the dog thinks you are in control at all distances. If the dog takes off after a bird or another dog, either stand on the lead or pick it up to stop the charge. The dog will get the message that you are in control and cease chasing after a while. During all of this work, we must give the dog lots of praise and treats. After a few weeks of keeping the lunge rein on you can reduce it down by putting on a normal lead, then after a few more weeks remove it completely. As always, the best strategy for training is to set your dog up to succeed and to not condition in a problem that will have to be rectified later on in the training.

hope this helps

Thanks, that does help.

I shall try that with him later on and tomorrow.

is ther anything else you need help with?

He is gorgeous, I agree with the other posts. He is young so he will have bundles of engery plus he needs time to settle and adjust.

Someone once suggested a backpack for my dog, I thought they were having a laugh but apparently it can help.

Watching you eat, dogs have a knack of having a pleading look which is difficult for us to ignore. You will find he will get the message and ignore you provided you ignore him.

He's a cracker and it will be worth putting a bit of time an effort in now and watch him blossom.

Keep us posted on his progress.

Sue

Nope, that's all about it really.
Thanks, you've been really, really helpful today. :

I will, don't worry.

no problem, im always happy to help even if i dont always know the answer.
have you had a look at the cesar millan books? they have helped me understand dog psychology, behaviour and alot of other stuff. ive got both and they've helped me loads!

Do the TV shows count?

And, I have sorta taught something. In my room I have a big chair with a big blue cushion on it and I'm started to train him to sit on it by word command. I pat it and say "Cushion".

He jumps on it, at times, and i think he's getting used to it.

yeah the show do count, just as long as you watch them alot and learn from them. most of the shows make perfect sense and they are very helpful especially with training and sorting out dog problems!

i swaer by my cesar books, i always have them at hand if i need to know something i cant remember or need to read up on!

Tomorrow, after school I plan on introducing sunny to a friend of mine.

Since he's a very nervous dog and wary of men I'm not sure how I would go about doing this.

What I'm planning to do is get my friend to wait in the garden, I'll go in and bring sunny out on his lead with some treats.

Is this a good way?