Dont trust off-leash....
- Thread starter Chell
- Start date
For teaching the recall, I don't recommend using your cue word at all at first, but rather enticing your dog to come with a fun, squeeky, playful voice, a special toy that you toss behind you or some other way. And when he does come and is just about to you, use your cue word and praise/ treat like mad. The other way is to capture. That is, when he is coming to you on his own accord, praise and treat. Then when he shows signs of coming much more regularly, then add your cue word with the act of coming. The problem with using it first, before he is coming is that he may associate it with whatever he is doing at the time since he doesn't know what it means yet. You need to tie it directly with the behavior. Until that happens, don't use the cue to try to elicit the behavior. Cues don't drive behavior. Reinforcement does.
The other thing that happens often, which causes the recall to break down is that it starts to mean "punishment." Often people call their dogs from a fun time and the fun stops or nails are clipped, or the leash is snapped on and the dog is taken from having a wee of a time in the park. When your dog comes to you and you want to snap on the leash, turn him loose again. Don't end the fun in association with coming. Do that a few times, then when you must go, give him a high value treat and some more fun as you leave the park. (example) Go get him when you have to clip nails or bathe, but spend a few minutes of fun while he's on the leash before you do those unpleasant chores.
Be sure to only practice the off leash training in a fenced area. If you use a long line out of necessity, still try to entice him rather than force him to come. Hiding behind a tree or bush and making silly noises sometimes attracts dogs to come and find you. You can play hide and seek. And always make coming to you the most wonderful thing. Never ever associate even the most mild punishment with come. Some things are punishment to a dog that we don't think of, as the examples above.....leaving the park, coming inside after playing outside. Continue the fun after he comes.
The other thing that happens often, which causes the recall to break down is that it starts to mean "punishment." Often people call their dogs from a fun time and the fun stops or nails are clipped, or the leash is snapped on and the dog is taken from having a wee of a time in the park. When your dog comes to you and you want to snap on the leash, turn him loose again. Don't end the fun in association with coming. Do that a few times, then when you must go, give him a high value treat and some more fun as you leave the park. (example) Go get him when you have to clip nails or bathe, but spend a few minutes of fun while he's on the leash before you do those unpleasant chores.
Be sure to only practice the off leash training in a fenced area. If you use a long line out of necessity, still try to entice him rather than force him to come. Hiding behind a tree or bush and making silly noises sometimes attracts dogs to come and find you. You can play hide and seek. And always make coming to you the most wonderful thing. Never ever associate even the most mild punishment with come. Some things are punishment to a dog that we don't think of, as the examples above.....leaving the park, coming inside after playing outside. Continue the fun after he comes.
Just wanted to update everyone on our trip. We had a great time, even the dogs. We let them off leash and they had SOOO much fun. I swear Brinley was smiling 
And they came back every time. I was hoping they would swim in the lake, but they seemed afraid of going in, although they enjoyed drinking it. Anyway, thanks for all the advice.
And they came back every time. I was hoping they would swim in the lake, but they seemed afraid of going in, although they enjoyed drinking it. Anyway, thanks for all the advice.
Get the come command down - as people are saying.
I don't think keeping a dog on lead all the time is stimulating at all - and I mean for ME and the dog!!
I even saw some huskies off lead the other week, which suprised me a little, but it was miles from anywhere on the beach, and they came on command.
I don't think keeping a dog on lead all the time is stimulating at all - and I mean for ME and the dog!!
I even saw some huskies off lead the other week, which suprised me a little, but it was miles from anywhere on the beach, and they came on command.
That's terrific Chell! I'm so glad you and the dogs had such a good time.
Yes, keep on practicing. About the treats: It can acutally strengthen a behavoir to put it on a variable reinforcement schedule...that is skip a time, skip 3, skip 5, skip 1. It makes them try harder to get the reward. When they're very reliable, you can spread them out even more, but don't ever wean them completely as that can cause a behavior to extinguish or regress.
When you practice with distractions, don't start out with a highly distracting thing like a squirrel. Start out with a family member walking past or toss a stick near you. See if he comes in spite of it. If he looks like he's not going to, you've gone too high on the distraction scale. Cut back to something simpler and work more there for a while. If he veers off to get the stick, block him and help him to finish his recall...then release right away and let him get the stick. Show him he CAN get the stick....but AFTER he comes first.
Anyhow...just a few little tips that helped me. Keep us posted. Glad it's all going well.
Yes, keep on practicing. About the treats: It can acutally strengthen a behavoir to put it on a variable reinforcement schedule...that is skip a time, skip 3, skip 5, skip 1. It makes them try harder to get the reward. When they're very reliable, you can spread them out even more, but don't ever wean them completely as that can cause a behavior to extinguish or regress.
When you practice with distractions, don't start out with a highly distracting thing like a squirrel. Start out with a family member walking past or toss a stick near you. See if he comes in spite of it. If he looks like he's not going to, you've gone too high on the distraction scale. Cut back to something simpler and work more there for a while. If he veers off to get the stick, block him and help him to finish his recall...then release right away and let him get the stick. Show him he CAN get the stick....but AFTER he comes first.
Anyhow...just a few little tips that helped me. Keep us posted. Glad it's all going well.