Bit of a conundrum teaching puppy to come when called.

[allhailtheaubergine]

I have a 10 month old rescue pup - I reckon mostly Saluki with a bit of Collie and perhaps something else. She was found in a bin by some people who adored her but couldn't look after her, and has ended up with us. Very sweet girl and doing brilliantly, especially considering her start in life.

We live outside UK in a Muslim country where dogs are not terribly welcome. She can only be walked on the lead - there are no parks or beaches or anywhere she is allowed off lead to run. We don't have a huge garden. So, not ideal but she is an awful lot better off loved and living with us than still on the street.

At weekends we often drive out of town to remote beaches or mountains to spend the day or even camp for a few days. She LOVES this and is great. However, she simply will not come when called. Why should she? She has no chance to practice it on a daily basis, and she is not particularly motivated by food. Even a can of tunafish is no match for the wind in her ears as she pelts towards the horizon.

I don't want to have to keep her on the lead all the time, but she would be much safer and could have more freedom if I could help her learn to come when called. Any ideas?

[MoaningMinnieWhingesAgain]

What is she motivated by, if not by food? Does she love a ball? A squeaky toy? A fuss and stroke?

When she is out exploring it is very exciting for her and recall will be affected by her being motivated to come back to you for something she loves.

Bit like letting me loose in a wool shop and expecting me to come back when you shout - I would ignore you too but might be tempted if I knew a cake was on offer. A long lead/training line might help for practicing, basically a 15m long lead.

My 6m old pup has much better recall than my 9yr old dog who is just, well, not arsed really! He will come back for a ball or food, just tricky if he is playing/chasing another dog.

[GrimmaTheNome]

Practising with the long lead sounds sensible. Also practise in your garden (even if it is small) and around the house.

Do you know anyone with a larger garden or enclosed space who'd let you use it maybe?

[daisydotandgertie]

Does she come when she's called in the house? For meals? For fuss and cuddles?

That's the beginning of working on a good recall.

Pick a set of words - her name and a command. I use 'puppies name come' to start with and then just 'come'. Don't just call her name over and over. And don't allow your command to be a background noise she can ignore. Say it once. If she doesn't pay attention, don't repeat it. Go and get her. And at 10 months old, go and get her with a bit of purpose. Repeat the command when you get to her and grab her collar. She has to understand that what you say, goes. Immediately.

Practice at home - in the garden, even though it's small; practice on the lead - use a longer really light line so she doesn't quite realise it's attached to her. Something as light as shoelaces tied together.

When she does come to you go absolutely crazy with praise. Offer something she loves - cheese, liver cake, squeaky ball. And offer that treat only when she's doing a recall. Keep it really, really high value.

Try and make sure the recall doesn't immediately precede something boring like going back on the lead or going inside. Make it part of a fun afternoon in the garden.

And it'll take time. A bit like square bashing. Try 3 or 4 hours worth of practice and you should see some results. Just don't let her ignore you or a pattern which will be very hard to break will develop.

Oh - and don't set her up to fail. Start where she can't get it wrong - eg in the garden or on the end of a very light line. She's not going to get it right on a very rare off lead walk without some serious practice before hand.

Good luck!

[allhailtheaubergine]

Thank you, some super advice.

I had forgotten the thing of calling once and then going to get her if she doesn't come. I did that with my last puppy and it helped I am sure.

She has a very long lead and I will do some recall practice on that.

I will also try some new tasty treats - there surely must be something she'll go crazy for.

What motivates her? Hmmm... I don't know. She is a dizzy ball of fluff! Of course she loves praise and attention, but has the attention span of a flea. Typical 10 month old! She is not particularly bothered about her toys - she plays with a ball or a chew by herself but the only game she enjoys with me is tug-of-war.

I have tended to have Labs so am used to using food as a motivator for everything. Puppy and I are learning together.

(Really disastrous internet connection here so may disappear. Will be back).

[allhailtheaubergine]

Oh, does she come when called in the house? Hard to tell really. We are a chaotic household and she is a dizzy puppy. She is always whirling around checking up on everyone. Yes, I suppose she does, but more to see what the commotion is. She loves joining in everything, so if she's in the garden and I call her in she races in to see what's happening inside.

[GrimmaTheNome]

I'm not an expert but perhaps working on 'stay' would be useful as part of this too? If she gets good at it you can park her in one room and then get her to come IYSWIM.