Recall!

[Bella32]

I'm often to be seen on here pontificating about recall, and how you shouldn't really trust pups until they are 12 or maybe 18 months.

Okay so I pontificate about lots of things but that's just one....

I start recall training the first day I bring a new pup home. Recall across the kitchen, recall across the garden, recall intermittently on walks, for a variety of very tasty treats. I even follow the Culture Clash elementary and high school recalls, and pup will studiously ignore another person waving roast chicken if I recall her.

But today she buggered off. Big time. No wild birds or small mammals were involved. She just decided that she was going to proceed in a different direction to me and my other 2 dogs. And she continued to do so for at leasdt 15 minutes (although it seemed like years) across open farmland and woods.

I whistled till I thought my lungs would burst. A kindly little dog right across the valley answered me enthusiatically: but not my pup.

Eventually she sauntered back into view: cue much praise, clicking, treating, eyes heavenwards, mouthing of 'thank you' and a few tears.

If I'd lost her before darkfall she'd have been a goner. She wouldn't have survived a night in sub zero. Stupid Bella

So, as I have said, please remember that young pups may have an apparently very solid recall, but at - say- 8 months or so - that can totall desert them. And you.

I blame myself. For letting her off, and for choosing the most independent pup in a litter of a highly intelligent breed.

Come on then, come kick my butt!

They have lots of different age dogs at our training club SB and I met a 4 year old lab recently who was going to back to puppy classes to build her confidence.

How flipping depressing they still leg it when older.

Do they grow out of their desperate desire to befriend every other dog/person/cyclist/jogger in sight at any point? And how do you get one of those lovely well trained dogs that saunter by ignoring people and other dogs unless they show an interest? (dog responds to clicker word).And do you get to the stage where you don't have to cling on for dear life to keep all 4 paws on the floor ?

Wynken - all my questions!!

(Maybe it was the foot aroma that was really interesting Bella!)

I recall and treat mine when they see other people/dogs. Works fine unless you suddenly come across 30 Ramblers who all insist on dancing round with their arms in the air.

tbh, mine aren't that interested in other dogs/people. Would be easier if they were

sb - definitely not too late for classes, but any dog can do that. We used to have dog who had won obedience comps, but she saw a family member across a very quiet road and ran one day. She was knocked down but recovered.

I never let mine off lead by a road. You just never know what thwey might see.

Thanks ladies. Maybe something I should look into.

We didnt do puppy training when he was younger because his hips were so bad and he was in a lot of pain most of the time. We seem to have it under control now (well, as good at it can be until his op).

I reckon if the world was devoid of people/dogs/rabbits/pheasants and cyclists that my dog would have fabulous recall every time

Oh poor you Bella, how horrid. It must have seemed like forever with the added anxiety of knowing you had to leave to get the DC.

Since my previous miracle recall mine has been on the long line until today, as just too nervous with all the rabbits about.

She did find some rabbit carcass under the snow and followed me home with it. to start with wouldn't come into the garden but I just walked in and she followed - back on the long line tomorrow!

This is in a reasonably fenced field, I'm not sure I would be brave enough to let her off in open spaces like you do.

It's okay, LBC. I'm fine now, really...