Doggy Ph.D recall thread

[WynkenBlynkenandNod]

As a first time dog owner I'm finding this recall thing to be hard work and I would guess I'm not the only one -though accept the rest of you are all far more proficient at dog training than me and I might be on my own !

I need to have for my sanity one of those dogs who will recall beautifully in any situation and although she has made a lot of progress there is still a long way to go (she's 8 months).

Would anyone like to join me on my mission and would the experienced people who have cracked this mind offering some tips ?

lol. I will look out for any future 'I am stuck in the mud in the woods' threads.

Maybe if you put your iphone into a lump of cheese and attached it to yourself in a particularly bouncy and dog enticing fashion you could still take it with you.

sorry, heading off into sillyness now

[serious face]

minimu that is excellent advice - had not thought about the play aspect of recall - makes alot of sense

wynken would v. much like to see a pic of yours - can't imagine what that might look like

That's a good idea. Then dog takes cheese and if you need to find him - you just ring your phone!

LOLOL

Have apple not made a recall app yet? That would make life so much easier than clambering into the squirrel suit with the cheese lure hat everytime I have to go out for a walk.

No - although there is, sadly, a Cesar Millan app.

I kind of like the squirrel suit - although not as much as Mr Bella does

TMI Bella TMI

really a Cesar App? I wonder what it does. Maybe your phone grow enormous and then pushes you over onto your side?

Oh, and before anyone else thinks of it I'm patenting The Cheese Lure Hat. bagsy

It's okay - we weren't that struck on the cheesy hat, tbh.

Made a heck of a mess of the headboard

ewwwwwwwwww.

I don't want to ponder much further on that scene in my head.

and anyway the HAT isn't made of cheese, that would be ridiculous, how could you get a lump of cheese to attach onto your head? Or stay fresh and alluring for that matter either.

No No No The Cheese Lure Hat is more like an open weave basket, with straps going under your chin, and a little door in the top so it (the cheese) doesn't fall out when you are running away and diving into bushes.

In this way you can alternate your cheeses depending on what your dog likes.

I love this thread (but get back to the subject please Bella, tut tut).

Pmsl at squirrel suit

What do you all play with your pups? How long do you play for? I think I'm not v.good at playing and need some ideas.

Mine has great recall for now. I take yummy treats and call him back to me at least every 5 mins and make him sit for a treat then let him go again. I think it's quite easy as he's ever so slightly shy and nervous so prefers to be near me really. Long may it last!

yes quite, Romanarama

back to the recall business

Iggy, I'm rubbish and can't work out how to put profile picture on so am trying a link.

Bella, I don't feel I could possibly comment on the state of your headboard.

Edwardian, I think we should email apple re recall app but if all fails, you go ahead and patent the cheese lure hat, I already look a right idiot trying to be exciting to a dog who is more interested in sniffing that I can't see a squirrel suit and cheese lure hat will make much difference.

Talking of looking an idiot, I was practicing this loose lead walking malarky on the way round to the woods and there was some guy parked on the pavement in some big car. My walking consisted of a lot of going in circles whenever Plog (not real name) stopped and I think he was quite convinced that the deranged woman in the polka dot wellies fancied him and started grinning at me. Wish I had been wearing cheese lure hat actually, it might have conveyed more than the withering look I tried to give him but found hard to do whilst walking in circles.

Romanarama, I need playing ideas as well. Make the most of the good recall, mine had that, now she is a Kevin.

ahhh The Cheese Lure Hat has many levels of function. It also repels strange looking men in cars

Wynken how cute!!

And by the way iggy was that you show-jumping? [very impressed]

I realise the recall thing might not last - I mean to keep working on it.

Wandering back to recall, if anyone wants to avoid going to your local gunshop as I ended up doing you can buy them online. Apparently you have to remember what number you get in case you lose it, the man was quite particular about this and told me 3 times before he'd let me out the shop and I didn't argue as he had three dogs blocking the door.

Ah, I see, ESE.

I believe they use a similar hat for training primates:

here

Don't listen to me Romanarama, I am just bitter and twisted at having thought I'd cracked it then finding I hadn't after all, I'm sure your dog will be much better than mine

ROFL at the monkey hat, I can see that going down really well in these parts

Sorry, gals - can't hang around.

Hot date tonight

rofl at the hat

sorry to the sensible recallers for cheese diversion.

romanarama yes that's me on my horse taken last Sept sadly not riding him at the mo as am pregnant

wynken totally gorgeous dog

fail

Never mind.

Fancy a cuppa?

LOLOLOL

yes please

ooops

that was another test wasn't it?

Lol Bella, I will never look at squirrels in quite the same light now !

Iggy, fab picture of you with horse, something to look forward to in a bit I guess, congratulations on pregnancy and thank you for kind comments about Plog, you too Romanara.

I'm still a bit worried about this being excited bit and DH looked much the same when I mentioned (I kept squirrel suits out if it)

I have found this which might be helpful:

Another technique that can help to stop her cannonballing off after every dog that she sees, is to teach her to ?ask permission? to go and see her friends. Have her on a long line and when she spots a dog, call her back and treat her. She will look again. Attract her attention and treat again. Do this several times and then if it is safe to let her play with the dog, release her and let her play.The idea of this exercise is to gradually build up until she spots a dog and instead of rushing over to it, she automatically comes back to you for a treat first. ?Asking permission? in this way will stop her from getting into all kinds of trouble. If she comes to you and you are unsure of the other dog, you can slip her lead on and avoid the situation.

And:
If you have a friend with a playful dog, they will love this exercise:

Release both dogs and allow them to play. Walk away, leaving your friend to supervise the dogs. When you have gone a short distance, signal to your friend, who should then take hold of her dog (stopping the game). Call your dog enthusiastically and treat her when she runs to you. Take the collar of your dog and wait for your friend to run to you with her dog. Release both of the dogs and let them play again. Repeat this same several times. The dog will soon learn that it will be rewarded for leaving the other dog by being given treats AND being allowed to play again. Running with your dog is also a very effective reward.

If your dog is playing with a group of dogs, recall can be easier if you all stand together to call the dogs. If your dog has a particular ?friend? in a group of dogs, stand next to his owner when you call your dog and they are likely to run back together.

You can help to reinforce a young dog?s recall by walking with an older, more sensible dog and calling them back together.