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Original poster

Breeds with good recall?

87 replies

Sharpcattlegridheavyhat · 16/08/2018 07:06

We live in an area with a lot of open fields with rabbits popping up a lot and the odd cyclist and dog walker (though mostly these fields are empty.)

Just wondering if you could help me with breeds of dogs known for their good recall- I’d hate to have a dog with such a high prey drive I could never let it off leash, and a lot of breeds I have read say you must do exactly that.

What dogs have you got that have got good recall? (Obviously with training!)

Thanks!! (Very long drawn out research process as kids too young to get another dog as yet...sob)

OP posts:
BiteyShark · 16/08/2018 07:33

Hmmm interesting one as when I did my research I wasn't aware of any that were 'good' with recall more that you had to find what motivated the dog and train with that. I did go for a dog that was fairly easy to train. There was a website that listed typically how many times a breed on average would need to see a command to understand it and how many reputitions to cement it but I can seem to find that anymore. One of the breeds I liked was way down the list so I ruled it out iykwim.

My dog has a very high prey drive but when he hit adulthood he became completely ball obsessed so as long as I have a ball and am prepared to throw it he sticks like glue. However he was a pain in the arse before then and would go off hunting on his own.

NicoAndTheNiners · 16/08/2018 07:36

Not a sighthound! Grin

Current dog is a spaniel/bichon friese mix and has excellent recall. My top tip is whatever dog you get if you get it as a puppy have it off the lead (in a safe environment) from the start. Small puppies will stick to you like glue before they get brave enough to start thinking about giving you the runaround. So you start off with a good habit.

Kidssendingmenuts · 16/08/2018 07:41

I have a collie and she is awesome with recall. As long as there isn't a deer or squirrel. Ball and stick obsessed and clever. X

geekone · 16/08/2018 08:17

Hi I have a Giant Schnauzer. He has been off the lead since 13 weeks and has 95% good recall now and is just coming up for 6 months.
However he still likes to trot off of in the mood and won’t listen. I ensure he is leashed whenever I see someone else with a dog on a lead because no dog is 100% ever. In the end no matter how trainable dogs are still sentient and will make their own minds up.
I read the dog listener which was really interesting and although I don’t 100% agree with it all it certainly works.
Good luck schnauzers are great

geekone · 16/08/2018 08:18

Trot of *if in the mood sorry

geekone · 16/08/2018 08:19

Gah off

BiteyShark · 16/08/2018 08:20

I have had the extremes with this. Recall great as a puppy as you would expect then around 6 months of age went to 0% as an adolescent but now back to 100% (so far) as long as I have a ball in a ball thrower even if we are walking past deers and rabbits.

I think recall is one of the hardest things as you at some point need to take the risk and not have them on a lead even with distractions.

Original poster
Sharpcattlegridheavyhat · 16/08/2018 08:35

Very interesting responses, thank you! There are websites like yourpurebredpuppy that seem to think some breeds should just never be taken off lead, full stop- which surprised me. So I thought maybe I should avoid sighthounds ( as nico said) but it’s interesting that you feel it’s much more about good training and what motivates them Biteyshark

OP posts:
BiteyShark · 16/08/2018 08:43

Mine is a cocker and he is real hunter. I went to gundog training classes as I was struggling during his wayward adolescent phase and they recommended never to let them go far otherwise they are too far to care and to hunt and retrieve with them. I had ignored that initially just following the traditional training rather than breed specific training but as soon as I worked out he loves to hunt tennis balls more than deers and rabbits as he can 'catch them' then recall just slotted back in place. The problem is if he knows I haven't got a ball so when out I always carry one as my secret weapon Grin

Some dogs and breeds are far more food and treat orientated and some love specific toys. I think the problem comes if you find a dog that isn't motivated by much as you have to be more rewarding than other dogs, animals or people. And of course during the teenage phase they may just want to be stubborn Hmm

Original poster
Sharpcattlegridheavyhat · 16/08/2018 08:49

Ha yes, my previous dog didn’t give a crap about food OR toys, I used to jump up and down like a loon praising him instead and generally struggled with the training (poodle cross) he also used to fetch the tennis balls joyfully and then just go and play with them on his own! He was my first dog and I was probably not very good at training him. Next time I want to be much better but also maybe go for a less stubborn breed!

OP posts:
FairfaxAikman · 16/08/2018 09:00

I think it depends on the dog more then anything.
I have three of the same breed - young bitch only needs telling once, older bitch a couple of times but the boy would be away.

Pippa Matheson's book Total Recall is supposed to be really good.

NoSquirrels · 16/08/2018 09:03

No hounds! Too scent-led...

Gundogs I’d think would be your best bet.

Original poster
Sharpcattlegridheavyhat · 16/08/2018 09:08

I do love a gundog....

OP posts:
HonkyWonkWoman · 16/08/2018 09:19

I train my dogs recall as soon as I get them at 8/10 weeks.
All you need to do is place them about 5 meters away, in the house or garden and call them, then give a tiny food treat or effusive praise. It needs to be done a few times a day, every day.
By the time you take them out, they are usually pretty good.
It's all to do with food and praise and practice.

simplepimple · 16/08/2018 09:22

There's an amazing exercise to teach recall in the book 'how to train your dog like a pro'.

Get that right - you'll be 99% there.

Syfychannel · 16/08/2018 09:24

I agree there are some dogs known for having poor recall, like beagles. You want to go for a very trainable breed but then the hard work will start as you have to train a very good recall.

SlothMama · 16/08/2018 09:27

Training recall is as important as the right breed is, I'd say no hounds or terriers. A gundog would probably suit, I have a 4 month old duck toller and her recall is about 80% effective. But we are still working on it and I am training her with and without a whistle

Original poster
Sharpcattlegridheavyhat · 16/08/2018 09:33

I’m definitely going to up my game. Thanks, you’re all being so helpful.

OP posts:
HomeOfMyOwn · 16/08/2018 09:34

I think I'm with bitey on this one. Different breeds have different issues around recall and different motivation needed for recall.

My Cavalier took a long time to recall train because he wanted to say hello to everyone (human or dog). He was 18months when we finally got recall 100%.

My show type cocker (just over 1yr old) still looses his mind over seeing over dogs and people and thus has to be on a long line. He is getting better slowly with lots of training. He ignores animals other than dogs though - I think that's down to being show type rather than working type and because I spent a lot of time in early socialisation sitting by and walking up and down (carrying him pre injections) by the local lake, where most wildlife is, treating him for ignoring animals and focusing on me.

When I was younger we had a rescue lurcher (that the rescue thought had been worked) that wouldn't chase an animal, so long as you saw it first and said no. If she saw it first there was no stopping her (thankfully she was too slow by the time we rescued her to catch anything).

HollyGibney · 16/08/2018 09:40

Second letting them off lead when they're very tiny and their instinct is to remain close. I did this with my Scottie (a notoriously stubborn) breed, plus always had a lovely snack when he came back. He has his moments but he's pretty reliable now and stays close.

CMOTDibbler · 16/08/2018 10:03

Recall is all about training and reinforcement imo. I have lurchers (greyhound x saluki ish and whippet x doberman ish) and their recall is about 95% spot on. I've worked hard with them from when they come to us, and we reinforce every day.

Obv some breeds are more interested in pleasing you than others, but its mostly down to the dog!

JesusInTheCabbageVan · 16/08/2018 10:11

Haha, yes, agree not a sighthound!

Mine is a mix of 3 sighthounds, and when I recall her it goes straight to the bottom of her to-do list. If she doesn't have much else on, I get her back within a time frame proportionate to the tastiness of the treat on offer. If she's busy, it's a case of 'Your recall request is being held in a queue, and will be acknowledged as soon as possible. Your recall request is very important to us. Please continue to hold.'

Original poster
Sharpcattlegridheavyhat · 16/08/2018 10:12

Haha jesus I remember! Mine was just like that. He’d trot over casually when he’d finished sniffing, “yeah? What did you want?”

OP posts:
Squirrel26 · 16/08/2018 10:26

If you are thinking about a gundog, I’d suggest NOT a Brittany. I adore mine, but his recall is non-existent. And so is his hearing outdoors, apparently.

ThisMorningWentBadly · 16/08/2018 10:35

I have a poodle cross that loves food and me so for me recall is easy. She is less good for other people though.

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