Breeds with good recall?

[Sharpcattlegridheavyhat]

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)

Just made the mistake of watching a Brittany YouTube video, squirrel and now I want one

I usually don't like to generalize but if you are not an experienced dog owner I would suggest staying away from all hounds (they have a rep for being stubborn and thinking for themselves, which is why I like them!!!)

and lots of terriers have a high prey drive

But mostly its about working out what motivates any particular dog and then working with that. (like people they are all different. Some prefer to work for "wages" i.e treats, some for games such as a ball and some just want to please you (generally NOT hounds )

I have had retrievers, terriers, bulldogs and a few other breeds and I can safely say my Rottweiler bitch has the BEST recall I've ever known in any of my dogs, or anyone else's I know. She's fabulous. An absolute joy to be around and so calm and caring. Walking her is a treat for me as she's just so well behaved.

I have an English bulldog and she does everything I say, amazes me as my labs run off hunting for water or fun and she never leaves my side!
The thing I did differently with her is when she was tiny I went to a secure friend’s field and let her off he lead, she followed me from the go. I wonder if that’s what helped, as the PP mentioned? I’d read it in a book and just seemed to make sense, worth a try!

My old Golden girl has almost perfect recall but was a nightmare when young. But we came though it and she is amazing now. My young golden is going through his teenage stage. He's hard work at the moment!I

By contrast my German Shepherd never went far from me his whole life.

I've had 3 labradors as an adult they've all had good recall, but as others have said you do need to keep reinforcing it. I think a greedy dog helps!

I think the gundogs and shepherds are the most anxious to please you as opposed to please themselves. In terms of individuals, a slightly less confident dog is more likely to stick closer. I have a 99% reliable setter but I put an enormous amount of work into training him and was very consistent.

You’re basically looking for biddable as a trait...recall isn’t any different to anything else to train, you just need a dog that’s easy to motivate to do it for the easiest to train.

So anything bred to work closely with a person so gundogs, herding breeds (not herd guardians though) and avoid anything that’s bred to go off and work alone, which most of the hunting breeds come into.

I have two terriers. I got them knowing that it was likely they wouldn't be off lead much. My boy has great recall, he doesn't seem to have much of a prey drive and seems happy to just stick close by. My girl is actually more trainable, loves obedience and 90% of the time has a quicker recall than the boy. She loves to please. But her prey drive is SOOOOO much higher than his. You can't really predict how high that will be when they're pups and it's not something you can really train out of them. It would be possible to get a terrier with reliable enough recall, many do including my boy but it would be quite a big gamble if off lead was something you were set on

I have a chocolate Labrador and her recall is shit. She forgets she has a tail most mornings so the chances of her remembering to come when called are slim

Don't choose the leader of the pack in the litter, they are used to deciding what they do and others following. We have two weimaraners, one was the top dog over his brothers and sisters and my girl was the runt of her litter. She is more clingy and eager to please, he doesn't give a feck and does what he wants. Also I do think girl dogs are in general more eager to please and will stay by you more so than boys

Labrador retriever

Start whistle training for feeding meals at about 8/9 weeks then use same whistle when free running

It’s so fascinating hearing all of your experiences and opinions on this, thank you. I think I’m very nervous about the next dog even though I want one so much, as my dog died because he was off lead and whilst he always stuck to the edges of fields, I didn’t factor in what would happen if he saw a cat (which doesn’t happen often where we are.) he saw it, ran into the lane and was hit by a speeding delivery van who didn’t stop. I wasn’t actually the one walking him at the time so I don’t know if it would have made a difference. But it broke my heart, and I’m going to make sure any dog I get in the future will be better trained.

Border collie, purely bred to follow instructions and if you have DC it'll help round them up on walks

I think all you can do is train the best you can and keep reinforcing it. Even dogs that have 100% recall only have that until they don't.

Going by the dogs I know and walk with:

Lab retriever - excellent recall, comes back every time even if she has smelt exciting bunny etc. Was trained well from the start.

Collie - also excellent but does try to be the boss and round everyone up - people and dogs. Can get a little wearing when you are having a gentle stroll and he's anxiously circling you like mad!

Retired ex racing rescue greyhound - improving with practise but still not reliable around cats or birds.

GSD - very good, I would say she comes back about 90% of the time and the other 10% is because she is guarding ie standing in front of the group to "protect" rather than chasing and disappearing.

Cockerpoo - daft as a brush, hasn't a clue but will generally follow the other dogs back when they are called.

Working cocker - not a hope he would be OFF and gone so is kept on a long line always.

Not telling which one is mine

Herding breeds tend to want to stick close and are bright and trainable. We had a Lancashire Heeler when the children were young who spent the entire walk rounding them up and when he was old and blind he followed literally at our heels on all his walks. I would never have a collie though, most seem extremely demanding. Also have had a Labrador , gentle, kind, biddable, greedy, recall was good until a picnic was spotted😬
Current girl is a mongrel who is high energy and brighter than me. I spent most of her first year regretting our decision to get her and the second year knuckling down to daily training, agility classes, building a strong bond with brain games and fun games. I now am much more relaxed with her on walks, recall is good but I do still sometimes get the spaniel finger.

We have a mini poodle (minus the imo ridiculous hair) and her recall is amazing. She never strays far on our walks, looks back to check on us. She also doesn’t chase runners and cyclists so it’s a joy to walk her off the lead. I honestly don’t know why poodles aren’t more popular.
Teaching ‘touch’ was also quite helpful, I found.

Oh Sharp, understandable you want to try and get it right, what an awful thing to happen to you. My chocolate lab got out twice from our supposed secure garden to hunt for food, we were very lucky as live near a busy road. There’s only so many factors you can cover. Hope your search goes well.

I have a Staffordshire bull terrier. Similar experience to previous poster, lots and lots of training built up sketchy recall until he hit adolescence, when it all went out of the window.
Now he's 2, he's good at coming back 90% of the time when called, but 100% when I've got the children with me. He won't stray far from them - probably because they're much more fun than me!
He's not motivated by food at all so that's never been good for training. He will always come back if I have a ball though.
I don't think it's breed specific except with maybe working lines where it's bred into them over generations.

Wow doing, I actually thought it was the poodle in him that made him harder to recall, thought perhaps they were more stubborn. His nature was perfect though, the sweetest most tolerant dog (of the new twins and older boy that suddenly entered his life!) and I miss him so much, thanks janus - it’s definitely made me really confused about what to look for next time. I got a bit of a beating on here for being naive enough to go for a ‘designer’ breed, although if they were more ethically bred I might have gone for another poodle cross. Of course I need a very family friendly dog too, but this information you’ve all given me has been so helpful

that’s interesting that your secret weapon are your children to keep your Staffie close bibi ! (and the use of a ball, I should’ve tried that as it’s popped up on this thread a few times now)

By the way I really want to know which ones yours half!

His favourite ball is a solid red rubber one from Amazon. Anything else gets destroyed in hours.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00LSO5ONK/ref=cmswwrothhapi_5jCDBbYVPM5E7

I honestly believe recall training is a case of consistency, patience and finding their "thing", be that their favourite ball, treats or their pack. My boy definitely likes to be with his pack.