Does your dog have 100% recall?

[Puppypuppypuppy]

My 14 month old has developed a bit more confidence and selective deafness so is back on a long line for now in situations where I know he's likely to ignore me. But I read on here all the time that dogs should not be off lead in a public place unless they have 100 % recall. This feels a way off for me at the moment. But does any dog really have 100%? (and any tips on how you got there welcome!)

@LadyCatStark same. I know the advice is to make yourself more interesting but mine is not interested by balls or tuggy toys and even treats if he sees a particular sort of dog!

My lovely late Labrador, 99.9% recall, went to training held by ex police dog handler, trained with livestock, I could even stop her eating whatever she had in her mouth. My terrier, not a chance if there’s a squirrel, rabbit, fox, cat, duck etc she wouldn’t give a backwards glance. Is on the lead 98% of time.

I would say yes 100% - but he was probably around 5yo or so before I would have been confident to call it, and he was mostly trained by the 2 others we had when we got him - they were 90% and 80%ish (both amazing as long as there were no rabbits around).

My lovely dog is now 13, almost blind and doesn't go far away from me but before he lost his sight, I'd easily call him away from dogs / cats / rabbits / birds / food / people giving him attention / the river. He seems to always have half an ear and eye on where I am and just comes as soon as he's called. Never had it before, and am surprised to have it now tbh - ddog is a terrier!

[quote Puppypuppypuppy]@LadyCatStark same. I know the advice is to make yourself more interesting but mine is not interested by balls or tuggy toys and even treats if he sees a particular sort of dog![/quote]
Then you need to keep an eye out for that particular sort of dog. You know then that he’ll have 99% recall in all other circumstances and in the one circumstance he can’t manage then you’ll have control of him via the lead.

Before I got a dog I thought dog walks were just lovely relaxing rambles. Now I know that you’re also constantly assessing the situation at the same time.

Mine is 100% if he knows I have a ball.

Recently had to wean him off balls so he goes off hunting in the forest but if I blow the whistle he comes hurtling back but runs straight past me as he is currently doing this thing where he will hunt along side me with him in the forest and me on the track. He also recalls on his own if I stop and he can't hear or see me .

So having gone from 100% to that I can live with as I know he wants to stick with me but not at my side.

I should say mine isn't interested in playing with other dogs so generally he is oblivious to them but will tolerate a sniff if they insist .

@Puppypuppypuppy luckily where I live it’s very flat so if I see another dog coming I turn around and walk in the opposite direction so he comes with me and then I can get him on the lead and then hopefully if I get close to the other dog I can ask if it’s ok for him to play. In reality the other owner then puts their dog on it’s lead and moves away so that we don’t pass close enough out of politeness and then neither dog gets to play ffs.

95% but at 2 I think that's acceptable. I'm careful where I let him off and I do have a couple of tricks that work for the 5% time

Mines at about 80%, one year old dog. We only let her off where it's quiet because if she sees joggers, other dogs or squirrels she will be tempted to bound up to them for a play and we'd rather not set her up to fail by taking her off leash where she might be tempted, or annoying/scaring other people or dogs. Always carry treats with me and have a squeaky ball which the vast majority of time does the trick but she can occasionally go rogue. Just keeping up with the training and being consistent so that hopefully by the time she's fully matured she's closer to 100%.

Mine does not. I don't know what percentage she does have since I don't let her off lead. She's far too interested in people and other dogs.

I've also been told that Newfoundlands have the recall of a teddy bear, so I don't hold out much hope.

No! But she’s a Jack Russell. I keep her on lead unless enclosed.

My old Irish Setter was pretty good once she was an adult. Definitely up in the 90s

On average 70% recall.

0% around other dogs so is never offlead when there are other dogs around (unless friends he is playing with)

He will chase deer/foxes if given the chance and wouldn’t recall from them, but has never even got close to catching them and gives up very easily.

I only let him off lead in selected areas where I have a clear view and few distractions.

My terrier breed who is very much not a recall known breed is pretty good but has his moments I remember when he was at his worst stage and reading on here about all these dogs with 100% recall and getting a bit down, doesn't exist in my opinion but very much worth working on. I had mine on a long lead for a looong time and it paid off! good luck

My current dog has the best recall of any dog we’ve ever had, will come back even if she’s chasing a rabbit and I whistle. But although it’s been 100% so far, that’s not to say there won’t be a time in the future when I whistle and she doesn’t come, like someone said, they’re not robots.

It depends how you define 100%. One of mine is 100% within a minute, barring tennis balls to steal. But I'm not happy with that, and we're working on coming AT ONCE.

In all honesty, very, very few dogs have 100% recall, especially those with a reasonable prey drive. I know a dog who has won a fistful of field trials (winning even one is bloody good going) who has been known to take off after a hare and not come back until the hare is well away.

100% with my border collie bitch,male toy,he's going a little deaf and his eyes aren't perfect,so give him a bit of time. The dog trainer I went to who was 35 years an RAF dog trainer, said don't set yourself or your dog up for failure if he's busy sniffing,or playing,it will take a few seconds. I found this with dogs, easier with bitches

No such thing as 100% recall, dogs are animals and can do something totally unpredictable.
People on here talk crap about recall all of the time, take it with a large pinch of salt!

My dog has about 80-90% recall and is off lead every walk. She’s never caused any issues with other dogs and has never been attacked. According to mumsnet though she’s probably a public hazard 🤣

95%. The other 5% is deer and squirrels. He would like to chase cats but we never see them in our local park or on country walks, only in the streets, and he’s always on lead in the street in case of traffic. Having good recall isn’t the same as always being at my side - he’s a spaniel so generally on a walk it’s a mad dash in a 50-yard circuit around me or taking off towards any water he knows is there. Took him somewhere newish today and he races back when called, veers past and keeps running - he likes to know where I am at all times but his idea of nearby and mine are sometimes different. Therefore we have two or three commands: ‘this way’ (flying dog brakes, turns, takes correct path at a gallop ahead of you, then reappears to look back at you and check you’re coming), ‘come here’ (dog runs within sight of you to check in) and ‘heel’ or ‘lead time’ (this latter causes him to sit on a good day and come up to you and wait to have his lead attached). He’s only really far away if he’s chased a deer (squirrels only go as far as the nearest tree), and once he’s lost the deer he comes haring back hunting for us. But he wouldn’t come back on first shout if he was chasing a deer, so no, not perfect. And not completely safe, either, though we generally only see deer in an enclosed forest park or in the wilds where roads are miles away.

My dog would sell me for a frisbee.

Couldn't put a % on her recall. She's definitely improving though (knocks on nearest wooden object). I do always carry balls and treats though.

No such thing as 100% recall, dogs are animals and can do something totally unpredictable.

I disagree, it depends on personality, training, breed.
I have a chihuahua who I would happily bet everything I have on him coming to me every single time I called him. He rarely leaves my side, isn’t interested in other dogs or people.
My Jack Russell cross had a bad experience with some children and I wouldn’t trust her off the lead at all now. She has a tendency to chase so I pay for use of a field to give her that off lead time and to practice, I hope one day she will be 100% as well.

I don't think anyone can claim 100% recall. They may just not have encountered the situation yet where their dog decides not to come back. My dog has 99.9% recall at the start of his walk but as he gets more tired his "I cant be arsed" reflex kicks in. We know him well and usually get him on the lead just as his attention span is starting to falter.

Well,have had my dog 6 years since an 8 week old puppy. We regularly do woods,forests, beaches, Parks. Wonder what I'm going to encounter that will stop her coming straight away when called

There's no such thing. They're living creatures with free will. Mine is trustworthy and has always returned when called but she isnt a robot.

I just never used a lead with her unless it was for her own safety so if we were near roads or unknown other dogs etc. Start them young when they are wanting to follow you around like little shadows anyway and be consistent. That's all there is to it, its much like raising children. Firm boundaries and freedom when they can handle it.

I’ve got a labrador and a lab/springer cross. Excellent recall, even better if I’ve got a tennis ball and no interest in chasing anything, unless there is something disgusting to eat or roll in. Then they are strategically deaf.

Strangely my black lab is reliable and ignores all other dogs when off the lead unless it’s another black lab. She will then totally ignore me. But every other lab she meets is exactly the same. They seem to recognise a fellow lunatic.