teaching recall without treats

[steppemum]

Bigfluffdog has just arrived at our house, had him for 4 days. A mixed breed, he looks and behaves like a golden retriever.
Big, soft, cuddly, friendly, and really wants to play with other dogs.
He is 18 months old, rehomed from a family who couldn't cope because he was too big, strong and bouncy.
He does have quite a bit of training, walks OK on a lead, knows sit, stay, on your bed, paw etc.

He has no recall. Talking to the previous owner (PO) he comes back when called if he wants to. If he sees another dog, he is REALLY keen to go and play and so runs off across the field, bounces round the other dog and plays. Very stubborn zero recall in this context. So PO would let him off in the field and he would run all over, up to other dogs, bouncy, big, loud and sometimes barking. Apparently some owners of smaller dogs were not very happy! (not shit Sherlock)

We have not let him off the lead, because to me, that is not acceptable (approaching other dogs) So we need to train him.

He is not food orientated at all. Happy for a treat, but really not that bothered. He like his toys, but not enough to use for recall. He isn't interested in a ball, squeaky or otherwise.

In the garden, if you call his name, he recognises it, and turns round. Then does a playbow and springs up and bounces all over the place, running away and back again. So knows his name, but really no idea about coming back.
He was very under-exercised. PO took him out 2-3 times a week for 45 minutes. He is now getting 1.5 hours in morning and 30 minutes in the evening. he has already massively calmed down, due to exercise.

Our old dog was very treat orientated and also really wanted to come to you , so training him, he would come to you because he was person orientated.

Just no idea where to start with training really with Bigdog.
He has no reason to come back! And the lure of other dogs is so huge.

Any ideas?

For training a dog that is not an easy peasy dog have a look at this book
www.goodreads.com/book/show/1589935.When_Pigs_Fly

@Bunty55

I have never used treats to train recall, but I have always had more than one dog, so when a new dog comes long they seem to follow the other dog and learn that way.

Have you thought about perhaps going out for walks with a friend whose dog behaves well?

yes, we have a friend with a black labrador, who is extremely well trained. I know her well and walk her often.

I would say though the fact she came back never had any influence on steppedog!!

But then steppedog wasn't very dog oriented. Fluffdog is really dog focussed, so I think he will follow her lead.

I can easily borrow her once a week. Finding a safe place to let fluffdog off to interact with her is more difficult though.

The dog I foster (rescue) doesn't care about treats but she'll come for a whistle. Someone must have trained her. I've spoken to a woman who said their dog would recall for a whistle never a yummy, I don't quite understand how it works, either.

Oh frustrating morning, but lots of insight into how his brain works.

Over weekend, lots of good walking, on lead meet and greet, long line running round with other dogs. Almost no barking, not too much lunging, lots of responding to his name, and coming back (on long line)

Then this am I had to leave him for the first time. 15 minutes while I did school run, dh is away.
He was very stressed, pulled all the dog stuff of the shelf by the back door, found a stick of French bread which I thought was out of reach, shredded it all over kitchen and dining room. Not bad for 15 minutes!

But, first time, and he hadn't had his walk yet, so baby steps.

I came back and we went straight out for a walk. He was awful, not quite back to square one, as not too much barking, but really bad.
I realised that he was still feeling stressed after his 15 minute ordeal, and so he couldn't do anything that we had worked on, he just went back to he old reactions.

It's fine, I understand why and tomorrow is another day (with another 15 minute leave).

But I ofund it fascinating that he his having to work hard at the new things, much more than I expected. He takes on new things so easily, that it is easy to forget that he is having to work to do them.

You sound like you are doing great with him, just remember that you and your family are still new to him. It will take time for him to solidly bond and want to be with you etc. But you'll get there.