Natural History

Posted in dog behavior | Tagged dog training, recall | 15 Comments

15 Responses

1. on February 24, 2011 at 10:19 am jen

   There is still not a good enough reason to try this with a shiba inu.

   
   
   • on February 24, 2011 at 10:19 am jen

     *This being off leash in an open (non enclosed) area.

     
     
   • on February 24, 2011 at 4:19 pm Dave

     Eh… putting them on a leash when they misbehave, then taking the leash off when they calm down works. But it’s a hella lot of work to reinforce good behaviours.

     
     
2. on February 24, 2011 at 1:30 pm Bill

   Does this all go to hell if you forget your fanny pack?

   
   
   • on February 24, 2011 at 5:45 pm retrieverman

     Use food at first, then affection and praise as reward.

     There’s also my patented (well, effing Richard Wolters uses it, too!) run off and hide trick.

     
     
   • on March 12, 2011 at 7:50 pm Suzanne

     This technique worked great for my first border collie. Now, I rarely bring treats on walks and her recall is near perfect even when there are rabbits involved. She does fine without a steady supply of cookies. Which is the way its supposed to work.

     
     
3. on February 24, 2011 at 2:10 pm margot

   *hahahahaaaaa!* funny idea! your dog trains you as mobile food bowl.

   i can talk for “my breed”, irish wolfhound and if there is something to hunt the wolfhound will hunt it.

   
   
   • on February 24, 2011 at 5:53 pm retrieverman

     Unless you’re coursing, I’d be leery of letting any sighthound off-leash. They could be in the next county in just a few hours!

     
     
4. on February 24, 2011 at 4:19 pm Russell Constable

   The video would have had a bit more punch without the treats every few seconds. Hell if my old dog knew I had that many treats in my bag her eyes would not have left me for a second ….nor would she come to think of it!

   
   
   • on February 24, 2011 at 4:24 pm Dave

     Heh… to be honest, the game only works as long the treat is a higher motivator than the distractions.

     
     
     • on February 24, 2011 at 5:43 pm retrieverman

       That’s why you start out with no distraction. Then you build up to it. Food isn’t the reward you always need. Tennis balls are a good reward, and if dog really likes them and knows that it will get to catch a tennis ball if it comes back, welll, that’s a far better stimulus for many dogs than anything else out there.

       I also know another trick to get them to come back.

       Call once, run off in the other direction, go some distance, and hide.

       Do it that two or three times, and they learn.

       
       
     • on February 24, 2011 at 5:43 pm retrieverman

       You have to start with no distractions and then work up to it.

       
       
     • on February 24, 2011 at 5:47 pm retrieverman

       Never set out to fail when training a dog. Always set out to succeed. When you fail, you need to take a step or two back and work on it again.

       
       
   • on February 24, 2011 at 5:44 pm retrieverman

     The treats are just there to teach. Eventually, you let the dog go a greater distance, then call.

     
     
5. on February 24, 2011 at 10:02 pm kym mae

   Different methods work for different dogs. This method would not have worked on my spaniel as his motivators in life are quite different.

   Treats have absolutely no value to my dog. Toys have no value once his nose hits the ground and he’s on the hunt. I have no value once a squirrel runs in front of his face.

   My dog now has perfect recall and perfect off the lead heel regardless of distraction, but gun dog training with a check cord and a good dose of premack’s principle worked best with him.

   
   

Comments are closed.