If you feel your dog may "fail" recall , would you go and get him/her instead?

Question

of using the come command first?
What do you think?
My point is only "not allowing" the dog to fail recall.

Thanks to all :) My dog is well trained :)
I was looking for different opinions only :)
Appreciated.

Answer 1

yes i would go get the dog.

Answer 2

I do 4H, and we have practiced this. First, start very close, maybe 3 feet away, while on a leash. Hold a treat out in front of you, so that they will want to come to you. Eventually, start working towards getting as far away as the end of the leash, still using a treat as encouragement. Once the dog has gotten this down pretty good, you can start doing it off the leash. At first, use treats so the dog will still want to come. Then, start using less dog treats (ex., every other time, give them a treat). Eventually you can get to the point of giving them no treats, and the dog will automatically do it!

If you don't want to use treats, use LOTS and LOTS of praise as a substitute. Remember to always be encouraging and loving, because this will want the dog to come to the command. Also, you can't just train the dog over night. This will take several weeks, and depending on the dog, up to a month or so. Try to practice as frequently as possible, as this will help the process go a little faster. Each dog learns at their own rate, just like humans. Give the dog its time, and you can eventually have a well trained dog!!!! Good luck!

P.S. I used this method on my dog, and we got first in our show!

Answer 3

One of my cardinal rules when training is to never give a command that can not be enforced. This means always give yourself the means to enforce the command (within reach, on lead, long lead, electric collar, whatever) when training. Pretty simple isn't it.
When a dog refuses a remote command like recall or a cast, do not make the correction on the command that was refused, instead use "indirect pressure". In other words use your control command (usually "sit") then correct and give the control command a second time, then give the command that was refused.

Answer 4

When training a dog for recall, use a long training leash. You can get them as long as 100 ft I believe. Call the dog once, then begin to pull him to you. Do not repeat calling him, just call him once. Once the dog is back in front of you have them sit, and then give them a treat and praise them.

If the dog is already well trained, then you need to take it a step further. He is wanting to play a game, and if you go after him, then you are playing his game. Instead, you can either just stand there and turn your back on him, or actually start walking away from him in the other direction.

Answer 5

"If you feel"

It sounds as if you're prejudging that the dog is not going to do what you want.

First of all, does your dog understand what come means? Just because a dog has come to you a dozen times, doesn't necessarily mean that your dog understands.

Does your dog come (with various distractions around) at 30 feet, 20 feet, ten feet, five feet?
Does your dog come (without any distractions) at the same distances?

You build up distances and you build up distratctions.

I've seen it numerous times with heeling. The handler will get ready to heel their dog. They will pop the collar at the same time they tell the dog to heel. The dogs get used to this and actually wait for the person to pop the collar before they move.

You have to put responsibility on the dog.

Call the dog. IF the dog doesn't come, then react. Not before.

Answer 6

go get him, don't not correct him ,for a failed recall, you failed recall !! because you didn't , teach it well enough .....
time for some more training , i guess,
long line no more than 30 ft , let him skip a meal.
walk him out , give the command to sit,stay. walk back 30ft,or the end of your line , call him once,as soon as you call him , tug on the line gently , till he start moving towards you ,don't say a other word ,till hes by your side , really praise, him and give my a treat, make it worth the walk ....

Answer 7

Do you mean in an uncontrolled environment where I think the dog is likely to refuse a formal recall and get away with it?

I would use my "unofficial" recall or go get him, or whatever method works best to get that particular dog back to me. And reward. Returning to my presence is always a good thing.

Answer 8

You are absolutely right, go and retrieve your dog in a situation where you don't believe it will follow through on the command. In the mean time try to keep him a long line so that you can enforce your commands.

Also I don't bother with the real long leashes as they are too expensive for my tastes. I just use a light cord, something like 550 paracord, even clothesline will do, plus you get some pretty long lengths for pretty cheap.

Answer 9

Depends on how long you have been working on the recall.

I think come should be trained first, but thats just a personal preference.

Answer 10

Put him on a long line, if he doesn't come, then that's your opportunity to correct the mistake and show him what he should do, when you say Come..