Tips on working on recall

matthewm11 · 12-06-2011, 06:39 PM

I have a nine month old female GSD/siberian husky mix. She is smart, well behaved dog who has taken to obedience training pretty quickly. The one thing I haven't worked as much as I should have with her yet is recall. I've had a sibe before and teaching them really strong recall can be a bit challenging, like trying to teach an infant computer programming. I am also a bit hestitant to take my current dog off leash to work on recall, since siberians can disapear in half a second and be miles away before they realize their owners nowhere in sight. Still, my current dog seems more GSD than Sibe in temperment and trainability and I don't want to make her sibe heritage an excuse for not devoloping really strong recall with her.

I was thinking of taking her to an open field and putting a long drag-line on her collar so that if she gets distracted and starts to take off I will have more time to react before she gets away. And then working on a "come" command with treats and a clicker.

Any thoughts, tips or other/better ideas for working on recall with an easilly distractable dog?

onyx'girl · 12-06-2011, 06:49 PM

Thats what I'd do, but make sure that every time she comes to you is worthwhile. Have yummy, yummy treats or a favorite toy for this exercise only to reward her.
One thing I've found out.....if the dog is always tethered and never loose, the second that line comes off they are gone/Free!
I would proof this in an area that is totally fenced in so you can lose the line.
Karlo had never been on a leash during his early foundation and has a excellent recall(we have a fenced in yard, but I do train him in the front with no fencing). Because he'd never been attached to anything the line really means nothing to him.

matthewm11 · 12-06-2011, 07:02 PM

Thanks for the reply

My trouble has been finding secure areas to work on recall, my yard isn't big enough. I know of some baseball fields That might work (although they might get locked when in use) and there is a beach in the area I can let her offleash since she can only go north or south (ocean on one side, cliffs on other) but will have to go when there are no other dogs there to distract her

chelle · 12-06-2011, 07:03 PM

I also have a similar mix. We started offleash very early, 11 weeks, so I don't know about starting at nine months. My son owns my pup's father, the Husky mix and that dog will run for miles if given the chance. The mom, the WGSD, wouldn't run away if you tried to chase her off. I knew I had a 50/50 chance with what I got.

I think you're on the right track with the long lead... really long lead even

. Is there a trail you could walk to encourage following / staying around you? (also on the long lead) Or maybe work in the field on the recall, then graduate to a walk?

Check out this video:
Live Webinar

I wish I could remember who originally posted this vid and suggested this class, but sorry I can't remember to give credit. It's long, but worth the time. Even though recall isn't a problem thus far on our offleash stuff, I've used her ideas recently to try to sort of "cement" in even better recall. All I can say is, she's right and it works!

Good luck!!!

matthewm11 · 12-06-2011, 07:41 PM

Thanks. Its great hearing from someone with a similar mix. I've only had Indy for a few months and she had 0 training when I got her so I am starting a little behind the ball but she is a smart dog and has picked up things quickly. she has tried to bolt a few times (once her collar broke, once i accidently dropped the leash trying to do to many things at once...) and she usually stops and returns with a loud, sharp NO!! but I'd like to make being off-leash be a nice treat for her and have her devolop really solid recall. I think I'll work with a really long drag line and some treats and see how she does with that.

ponyfarm · 12-06-2011, 07:50 PM

You can work on recall even in your house. Need another person to be the distraction, you have the treats/toy. Have the person call/try to slightly interact/distract the dog and then you call and reward with lots of treats/praise/its a party!! Do it over and over, and then try different areas. Graduate slowly to bigger/better!! Good luck!

matthewm11 · 12-06-2011, 08:32 PM

thanks for the tip ponyfarm

Bigdogsolo · 12-06-2011, 08:49 PM

Hey Mathew from So Cal.....

My dog is 9.5 mos . I just posted a thread titled " Should I be Surprised....Yes I was" about 30 minutes ago with a couple pics of my girl about the same issue.

Here is how i got the results I got...... over a period of about 1.5 months...

On a long 25ft Nylon training lead after I realease her from her heel or other tasks, I allow her to walk ahead as she may choose with the lead dragging on ground.
I then give her a command to "Halt". If she does not, I step on the lead. That puts her at an abrubt stop. Then I call her to come. If she does not, I pick up the lead and guide her back.

You don't have to do this to many times for them to Halt on the command. If you read my other post You will see the results that occurred to day.

Im sure there are other ways, but this worked for us. Hope this helps.

damaya · 12-07-2011, 08:51 AM

Wow glad I'm not the only one. Icon is almost 11 months old, and it would seem he is becoming a little more "bull headed". We do live on 5 acres and we have a couple acre field to work in, and when he was younger I thought we had this recall thing whipped inside or outside. In the house, garage he is great. In the field mostly good. I use favorite toys (ball or tug) instead of treats, but if he sees birds, squirrels, neighbors dog....gone. Never been aggressive towards anything just seems like he wants to "check it out". We have to be in full on "play mode", and sometimes he will break from that.

Seems that the tug is working ok to lure him back, but I really wish it didn't take so much effort. If he runs to the neighbors house at 70 mph his size and look will intimidate. Luckily the neighbors know him now, and are not terrified, but I still wish he wouldn't do it. If I head towards him with lease in hand during one of these moments he sees it, and knows what is next, and will avoid me further. Do you think this will change with work and maturity?

cowboy17 · 12-07-2011, 08:58 AM

still working on my recall but what I find helps is, after the command (which gets doggy's atttention), I turn and run away a little. This brings out the prey drive and doggy chases me. After a few running steps, I turn towards doggy and stand still, reward ready and waiting. He generally runs full tilt once I start to run away.

12-06-2011, 06:39 PM	#1 (permalink)
matthewm11 Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Southern California Posts: 121	Tips on working on recall I have a nine month old female GSD/siberian husky mix. She is smart, well behaved dog who has taken to obedience training pretty quickly. The one thing I haven't worked as much as I should have with her yet is recall. I've had a sibe before and teaching them really strong recall can be a bit challenging, like trying to teach an infant computer programming. I am also a bit hestitant to take my current dog off leash to work on recall, since siberians can disapear in half a second and be miles away before they realize their owners nowhere in sight. Still, my current dog seems more GSD than Sibe in temperment and trainability and I don't want to make her sibe heritage an excuse for not devoloping really strong recall with her. I was thinking of taking her to an open field and putting a long drag-line on her collar so that if she gets distracted and starts to take off I will have more time to react before she gets away. And then working on a "come" command with treats and a clicker. Any thoughts, tips or other/better ideas for working on recall with an easilly distractable dog?

12-06-2011, 06:49 PM	#2 (permalink)
onyx'girl Crowned Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: SW, MI Posts: 17,611	Thats what I'd do, but make sure that every time she comes to you is worthwhile. Have yummy, yummy treats or a favorite toy for this exercise only to reward her. One thing I've found out.....if the dog is always tethered and never loose, the second that line comes off they are gone/Free! I would proof this in an area that is totally fenced in so you can lose the line. Karlo had never been on a leash during his early foundation and has a excellent recall(we have a fenced in yard, but I do train him in the front with no fencing). Because he'd never been attached to anything the line really means nothing to him. __________________ Jane~ Kept by Onyx, Kacie and Gideon v Wildhaus aka Karlo

12-06-2011, 07:03 PM	#4 (permalink)
chelle Knighted Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Des Moines, IA Posts: 2,863	I also have a similar mix. We started offleash very early, 11 weeks, so I don't know about starting at nine months. My son owns my pup's father, the Husky mix and that dog will run for miles if given the chance. The mom, the WGSD, wouldn't run away if you tried to chase her off. I knew I had a 50/50 chance with what I got. I think you're on the right track with the long lead... really long lead even . Is there a trail you could walk to encourage following / staying around you? (also on the long lead) Or maybe work in the field on the recall, then graduate to a walk? Check out this video: Live Webinar I wish I could remember who originally posted this vid and suggested this class, but sorry I can't remember to give credit. It's long, but worth the time. Even though recall isn't a problem thus far on our offleash stuff, I've used her ideas recently to try to sort of "cement" in even better recall. All I can say is, she's right and it works! Good luck!!! __________________ Dolly Eskie 6/03 Suri Shiba 10/07 Bailey WGSD/Husky x 5/11 CGC Bailey's brother Tucker (rescue/foster dude) Tiger kitty '96 Information is power

12-06-2011, 08:49 PM	#8 (permalink)
Bigdogsolo Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Hill Country of Texas Posts: 49	Hey Mathew from So Cal..... My dog is 9.5 mos . I just posted a thread titled " Should I be Surprised....Yes I was" about 30 minutes ago with a couple pics of my girl about the same issue. Here is how i got the results I got...... over a period of about 1.5 months... On a long 25ft Nylon training lead after I realease her from her heel or other tasks, I allow her to walk ahead as she may choose with the lead dragging on ground. I then give her a command to "Halt". If she does not, I step on the lead. That puts her at an abrubt stop. Then I call her to come. If she does not, I pick up the lead and guide her back. You don't have to do this to many times for them to Halt on the command. If you read my other post You will see the results that occurred to day. Im sure there are other ways, but this worked for us. Hope this helps. __________________ Ciao for Now! "BigDogSolo" Maja's Muse

12-06-2011, 07:02 PM	#3 (permalink)
matthewm11 Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Southern California Posts: 121	Thanks for the reply My trouble has been finding secure areas to work on recall, my yard isn't big enough. I know of some baseball fields That might work (although they might get locked when in use) and there is a beach in the area I can let her offleash since she can only go north or south (ocean on one side, cliffs on other) but will have to go when there are no other dogs there to distract her

12-06-2011, 07:41 PM	#5 (permalink)
matthewm11 Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Southern California Posts: 121	Thanks. Its great hearing from someone with a similar mix. I've only had Indy for a few months and she had 0 training when I got her so I am starting a little behind the ball but she is a smart dog and has picked up things quickly. she has tried to bolt a few times (once her collar broke, once i accidently dropped the leash trying to do to many things at once...) and she usually stops and returns with a loud, sharp NO!! but I'd like to make being off-leash be a nice treat for her and have her devolop really solid recall. I think I'll work with a really long drag line and some treats and see how she does with that.

12-06-2011, 07:50 PM	#6 (permalink)
ponyfarm Master Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 548	You can work on recall even in your house. Need another person to be the distraction, you have the treats/toy. Have the person call/try to slightly interact/distract the dog and then you call and reward with lots of treats/praise/its a party!! Do it over and over, and then try different areas. Graduate slowly to bigger/better!! Good luck!

12-06-2011, 08:32 PM	#7 (permalink)
matthewm11 Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Southern California Posts: 121	thanks for the tip ponyfarm

12-07-2011, 08:51 AM	#9 (permalink)
damaya Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: TN Posts: 173	Wow glad I'm not the only one. Icon is almost 11 months old, and it would seem he is becoming a little more "bull headed". We do live on 5 acres and we have a couple acre field to work in, and when he was younger I thought we had this recall thing whipped inside or outside. In the house, garage he is great. In the field mostly good. I use favorite toys (ball or tug) instead of treats, but if he sees birds, squirrels, neighbors dog....gone. Never been aggressive towards anything just seems like he wants to "check it out". We have to be in full on "play mode", and sometimes he will break from that. Seems that the tug is working ok to lure him back, but I really wish it didn't take so much effort. If he runs to the neighbors house at 70 mph his size and look will intimidate. Luckily the neighbors know him now, and are not terrified, but I still wish he wouldn't do it. If I head towards him with lease in hand during one of these moments he sees it, and knows what is next, and will avoid me further. Do you think this will change with work and maturity?

12-07-2011, 08:58 AM	#10 (permalink)
cowboy17 Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 143	still working on my recall but what I find helps is, after the command (which gets doggy's atttention), I turn and run away a little. This brings out the prey drive and doggy chases me. After a few running steps, I turn towards doggy and stand still, reward ready and waiting. He generally runs full tilt once I start to run away.

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