Back to basics

I've decided that Ciara's training needs to be upped drastically. At training class yesterday we were doing recalls. She is very good at stay and will happily do this for a while, but when I called her, she ran straight up to me, then continued past me into the woods behind!

Her recall used to be very good but I realised this is my own fault as the past few months when on the field I half heartedly call her back and she does run to me, but then past me which I have not been correcting. No wonder she won't do it at her classes!

My question is though, how to correct something I have caused without confusing her. I'm not sure what to do if she does run past me? There aren't many fields where I live where it could just be me and her, there are often other dogs playing there which catch her attention.

She does like treats but don't want to use them all the time and am very paranoid about bloat. I'm not sure if I should give her small treats while she has been running around?

Do I leave the ball at home and treat one of her walks as a training thing for a few days, or do I bring the ball and mix up training and play time? If I do have her football with me she will run to that rather than me. I guess I will know that her recall is great again when she will return to me rather than picking up her football en route!

Sorry it's so long! I feel so bad about relaxing her training and it's only when she blatantly ignored me yesterday that I realised how much I had let it slide, I was just so pleased she was gaining more confidence with dogs that I think the basics have slipped a bit

[ClaireandDaisy]

If you`re training, though, you need to reward every time. This doesn`t have to be food - it could be an exciting game with the tuggy toy he`s just brought you.
When the behaviour is solid, you can start only rewarding occasionally.
I use tiny but tasty treats - one frankfurter chopped up small won`t be enough to bloat a dog.
I would start by getting her to come to where you want by coming to get a treat first - then add the sit etc.

Originally Posted by ClaireandDaisy

If you`re training, though, you need to reward every time. This doesn`t have to be food - it could be an exciting game with the tuggy toy he`s just brought you.
When the behaviour is solid, you can start only rewarding occasionally.
I use tiny but tasty treats - one frankfurter chopped up small won`t be enough to bloat a dog.
I would start by getting her to come to where you want by coming to get a treat first - then add the sit etc.

Hi,

Thanks for the advice. I know what you mean about treats. I do need something to reward her, just get paranoid about giving food while she's exercising but I'm sure like you say, a small amount will be fine

Originally Posted by mcquilla

I've decided that Ciara's training needs to be upped drastically. At training class yesterday we were doing recalls. She is very good at stay and will happily do this for a while, but when I called her, she ran straight up to me, then continued past me into the woods behind!

Her recall used to be very good but I realised this is my own fault as the past few months when on the field I half heartedly call her back and she does run to me, but then past me which I have not been correcting. No wonder she won't do it at her classes!

My question is though, how to correct something I have caused without confusing her. I'm not sure what to do if she does run past me? There aren't many fields where I live where it could just be me and her, there are often other dogs playing there which catch her attention.

She does like treats but don't want to use them all the time and am very paranoid about bloat. I'm not sure if I should give her small treats while she has been running around?

Do I leave the ball at home and treat one of her walks as a training thing for a few days, or do I bring the ball and mix up training and play time? If I do have her football with me she will run to that rather than me. I guess I will know that her recall is great again when she will return to me rather than picking up her football en route!

Sorry it's so long! I feel so bad about relaxing her training and it's only when she blatantly ignored me yesterday that I realised how much I had let it slide, I was just so pleased she was gaining more confidence with dogs that I think the basics have slipped a bit

Hi Melissa You just need to reinforce the recall more, so coming back to you is exciting and nice for her. Use small, thumb nail sized, high value treats like chopped sausage or cheese. Use the treats for as long as you need to - the dog needs a reward for coming back so keep at it to proof it. Once she's 100% with that you can change the reward..

You could mix it up though and use a ball for the reward when she comes to you. Or give lots of fuss and praise. And say her name in an excited happy tone when you recall her as well. If she goes to run past you say ah-ah or whatever correction command you use to stop her.

Does she know the Wait! command? I use this when mine are off-lead and I want them to stop ahead. Both will stop until I get to them and then I'll either use Close to walk them next to my heel or release them with Ok! command.

Originally Posted by Anni

Hi Melissa You just need to reinforce the recall more, so coming back to you is exciting and nice for her. Use small, thumb nail sized, high value treats like chopped sausage or cheese. Use the treats for as long as you need to - the dog needs a reward for coming back so keep at it to proof it. Once she's 100% with that you can change the reward..

You could mix it up though and use a ball for the reward when she comes to you. Or give lots of fuss and praise. And say her name in an excited happy tone when you recall her as well. If she goes to run past you say ah-ah or whatever correction command you use to stop her.

Does she know the Wait! command? I use this when mine are off-lead and I want them to stop ahead. Both will stop until I get to them and then I'll either use Close to walk them next to my heel or release them with Ok! command.

Thanks Anni She does know the wait command so I will try to reinforce this too. I'm not sure what has happened recently, well I do, I've been letting things slide with my joy over her progress with other dogs. She used to sit to wait to cross the road straight away and now when I ask her she sighs as if to say "do I have to".

I think you're right, it needs to be something exciting she is coming back to, not just me asking her and not giving much in reward anymore. Thanks for the advice

You're welcome I found whistle training recall very effective for Zee as well. Something else to try!

[Stuart]

If you dont have somewhere where you can train alone, then I think it is time for the long lead until things are back on track.

The recall,..do what you have been doing,..if she continues past you, turn and call her again, when she finaly stops at you reward and praise lots,..continue like this untill she has improved enough that you feel she can then be tried off lead

The one thing about this, is that if you are rewarding with treats, then she has to be hungry enough to want to recieve a treat,..if you feed twice a day, then train in the morning and take half of her morning meal in treats.
There is no danger of bloat, because you are feeding slowly and often using small pieces,..and if you can manage it, a training session shouldnt be a `run around`,....its basicly back to basics,...and eventualy, you will be able to reduce the treats anyway

Training is a mix of training and play anyway,..when the dog gets something right, you reward [ with a treat if thats the way you do it ] and make a great fuss of her, which often means play,...for a short time,.. then back to training

From what you say about the football,..I think I would leave it at home,..you said that she would rather have the ball than you,... thats no good ofcourse,..you need to be the most exciting thing on the planet, you have to make her want to do things for you,..this is why owners are often heard using very squeaky, high pitched voices,..that is an exciting phase for a dog

Originally Posted by Stuart

If you dont have somewhere where you can train alone, then I think it is time for the long lead until things are back on track.

The recall,..do what you have been doing,..if she continues past you, turn and call her again, when she finaly stops at you reward and praise lots,..continue like this untill she has improved enough that you feel she can then be tried off lead

The one thing about this, is that if you are rewarding with treats, then she has to be hungry enough to want to recieve a treat,..if you feed twice a day, then train in the morning and take half of her morning meal in treats.
There is no danger of bloat, because you are feeding slowly and often using small pieces,..and if you can manage it, a training session shouldnt be a `run around`,....its basicly back to basics,...and eventualy, you will be able to reduce the treats anyway

Training is a mix of training and play anyway,..when the dog gets something right, you reward [ with a treat if thats the way you do it ] and make a great fuss of her, which often means play,...for a short time,.. then back to training

From what you say about the football,..I think I would leave it at home,..you said that she would rather have the ball than you,... thats no good ofcourse,..you need to be the most exciting thing on the planet, you have to make her want to do things for you,..this is why owners are often heard using very squeaky, high pitched voices,..that is an exciting phase for a dog

A long lead is a good idea, I had her off lead today and she was better but not as good as I'd like when another dog was in sight. I'm not expecting 100% straight away but a long lead will at least give me more control of where she goes.

I don't think she would rather have the football than me in general, (Well I certainly hope not ) but you're right, the ball should probably stay at home. I've been using excited high pitched voices, sometimes it works but it depends on the distraction. She's still fearful of dogs so when she sees one she focuses on that no matter how excitable I try and sound.

Thanks for the advice Stuart , I will start taking some of her morning meal out with me.

[Bonniesmummy]

Mel I am sooooo guilty of letting training slide too lately.... like you say, you get so happy with other things that they are improving on you forget your self!!

Bonnie isnt too bad... YET! but I do need to go back and reinforce the basics!!

BTW I'd use a long line too to get her to come to where you want her to Ive started using teh long line at home (in the garden) so if she is naughty I can just get hold of her as she thinks she can just evade me lol

Originally Posted by Bonniesmummy

Mel I am sooooo guilty of letting training slide too lately.... like you say, you get so happy with other things that they are improving on you forget your self!!

Bonnie isnt too bad... YET! but I do need to go back and reinforce the basics!!

BTW I'd use a long line too to get her to come to where you want her to Ive started using teh long line at home (in the garden) so if she is naughty I can just get hold of her as she thinks she can just evade me lol

Hehe I think Ciara will have a shock when she realises she can't evade me with a long lead on. I'm just going to start again with short distances and go from there.

I've just been so happy with her progress with other dogs that she's been off lead with them a lot more, hence more distractions and me just being happy she's not barking lol. But like you say, reinforcing the basics is defo needed at the mo!