Importance of recall
 

I just wanted to remind all the importance of teaching your yorkie a good recall. Lately I have read several instances where yorkies have ran out the door and doom followed for them. I know an accident can not always be prevented, but sometimes they can. Teach your dog to recall, it may save his/her life.

OMG Is so funny you posted this.I just logged on to ask for advise on how to train Sophie. I never had that problem with Max. I always open the front door, he pees on the grass right next to it and comes back in, never, has he run or walk away, when he does walk a little a just say "home" and he turns around , but Sophie..doesn't know how to walk, she runs!I have been taking her to the back yard instead, but I really want to train her on that command. Can any one PLEASE, give advise ?

We start by sitting on the floor, 2 people with the dog between the 2 of you and one person call the dog, treat and praise when they come, then the other person call the dog and treat and praise and so on. Move further and further apart over time. We do several short sessions a day everyday. When we watch TV, we sit across the room from each other and call/treat/praise. After they understand, you can do the same when you take them outdoors, little bit at a time. Always call your dog happy, never scold when they come to you.
This works for us.

Thanks, I'll work on that :thumbup:

I agree. Recall is SO important. I am still working on it with Jackson continually. :thumbup:

We live on 3 acres of land unfenced, but we have 90 acres of farmland behind us. When he was younger, he NEVER ran far and we could always get him back in. Once he turned 1, he seemed to want to just do whatever. Sooo... I purchased a 50 foot training lead on eBay and we practice every day where he goes out the whole 50 feet, I let him explore, wander, etc (as if he wasn't on leash) and will say "Jackson, come!" in a high pitched voice and I always have a treat ready in my pocket. Every time he comes in from outside, he also gets a treat. I want him to associate indoors with treat. He also knows to "stay" when my backdoors are open.

Whatever I have been doing is working -- because just the other day, my stepdad had the door open bringing groceries in and Jackson went wandering out (he never goes flying or anything, he's a wanderer, lol) and I simply said Jackson, come! and he came right back inside. I praised him sooo much and gave him a piece of ham! LOL.

I think it's really important to practice outside because a lot of times dogs will listen to you perfectly indoors, but once they're outside... it's all downhill. I also practiced a bit at the dog park with PLENTY of distractions and he was coming every time I called his name!

When we went through our training with Zeus our trainer taught us to use an emergency recall. She said to choose a word you rarely use and when they come to you treat them like 4 times with something they love. Our recall word is "HALT". We have tried this at the dog park and it works. Lots of practice and yummy treats!

Yesterday my DH and I were straightening up the garage and the DH left the kitchen door open (TWICE) and guess what! Betty Boop ran outside and onto the driveway (TWICE)!! Thank goodness, we trained her to "come" when we first got her (PetSmart training course). The cheerio treat and the command "come" was a lifesaver yesterday. Yorkies are VERY smart and learn very quickly. We had to act passive and not anxious or excited, which I am VERY prone to doing when it comes to my baby. I squatted down so she wouldn't feel threatened.