Recall Training so important

[KimMee's Mom]

I received this article from my Pet Tutor/Trainer who has become a dear friend. I think it is worth the read.--------






"I would ask in advance as you read this post that my intent in writing
what is very difficult for me to say is not in soliciting sympathy or kind
words, indeed, I would ask you please no, but rather, in this Year of the
Dog to recommit as dog warriors -- as trainers, teachers, therapists,
groomers, vets, caretakers, one and all in every aspect, helping one by
one, using a million different techniques, styles, insights and perceptions,
but helping, dog by dog, owner by owner -- to prevent what I witnessed occur today. We have the capacity to be the separation, the wall of wisdom,
between dogs and death. We make a difference. We are the difference, day
by day, in all of our respective yards, sidewalks, woods, and homes, we are
the difference for dogs. We have the power to keep death at
bay....sometimes, and sometimes counts.....today, I couldn't, and I weep at
the horror of it.

Today, I experienced the ultimate horror of being unable to find the
language in a moment to communicate with either side of the equation in a
way that was able to stop the inevitable. I am driving down the road
towards town, a light-hearted mission to pick up a photo card to take
pictures of my client, her lab, the Shiba and me in Tombstone. I see ahead
of me on the four lane road a pair of German Short Haired Pointers,
wandering in the middle of the road, barely dodging and being dodged by
traffic. I slow to a halt to let the dogs cross and then pull over to get
some leashes out of the car to try and catch them. I am still light
hearted, convinced that, "No worries, we'll lure the dogs in, drop them off,
they'll be well, and off we'll go...." The dogs are on the side of the road
now, about 100' away and I start towards them calling them up. They turn
and spin. One dog freezes, then bolts down the side of the road towards
what I will eventually find out is the business to whom they belong, the
other darts out into traffic, straight out into oncoming traffic. A pickup
truck is coming fast. It never did slow down, until after the impact. I
scream, the most primeval, fierce sound I have ever heard come out of my
body, hurtling energy towards the truck and the dog. There is no thought,
no intent, I am the dog, I am the truck, I know the outcome, I scream and
scream as truck hits dog with a sound I will never forget. I am not sure
where I went in the moment, nor am I sure if all of the pieces of me are
back yet.

The stone cold medic in me took over and while my client knelt gently in
the middle of the road to stroke the dog, I watched his spirit leave his
body and began searching for the other dog who had by now dashed up into the
parking lot of this construction business recessed from the road. People
were coming out of the building wondering what all the cars stopped at the
side of the road were. Questions asked and answered. Me shaking with rage
and fury from the needlessness of it all. A woman who seemed oblivious and
indifferent to where her dogs were or that one was now dead. A large man
and a youth came down in their pickup and gently laid the dog in the bed of
their truck and we wept, the man, the youth, and I, as the dog lay still,
still warm, life clearly gone, body shutting down.

For want of a recall this dog was dead.

IACP at its best, is for me, a place of kindred. It doesn't matter if
we get every dog right. It doesn't matter what the hell words we use to get
the job done. It doesn't matter if we muddle along sometimes wondering what
in the name of sweet Jesus we're doing, as we sprain fingers, wrench backs,
endure bites and bumps and knocks and bruises, cold weather, foul smells.
What matters is that piece by piece, step by step, somtimes we are able to
cross the gap between human and dog, and maybe, just maybe we get the job
done and put a recall on a dog that didn't have one, so it can continue to
smile its silly doggy smile, safe and free. I honor all of you tonight.
Funny, formal words, odd words I am sure to some of you, but the only words
I can find to give meaning to today. I honor each and every one of you,
and the dogs you save. And I honor the world of dog which is the living
link between us and nature, the link between self and others.

Please motivate your friends, family, customers and acquaintances to train their dog in recall. It could, it will save their lives."

[FirstYorkie]

Wow, what a heartbreaking reminder! Thanks for sharing it.

This is how I taught Joey to "come" when called. It is reprinted from www.clickersolutions.com :


Recall Success

I am lucky enough to have a field near me about four miles square to let April run to her heart's content so a reliable recall is very important to me. This is how I have been working with April and it has been working great.

First I had to figure out what her absolute favorite thing is to eat. Leftover beef is hers. I don't use beef for any of her training except when I am practicing the recall. Next, I picked a word, I just use "come" (so I would remember it) but it can be any word.

I started practicing it when I KNEW she would come. She always comes when I rattle my car keys, or when I come home. It's very important that your dog come 100% of the time so make sure you know when your dog will come to you. I practice at random times. When she comes, I act like she just did the best thing in the world. The bits of food are given to her one right after the other and at the same time, I am telling her what a great girl she is, etc. At first I did this 5-10 times a day. I do it now about 3 times a day, everyday. I do it at times when we will be doing something she loves to do right after, like a ride in the car, or a walk, or even dinner.

The idea is to get them to respond to your call without even thinking. So far it is working great. I used it the other day when she was barking endlessly at a squirrel in the back yard. She actually chose to come to me knowing that I had something better than the squirrel had, and I did. She got some leftover steak and a walk for coming when I called her. She also got lots and lots of praise.

You never know when a reliable recall can be save your dog's life so practice it everyday. Practice it to the point so that your dog is conditioned to come without hesitation. April not only comes but she comes full speed back to me.now. I don't think she even has time to think about it, she just responds.

Eileen Trethewey

[Jaspermom]

My eyes are full of tears at this story. And yes, RECALL is the most important of all commands.

I will be working with Wosie some more. Thank goodness, she is getting really good at it. And I will also work with Dreama, as she doesn't know it at all. Thank you for the reminder.

[Lexi Rae]

i really thank you for sharing this, but i do have a problem with lexi when i call her.. she ignores me...i do need help on that...maybe i will use cheese as a food. what if she still dont come??? then what do i do..?

[KimMee's Mom]

Originally Posted by Lexi Rae

i really thank you for sharing this, but i do have a problem with lexi when i call her.. she ignores me...i do need help on that...maybe i will use cheese as a food. what if she still dont come??? then what do i do..?

Well, my little one WAS doing really good with recall and then she decided to get more stubborn and when I would call her- she would look at me and walk to other way!! My Pet Tutor- gave me a new way to train her- you have to start with treats= the best ones, special just for recall- call her to you - Come Lexi she comes but she doesn't get the treat until I say Touch- meaning I have to put my hand on her for her to get the treat. It is working so far.

[Lexi Rae]

so i call her right? come lexi.. and then when she comes, i touch her or i say touch? and give her a treat.

[Jaspermom]

Originally Posted by Lexi Rae

so i call her right? come lexi.. and then when she comes, i touch her or i say touch? and give her a treat.

Yes, "Come" or "Come Here, Lexi"! I don't say "touch" to Wosie yet, but I will after today. I put my hand down when she comes to me and I have a treat, and she will come to me to get the treat. Then I pick her up, cuddle her and tell her "Good Come"! praise praise praise!!

I do it multiple times throughout the day, and no matter where she is in the house or what she is doing, she comes running! It helps if you give the yummiest ever treat, something special just for recall. I don't ALWAYS use a treat, but always put my hand down like I do have one, and then give lots of praise when she lets me pick her up.

Good luck!

[Lexi Rae]

one more question, sorry to be a pest..
what kind of special treat do i give her? i already give her chicken, steak,
dog treats and so much more.... how about cheese?

[Jaspermom]

Originally Posted by Lexi Rae

one more question, sorry to be a pest..
what kind of special treat do i give her? i already give her chicken, steak,
dog treats and so much more.... how about cheese?

LOL, you are gonna get that girl to be one little chubbo, honey! I would go with reduced fat cheese, and you only need to treat with a tiny piece, so one slice could be worth 10 treats or so!

[Lexi Rae]

she chubby already i think,, ok how about cherrios,, honey nut , i have them home.

[Jaspermom]

Originally Posted by Lexi Rae

she chubby already i think,, ok how about cherrios,, honey nut , i have them home.

If she loves loves loves them, that will work! But only give her ONE!

[Lexi Rae]

she loves loves loves everything i give her. i will try that first... thank you
for all your help. i hope it works, cause she does not listen to me and she has ran out into the street a few times..

[Yorkieluv]

Wow, that had me crying...Thank you so much for sharing that...

[KimMee's Mom]

Originally Posted by Lexi Rae

so i call her right? come lexi.. and then when she comes, i touch her or i say touch? and give her a treat.

sorry I was logged off after you posted this-

You say Come Lexi, she comes to you and you say touch as you give her the treat, when you say touch you are reaching for her and put your hand on her. Don't give her the treat until you have touched her. I am sorry if this is unclear but the purpose of the word touch is so you have hold of her if it is a dangerous situation. Since these pups are so little, it's not like having a 40 or 60 lb dog where you can grab them so easily. about the treats, it just needs to be something like the cherrios that she really likes and then only give her those for recall.

[Lexi Rae]

im so happy, thanks everyone, i tried it all last nite with lexi and it worked.
i did it with cheerios. when i put her outside on the deck i said, come lexi
and gave her a cheerio. she knew everytime i said come she would get one.
then inside if she was in a different room, did the same thing and she sure did come.... now i have to do the touch thing, i will try it again tonight...
its was so funny cause when i said come, she would run like a mad dog to me,, i did praise her, good girl good come... i love her so much.. she is so smart..