At what age do they really start getting recall and drop commands. We took Carly to puppy class and the recall was a tough one when she was playing with the other pups. I spent some time this morning with her working on recall and she was doing great , so great that I thought I am going to try her outside, I let her out she peed and started to look around the yard so I called her in with treat in hand and nothing, I went down to her and showed her the treat while saying come and nothing then she thought it was a game and was running around so I headed back in hoping she would follow , didn't happen!! So I went up to her said sit and took her collar and brought her in while saying come Carly , once inside I had her sit and gave her the treat. Was not to sure if I should have rewarded her for that but thought if she associated coming and sitting with getting a treat she would remember that. I am finding also that when she has something in her mouth that is not suppose to be there that she will not drop it and thinks again its a game. What gets me most is she listens to my husband and not me , so frustrating as I am with her 24/7. I just want her to listen to me as she does my husband. At what age does the training sink in??? I want to take her to the next training class but we have to wait until her rabies shot and the vet wanted to wait until we got her tummy issues under control , another long story some of you have read


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The word "come" needs to be enforceable when your're teaching recalls. Not coming cannot be an option. Have her on a leash, and reel her in immediately if she doesn't come, giving her lots of praise and treats. Do it in the house first. There are far too many distractions outside. After you've made good progress with the leash in the house and yard, you can get a 25-50 foot long lead to practice longer recalls. They can be either from a sit stay, or just while she's running around and playing. When you say "come" she needs to stop whatever she's doing and come to you.

I have told my kids not to use the "come" command unless I'm around to enforce it, and will only allow them to use the command in the house.

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Grasslands Liberty Belle "Bella" CGC (5-7-2012)

That's what I am hoping for , complete awareness and she comes no matter what. She flew past me out the front door a couple weeks ago and I had a family backing out of the driveway and I was shouting my commands but a little more frantic as I should have trying to stop the car and also call her back and she stopped and sat right behind the car. Thank goodness the car stopped not knowing why I was screaming and throwing my arms all about. She was so close to being ran over and I never want that horrible feeling again. I just feel like she doesn't listen to me as much because I am home with her all day and sees me more as an equal then the leader. I am sure with practice and persistence it will come


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Practice it with leash at least 3-4 times per day, and keep the sessions short. Make it fun. You'll be surprised how quickly she picks it up if you're consistent.


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Grasslands Liberty Belle "Bella" CGC (5-7-2012)

I know I am guilty of using the "come" command when I can't reinforce it. Every time that happens, you're letting the dog learn that "come" is optional. I keep warning myself not to do this, but it is so easy to forget! Rocket is 8 months old. He has a really solid recall when he knows he's in "training mode" i.e. we are at the soccer field practicing sit stays and recalls. Or in our obedience class. Let him out in the yard, or at the dog park, and it's a completely different story. I know I need to go back and start over on the formal recall training and stop using the command when I know it's not likely to work and I can't make him comply.

As for "drop it", Rocket is really very solid on that one. I'm not really even sure how. I didn't formally train it. But at a few months old, when I started playing tug with him, I would stop every few minutes and say drop it, then praise him when he did. Now, he drops just about anything when I catch him chewing something he shouldn't. Food might be the only exception.

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Tina,
Rocket, & Bruce....Gone but not forgotten.

Another thing.....never scold your puppy when she comes to you, no matter how frustrated you may be. Also, don't immediately have her do something she doesn't like. For example...take a bath, go immediately in to the crate, etc.

When you're out in the yard, carry treats, and throw a party for your puppy every time she comes to you, even if you didn't call her.

I'm sure some of the more experienced trainers have other ideas, but that is what has worked for me.

Good luck.

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Grasslands Liberty Belle "Bella" CGC (5-7-2012)

Liza's recall is fine, unless there is food involved, I discovered last Tuesday. We are in a CGC prep class at the moment, and before we started I thought I had it nailed...until the moment the trainer put down a food bowl. There wasn't even anything in it, but she made a detour, checked it out, and then decided to come to me. Next week he is going to put treats in it, that will be fun: recall and leave it at the same time...!

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Hey.. Are you taking the class in Oxford? If yes, I have seen you and Liza when I pick up Brady & Faelan from the field bus I saw the bowls were down on Tuesday LOL

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Golden moments shared with
Casey, Faelan, Towhee & Brady too !

and forever in my heart, my golden Bridge boys
Rowdy & King

We used the "Find Me" game from the AKC puppy games as Casper's first (and probably still best) recall: http://images.akc.org/pdf/starpuppy/..._play_time.pdf

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Our trainer has rules for the recall command:

1: Never call your dog for something unpleasant.
2: Say the word once. Don't repeat.
3: Reward the dog every time he comes.
4: Make it happen.

Rodney had a really hard time with responding when we said "come." We realized it was because we were calling him for unpleasant stuff: going back inside when he was having fun outside; getting him away from fun treebark chew toys; etc.

When we started only saying "come" for fun things, like pets, treats, etc. he started coming WAY more reliably. I make a big deal of it in the backyard when he comes when called. I squat down and open my arms, like I'm going to hug him when he gets there, and say, "Rodney, come!" If he gets distracted on the way, I make kissy sounds or other sounds he thinks are fun, and I start backing away (he loves to chase me). I used to have to walk toward him with a treat and lure him towards me, but we're past that stage now. When he gets to me, he sits, I grab his collar and say, "gotcha!", and then I pet him like crazy on his belly and everywhere else.

I agree with others that there can't be an option for the puppy to not come right at first when it's not a reliable command. She's gotta understand that good things happen when she's right next to you! Work in small, very familiar spaces first or outside with a longer leash.