Adult recall
Keep sessions brief; do an exercise only
three or four times, a couple of times a day.
Training
The greatest training skill a handler can
learn is the ability to be consistent.
In the wild, canines do their things in the same way, at the same tine,
day in and day out, so they will know what is going on; dogs do not function
well with confusion. Dogs need to know what is going on. Speak aloud and
confidently to your dog. Words have vibrations, which dogs can see and feel,
even before we have said the words, only “thought” the words. Dogs can read
such vibrations over great distances.
Kennel rules
Begin in home, using the dog box (crate,
cabin).
Spend some private study time with the
collar to learn how to put it on properly. The clip of the lead attaches to the
ring coming from across the back of the dog’s neck. Put the collar and lead on
pup; make sure the collar is not on backwards.
Spend some time going over how to go into
the dog crate. Once a dog will wait in the crate for the next command from four
or five meters (say 12 feet), then it is ok to proceed to the recall
beginning.
Hold onto the lead and tell the dog to go
into the kennel. Tell the dog to go in the same way each time, and have the
treat ready. Use praise, but quietly, and be ready to enforce the command to
GENTLY take the treat. (Cover top of nose with your hand and firmly say
“gently” if needed). When it is time to take the dog from the crate, bounce
the crate gate gently as you open it. This helps the dog to remember to wait
while you open the kennel door. Also, tell the dog to WAIT in the crate as
you open it. If you need to be sharp, bang the gate closed making enough noise
to make the dog jump back. As you attempt to hook up the lead, the dog may push
past you. If this happens, tell the dog
“that is WRONG IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS so get BACK in there and WAIT”. Once the dog understands how to wait in the
kennel, move on to:
Part One of the Recall Exercise
Holding onto the lead, tell the dog to Wait
in the kennel, Tell her to Wait as the gate is opened. Try to keep the
lead slack.
Look directly into the dogs face and eyes.
Keep telling her to WAIT
Turn sideways arms extended leash full
length, while telling her to Wait
Ask “are you ready?” Then, draw the leash
up bringing dog to you as you say Shady Come. Say, “What a good dog! Sit”. Help
her sit.
Say lets go and proceed to door,
through the door, and out to the PP pen or start over again for three times.
Stairs Exercise
Help dog sit at the bottom of the stairs,
short flight is best for starts. Jingle the collar and tell the dog to go
easy. Start up the stairs. As the dog pulls up the stairs, give a small
jerk on lead as you go back down the stairs, saying Oops! This way now.
Start up again saying GO EASY. Continue until the dog walks up the
stairs gently, without tugging.
