Mastering the recall

[digbydisaster]

Hey folks,

Some mastiff based advice if you would be so kind. I have trained my other dogs in the recall with no problem, I understand the theory (mainly!). The others are much higher energy dogs who generally follow me around everywhere than the mastiffs (4 months old, sisters, Neos). I know that the worst thing you can do is "dilute" the power of the recall by using it when the dog isn't likely to come to you. But then I also know that you are never supposed to be the person going to the dog, it is supposed to be the other way around as the dog is lower down the pecking order than you are.So what do you do if e.g you are all set to go out for a walk. All the other 6 dogs are glued to you having seen the leads, you are running around waving the leads like a lunatic trying to get the mastiffs attention and they just stare at you without coming to you?? I don't want to ask "come" as generally they won't if they look sleepy (which is around 20 hours of the day) but then I know I shouldn't be the one going to them? What does everyone else do?? Advice welcomed please

 

[Sadies Mom]

When you figure it out, let me know. Lol life with a mastiff is wonderful isn't it? I wish I could slow down and be "as care free" as they are. If you have two, I would do train one pup at a time. They are also still very young at 4 months and any distraction is so interesting to them. Attach a 20 foot lead to them and tug a little so they get moving and their favorite treat or toy.

 

[2nd Chance]

Ha ha, i read your post, dont have the answer, do have the problem here to, so read that first response eager to learn the SECRET, that surely others know, that i do not.
and spewed my coffee at
'when you figure it out, let me know'

i attend our first obedience class tomorrow! i'll ask lol

 

[Hector]

Um use bacon and teach the dog what bacon is and means! Yell "BACON"! I never had that problem come up especially when the doggies know you're going out. Interesting

 

[DennasMom]

We use anything but "come" if there's a chance Denna won't actually do it...

You-HOOOOO!
Over HERE!
Boobyboobybooby!!

She's still young enough that she's fascinated with baby talk.

Oooo... one of the ones that works best... "KITTY!"

Actually... she has a really good "Right Here" command... which was ingrained from a very young age. The one where you put a treat in the palm of your hand and say "right here" while showing - then feeding - the treat from your hand. We worked on that bunches, and still do. It's our "bacon" command. LOL.

"Right here" always means there's a treat to be found by touching nose to palm.... which means Denna always comes running to put her nose in my palm when I say "Denna, Right Here!" and show her my palm. I'd say I still do have treats for her 90% of the time, too.

We use "come here" in the house and for informal requests.
the DH normally torpedoes any hope of using "come"... 'cause he calls her to "COME" when he's mad at her for something... which makes her head the other direction... bad boy...

The other thing that works, is just rattling the treat jar... the ears and eyes come open to that noise, any time, any where, and suddenly doing as asked isn't so tedious.

 

[Bailey's Mom]

Ah, the way to a man's heart...um...dog's heart is through their stomach. BACON! My dog would jump through firey hoops for Bacon. However, when the bacon runs out, all bets are off. Mastiffs...wonderful creatures. Stare and stare and more staring. I spend our walks waiting as she stares at people...a good stare needs a good sit down, and much human patience. Damn funny.

 

[Hector]

Ah, the way to a man's heart...um...dog's heart is through their stomach. BACON! My dog would jump through firey hoops for Bacon. However, when the bacon runs out, all bets are off. Mastiffs...wonderful creatures. Stare and stare and more staring. I spend our walks waiting as she stares at people...a good stare needs a good sit down, and much human patience. Damn funny.

Well at least in an emergency a BACON! can do wonders even if you don't have any lol, they don't know that

 

[Mooshi's Mummy]

Ahhh recall, you should try it with a Tibetan Mastiff, now THAT is a challenge, especially when no matter what you offer them food wise they turn their nose up at. Bacon nope, warm chicken no thanks, warm hotdogs no I think I spit that out at your feet. For my TM I would say her recall is about 90% and that it will never get any better and even more so I am lucky that its that good, but let me tell you it was hard work, lots of work, every single day! I started it from day one in the house, playing hide and seek and when I could reward I did every single time. I also only ever use the dogs name for praise, never for reprimand. If she did something wrong it was NO and then named the bad thing. Anything else was good Mooshi, good Mooshi, so Mooshi learned that her name was the best thing ever. Its amazing how many dogs don't really know their names, not properly (not say this is your case). I also play with my dog when out in the park or woods, I run around with her and play with her, with recall you have to be more interesting and more fun than any other dog or person out there. And finally there is the stupid voice and the looking like an idiot, again being more fun. I read somewhere that if all else fails then simply lay down, the dog will come check you out, not tried this one myself yet as not had to but it kind of makes sense.

 

[Hector]

Ahhh recall, you should try it with a Tibetan Mastiff, now THAT is a challenge, especially when no matter what you offer them food wise they turn their nose up at. Bacon nope, warm chicken no thanks, warm hotdogs no I think I spit that out at your feet. For my TM I would say her recall is about 90% and that it will never get any better and even more so I am lucky that its that good, but let me tell you it was hard work, lots of work, every single day! I started it from day one in the house, playing hide and seek and when I could reward I did every single time. I also only ever use the dogs name for praise, never for reprimand. If she did something wrong it was NO and then named the bad thing. Anything else was good Mooshi, good Mooshi, so Mooshi learned that her name was the best thing ever. Its amazing how many dogs don't really know their names, not properly (not say this is your case). I also play with my dog when out in the park or woods, I run around with her and play with her, with recall you have to be more interesting and more fun than any other dog or person out there. And finally there is the stupid voice and the looking like an idiot, again being more fun. I read somewhere that if all else fails then simply lay down, the dog will come check you out, not tried this one myself yet as not had to but it kind of makes sense.

That'll do, raw trotters lol. For Mooshi, it's not BACON, it's TROTTERS MOOSHI TROTTERS!

 

[Mooshi's Mummy]

hahahaha!! she would turn her nose up...she doesn't 'do' food in public. She is a TM after all and considers herself way above actually being seen to take a bribe. Geesh don't ya know anything Hector? LOL!

 

[Hector]

Man now you got me all curious about these TMs! I hear they are all brats

 

[Mooshi's Mummy]

Yes brat is certainly a word one would use to describe them, although there are many, many others I have used that are none too lady like.

 

[looby73]

Yes brat is certainly a word one would use to describe them, although there are many, many others I have used that are none too lady like.

I'll 2nd and 3rd that!! One going through the teenage phase at 19 months and another still a "baby" at 7 months....what were we thinking?!

 

[Mooshi's Mummy]

Looby I sort of recall one day asking 'are you sure'? Oh yes said you...suck it up baby, suck it up! hahahaha. Love ya really. x

 

[imogin]

tugs!!! Oh man work that tug and squeaky toy power.

Seriously. Get a buddy to help you, start playing with your dog with a tug or a squeaky(or both) and get the dog fairly aroused and then have your partner hold their harness while you back away, get a good 30 or 50 feet away and yell out your recall word and watch the dog fly.

 

[Mooshi's Mummy]

Unless of course you have a TM who doesn't do toys. Sigh....

 

[digbydisaster]

OK! I have it totally sorted After a few days of intense work, I have found that all it needs is me running backwards (possibly into all sorts of danger) waving my hands around, screaming baby nonsense and rolling around on the floor and they are both all over me like lunatics. It even works on the beach! As long as you don't mind getting wet

 

[DMikeM]

I have the opposite issue with Jade. She comes to me all the time. I have been trying to train her to sit stay, me walk away then return to her. But when I am about 15 feet back to her she will do everything in her power to get back into heel position even belly crawl and side crawl to me. Food is not the answer at all, it is praise for her.

 

[Kujo]

Um use bacon and teach the dog what bacon is and means! Yell "BACON"!

:lolbangtable:

 

[Robtouw]

We have a silly game that Cruiser plays with my husband. To someone who doesn't know Cruiser the command is pretty intimidating. Cruiser loves to charge full speed at my hubby and this causes a silly game of spinning, jumping and playing like a madman. When I need the hardheaded lug to come and he has ignored my call, I yell KILL KILL KILL and he charges at us thinking that we are about to play his game. Sometimes we do, but more often then not, I just grab his collar and hook him on leash. He falls for it every time! While it may not be the best choice of words, he adores playing the game and it always gets his attention. The point is, that you have to invent something that gets his attention and use it to your advantage.