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Thanks -- we'll try it tomorrow if it's not pouring rain again. Anytime we can make recall training more fun is a benefit.
I like where she says to set yourself up for success and don't call "come" when you know they won't come.
Cody comes really well except when distracted by a scent in the ground, and it's like we don't even exist -- totally ignores us, so we've learned not to numb him to the word "come" when he just ignores us. He won't even be bothered by a high value treat even when we know he's hungry.
Hard not to take it personally ....lol
The fence is working really well. A goose flew only about five feet over his head, and he went bonkers and ran full speed chasing it for over an acre, then he came near the fence and did an abrupt stop. Then just sat real alert and watched it fly off. We thought that was a really good test if he'll stay in when seriously chasing something.
Thanks -- we'll try it tomorrow if it's not pouring rain again. Anytime we can make recall training more fun is a benefit.
I like where she says to set yourself up for success and don't call "come" when you know they won't come.
Cody comes really well except when distracted by a scent in the ground, and it's like we don't even exist -- totally ignores us, so we've learned not to numb him to the word "come" when he just ignores us. He won't even be bothered by a high value treat even when we know he's hungry.
Hard not to take it personally ....lol
The fence is working really well. A goose flew only about five feet over his head, and he went bonkers and ran full speed chasing it for over an acre, then he came near the fence and did an abrupt stop. Then just sat real alert and watched it fly off. We thought that was a really good test if he'll stay in when seriously chasing something.
That's hardwired instinct for ya! To get a reliable recall on a dog mesmerized by instinct...as in my herding dogs on sheep...one needs a huge foundation of positively reinforced (toys, treats, praise, whatever floats your dog's boat beyond all else) recall training in low distraction environments gradually progressing to higher distraction environments. Only then should you introduce their instinctual distraction which will be the hardest to ignore. This usually takes many months of planned training.
It can be accomplished on tough dogs using appropriate training with an e-collar. But some dogs become collar-wise and it can be extremely inconvenient to have only a collar associated recall.
You're smart...calling a dog to come when you are pretty sure they won't just dilutes the verbal cue rendering it much less useful. From the dog's POV...and we are supposedly smarter than they are so we should be able to get outta our POV and into theirs...it's actually specifically teaching your dog that he doesn't have to come when called.
Thanks -- we'll try it tomorrow if it's not pouring rain again. Anytime we can make recall training more fun is a benefit.
I like where she says to set yourself up for success and don't call "come" when you know they won't come.
Cody comes really well except when distracted by a scent in the ground, and it's like we don't even exist -- totally ignores us, so we've learned not to numb him to the word "come" when he just ignores us. He won't even be bothered by a high value treat even when we know he's hungry.
Hard not to take it personally ....lol
The fence is working really well. A goose flew only about five feet over his head, and he went bonkers and ran full speed chasing it for over an acre, then he came near the fence and did an abrupt stop. Then just sat real alert and watched it fly off. We thought that was a really good test if he'll stay in when seriously chasing something.
Awesome! Keep working on the recall. You can also try the check cord as well- always worked well for us.
An inside excercise we did (over the long winter) when the dogs were pups was to set up a chew toy or something 'of value' at the end of the hallway and I would sit at the open end (only one way in, one way out). Put the dog on a checkcord and get them focused on the high value item down the hall. As the dog bolts down the end of the hallway grab the check cord and don't let them get to it. Yell "Here Here Here!!" and pull the dog back to you. Reward them with a treat. Repeat it a few times then stop. At the end let them have their toy or 'whatever'. Next few days let them go after the toy and only occasionally stop them with the "Here here here!!" command and pull them back. Each time you give the command, and you pull them back- reward them.
For us (with hunting dogs) if my dog points a hen pheasant and the hen flushes, I don't want them chasing a 'no value' bird, so I can then recall them with the "Here, here here!!" yell.
You can use the same hallway technique for retrieving excercises too. During the spring and summer I have set up an outside 'one way in, one way out' run with t-posts and fence wire. That's where we teach them how to retrieve with wing tied pigeons.
Today he did a funny fence test--- there was a rabbit on the other side and he laid down very flat to the ground and tried to see if he could inch "under" the fence between the flags. He would lay real flat on the ground and then try to inch up very slowly and attentively but would get the buzz sound and stop.
He seems to know now not to get shocked by going past the warning noise, but he would just creep inch by inch to see if he could flattened down enough could sneak underneath it somehow. He really wanted that rabbit.
My understanding of a check cord is a long line (30 to 50 feet), made of rope, webbing or poly line and sometimes with knots created along the length in order to prevent the cord from slipping through your hand when you pick it up.
Today he did a funny fence test--- there was a rabbit on the other side and he laid down very flat to the ground and tried to see if he could inch "under" the fence between the flags. He would lay real flat on the ground and then try to inch up very slowly and attentively but would get the buzz sound and stop.
He seems to know now not to get shocked by going past the warning noise, but he would just creep inch by inch to see if he could flattened down enough could sneak underneath it somehow. He really wanted that rabbit.
Just an FYI- Our fence started with the warning tone collar when they got close, then the shock as they neared the wire. Our Basenji's figured it out and would sit all day and let the collars give the warning tone, then when there was no tone (battery dead)- they knew they could cross the line.
We had to go to a shock only collar- no warning tone.
They are a very, very intelligent breed. If your boy is smart, and prone to run- watch for that.
How funny. Smart dogs!
Yes, Cody was definitely trying to figure someway to outsmart the fence.
But hopefully the battery won't go dead. We went with DogWatch because their batteries
Last for two years instead of a few months like the others.
We'll see.....
Right now he is lizard crazy and so absorbed in the juniper landscape bushes trying to get them for hours, even the rabbit that teases him doesn't distract him from his lizard focus.
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