Comments on: Relationship Truce

By: Deanna

Deanna — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 03:08:36 +0000

though i know you are right on.. it kinda stings a bit!! and what makes things even worse is i have exhausted so much money, time, different training techniques to get a reliable dog in the different venues we are working in and after 2 years, and our major agility debut she had the “zoomies”.. i can’t get her back to me. I swear i had this right!!! Susan, she comes back to me 99% of the time outside of a ring!!!!!
I don’t want to get into the “my next dog will be better,etc………..”
i need to be enlightened… bring it! =)

By: Nancy Kemna

Nancy Kemna — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 01:57:39 +0000

Hi Susan, nice thoughtful post. I sure didn’t mean to be rude, though goodness knows “accidental rudeness happens alarmingly often” to quote J.K. Rowling’s character of Albus Dumbledore. So, apologies if I came off as such.

By: Lisa Kaufman

Lisa Kaufman — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:59:09 +0000

You know, I always think my dogs have this great recall, until I am in a trial and they won’t come when called. And then I feel immensely defeated. So, yes, I need work, it appears! Have I felt awful at seminars, camps, trialing, yep. And most of the time, as I look back, I realize that it was a ‘needed feeling to have’. But I don’t enjoy having my feelings hurt and do often wonder if there is a better way. Maybe I am just sensitive? I don’t know? I am looking forward to see additional posts on recall work. I have decided to not go to many seminars anymore. I run Bernese Mtn Dogs, and usually that sets the tone. Nancy’s FB post and blog post did make me think and made me check back in w/your own blog. And I have thought a lot about it. Especially after a rough wknd w/my young Berner and feeling really crappy at the end of the trial. As my instructor says, it is the journey, right?

By: CJ

CJ — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 22:45:56 +0000

Recall is the first thing I worked on when I got my puppy (now 15 mos), but I know that there are distractions that we need more work on. I think you were right on the money talking about the relationship with your dog. I had a clear (and scary!) illustration of how much better it needs to be when my pup snapped her collar taking off after a rabbit onto the street and didn’t pay me the least bit of attention when I called her back. We were extremely lucky that she didn’t get hit, and what you talked about in your blog went through my mind right after I caught up to her. If the relationship were as rock solid as they should be I wouldn’t have had to have those moments of terror. Needless to say this is now my #1 training focus.

By: Lynne Helmhold

Lynne Helmhold — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 22:38:33 +0000

I certainly put my hand up for help!! We have ok but not great recalls, so look forward to your further posts.

By: Trudie

Trudie — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 19:15:20 +0000

Love your photo with little surprise – did anyone put their cursor on the DeCaff mouth – you get the word “kisses”
Love the video you once posted of your dogs in the pond, when you called they all got out. I’m thinking there has been a lot of Premack principle here…

By: Robann

Robann — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 18:49:08 +0000

My dogs have a strong recall response. I live in a very rural area with abundant wildlife. I can and do recall my dogs when faced with herds of elk, a bear or two, and their favorite… rabbits. However, there recalls are not perfect. They do need to be maintained and not taken for granted.

I have two rough collies with MACHS and a young terrier puppy (my husband’s). We work on each of their recalls often. We will sometimes use a variation of the “name game”, which is quite fun and also exercises the dogs very well. In this game, each human has a handful of treats. All three dogs (hungry) are turned loose in the large fenced in yard. We recall one at a time, randomly. Only the dog recalled (we use their names) gets the treat. With two people wandering at opposite sides of the yard, alot of recall practice occurs with dogs running really hard at the same time. We quit before the dogs get too tired to run very briskly on their recall.

I think the essence of your message is a very good one. Most people need some help in this area.

By: Melissa Blazak

Melissa Blazak — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 16:12:16 +0000

I also went back and read Nancy’s blog and the responses to it. I do agree that there could be many new or not so new handlers/dog owners ashamed by their dogs’ performance (justified or not) at a seminar/workshop that they paid big bucks to attend.
There are so many repeaters that know what they’re doing and how to work through problems that the struggling people might be intimidated enough not to come back.
Luckily enough, though I’ve been ashamed, intimidated, anxious, and emotional (no I’m really not a nutcase!, just my reaction to being out of my element)……..I still think the experience is worth it.

By: Melissa Blazak

Melissa Blazak — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 14:54:20 +0000

I would love more on recalls too. Perhaps a workshop???? Cross training my young standard poodle in field, how can I build a successfull recall at 75 to maybe 200 yards away (or more…) with all the distractions the outdoors brings…..very difficult for a newbie with no experience who is often confused and sometimes frustrated….will we ever get our WC or JH? Can I advance to another level? And will I ever get him to stop running up to greet other dogs?
The subtle and not so subtle pressure of some others to use an e-collar is always present whether on a discussion board or in certain training circles. I want to build on my relationship with my dog and prove to myself that I can do it.
I definately admit to doing things wrong and sometimes slacking off on training, so I never blame it on the dog.
Dissolving in a puddle of emotion is probably what I would do had I been the subject of your criticism, I have seen others though. I am a mush. Not that I think you’re mean or lack sympathy (for the dogs at least!), but because what you say is the truth and it means I have not worked as hard at the relationship with my dog as I could have and have not made being with me enough of a reward in the face of distraction.

By: Catherine Thomas

Catherine Thomas — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 13:44:21 +0000

My wonderful dog Silas died unexpectedly about a month ago. He was just short of his ninth brithday and in perfect health. Best guess is that he had a massive heart attack. He sleeps peacefully beneath a young horse chestnut tree near my house. Silas came to me at ten months old. He was a splendid teacher! His breeder had taken him back from his first owner because he had (been allowed to) run loose down a major highway in Vancouver more than once. He came with the “catch me if you can” feature very well installed It took years of work and a life time of management to teach Silas how to recall reliably and I was very careful not to test his skills. I will be forever grateful for what he taught me.
Subsequent additions to my household, Nell (aged 5) and Figaro (14 months) have very strong recalls. I will never have a dog with a dodgey recall. I love the article you wrote about finding problems sufficiently irritating to change them forever. A great recall is something that I teach and work on for the lifetime of all of my dogs. I try very hard to help my clients to realise the value of investing in recall skills from day one.
I want my dogs to have the maximium freedom and the maximium level of safety in this strange world of human beings they inhabit – it seems to me that great manners, excellent leash skills and a great recall are the cornerstones to achieving this end.
Thank you so much for your thought provoking posts,
Catherine Thomas