I recently made this video as an entry for Susan Garrett's recaller course contest. We weren't selected as a finalist but I really like this. It reflects my journey to the wonderful relationship based training methods I now strive to use. The course is coming up again and I plan to work through it with Stella this time.
Showing posts with label recall. Show all posts
Showing posts with label recall. Show all posts
Saturday, 16 February 2013
Tuesday, 18 September 2012
Recall back to basics
A few times over the last months hubby has complained to me that Stella didn't listen to him when he walked her. I basically accused him of being to stingy with the treats but I don't think I really believed him. In my head I thought she just wasn't reacting as quickly as she would with me if I called her. I am the main dog walker in our home as I have a more flexible schedule but on days that I am busy he is happy to walk them and we often walk together on weekends.
Well ...... we were walking the dogs together last weekend and I got to witness that she really does ignore him. The dogs went racing by us and he called her and she just kept going. I called and she stopped dead and came right to me. Hubby was not amused so I suggested we work on things a little bit. I watched for a good opportunity and had him call the dogs. When they came I watched and although he did have a yummy treat in hand he asked both dogs for a sit and waited until they were both seated before he gave the treat. I gently suggested that perhaps he was confusing Stella and she wasn't understanding that the treat was reward for the recall. By the time he actually gave her the cookie she thought it was just because she was sitting there. I suggested that the second she got to him to give her the treat. He walked the dogs a lot that week as I had a horrible cold and he was on holidays and commented by the end of the week that Stella was very much improved.
Is this bribery or perhaps even a lure? Good dog training or bad? I really don't care. This is an easy fix that my husband is comfortable with. It is important for safety that the dogs have a good recall so I am more than willing to pay them for that. My husband is like most people. He loves the dogs but he doesn't care about perfect heel position or if a sit is crooked. He wants a well behaved pet that comes magically trained and so far that is working out pretty well for both husband and dogs :o).
Riley update .... We have an appointment coming up to meet the veterinary surgeon and have Riley assessed for hip replacement surgery. It will be good to have a plan one way or the other.
We were supposed to have gone to Tofino last week before parking the trailer for the season but opted to be work and fiscally responsible instead. Here are a few pics from last year.
Well ...... we were walking the dogs together last weekend and I got to witness that she really does ignore him. The dogs went racing by us and he called her and she just kept going. I called and she stopped dead and came right to me. Hubby was not amused so I suggested we work on things a little bit. I watched for a good opportunity and had him call the dogs. When they came I watched and although he did have a yummy treat in hand he asked both dogs for a sit and waited until they were both seated before he gave the treat. I gently suggested that perhaps he was confusing Stella and she wasn't understanding that the treat was reward for the recall. By the time he actually gave her the cookie she thought it was just because she was sitting there. I suggested that the second she got to him to give her the treat. He walked the dogs a lot that week as I had a horrible cold and he was on holidays and commented by the end of the week that Stella was very much improved.
Is this bribery or perhaps even a lure? Good dog training or bad? I really don't care. This is an easy fix that my husband is comfortable with. It is important for safety that the dogs have a good recall so I am more than willing to pay them for that. My husband is like most people. He loves the dogs but he doesn't care about perfect heel position or if a sit is crooked. He wants a well behaved pet that comes magically trained and so far that is working out pretty well for both husband and dogs :o).
Riley update .... We have an appointment coming up to meet the veterinary surgeon and have Riley assessed for hip replacement surgery. It will be good to have a plan one way or the other.
We were supposed to have gone to Tofino last week before parking the trailer for the season but opted to be work and fiscally responsible instead. Here are a few pics from last year.
Thursday, 17 November 2011
Recalls
I started reading Susan Garrett's blog a few years ago and quite enjoyed her philosophy of dog training. She posted a blog about dogs having a good recall that started a huge conversation and then that eventually flowed into her offering her first "5 minute formula for a brilliant recall" online course which I enrolled in. That was just before we said our goodbye to Lucy so I really enjoyed having some focus to work with Riley even if I didn't quite complete all the exercises.
She offered the course again this past spring and generously rewarded past particiants so once again we enjoyed it. The daily "games" are about building a great recall but even more than that they are a wonderful way to have training fun with your dog. I regularly use some of the games we learned to keep focus with Riley when training and Stella has also learned some of the basics. Just the other day I had made a mental note to myself to keep up the "fun" for Stella in her recalls. She has a very good recall and I need to not take that for granted especially as we move through the remains of her first year.
Susan Garrett is once again gearing up to offer the course and is running a contest for previous participants to make a video about their experiences. This is my contribution and I encourage anyone to participate.
She offered the course again this past spring and generously rewarded past particiants so once again we enjoyed it. The daily "games" are about building a great recall but even more than that they are a wonderful way to have training fun with your dog. I regularly use some of the games we learned to keep focus with Riley when training and Stella has also learned some of the basics. Just the other day I had made a mental note to myself to keep up the "fun" for Stella in her recalls. She has a very good recall and I need to not take that for granted especially as we move through the remains of her first year.
Susan Garrett is once again gearing up to offer the course and is running a contest for previous participants to make a video about their experiences. This is my contribution and I encourage anyone to participate.
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