Friday, March 16, 2012

Recall Revisited

So, with a fiction project in the works and the ebook notion dancing in my head like a sugarplum, I've been re-reading my Command Clinics, trying to have a critical eye. It's hard, when you think you've done well!

For instance, Command Clinic: Recall. I wrote this entry in June of last year, before much of anybody was reading or following. Recall is a super important thing, though, and one of the questions that gets asked a lot in the Internet circles I travel through and lurk at. Just how people think a dog should magically listen to them just 'cause, people also magically think that of course dogs come when they're called. If a dog doesn't, that means the dog doesn't like them personally, right?

Well, no.

You know how you were a kid, and really involved in a game with your friends? Or beating a level of a video game (or at the very least getting to a freaking save point)? That's what being on a walk is like to a dog. I don't even have a point of comparison for the magical mystery tour that the Outside World is for a dog, compared to how it is for us, due to their superior senses of smell and hearing. This doesn't mean we need to be louder than the world (and, for the love of God, don't be), but we do have to elbow in there to be contenders.

After all, we're people. We're smart, right? We can outsmart a dog interacting with an environment, right? So, in addition to having a unique recall cue (whistle, word, whatever), you need to think about what you have in your possession, that your dog gets from you.

1. toys
2. treats
3. affection



It was back in October that I told Elka "drop it" when she had a turkey sandwich in her mouth, and then called her to me, and she did both. While very proud of her, I assure you, I was pretty surprised. If I had a turkey sandwich in my mouth, I don't know that I would have had the same reaction. Her reward? I pulled out the treat bag and let her shove her face in and chow down for a second. Of course I don't remember anymore what I had in it that day; hot dogs, I'm sure, cheese, maybe something like pepperoni or leftover pork roast? Whatever it was, the fact that I reacted with a cue she knew, followed with praise and another cue, and then gave her a jackpot reward was what she needed! If I'd gotten angry, yelled, yanked on her long line, I don't doubt Miss Elka would have just chowed down on that sandwich, to heck with me. 

So I took a gamble (that she would listen) but so did Elka; she gambled that whatever she got when she got to me, it would be better than the turkey sandwich in her mouth. Good thing she'd never heard of Aesop's fable: "A bird in hand is worth two in the bush."  You want your dog to take this gamble. You want the potential of what you have to be better than whatever it is they've already got. Then reinforce this, time and time again, so that the one time it really is dangerously important, and you don't have a great reward right there, it isn't a dealbreaker, because of course your dog is going to recall when you ask her to. You've just got that kind of a partnership.


18 comments:

  1. Oh, I just dream of the day that Freddie will come when I call him! LOL!

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    1. Just keep working on it!

      Maybe you should get a squirrel tail or something? ;)

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  2. what a fantastic post i just love reading all the thoughts from your mind. you sound like you totally know what your doing while still admitting to us that you sometimes are just hoping to succeed. excellent!!! keep em coming xxx

    my last dog deefa found a sandwich once and i told him to drop it and he did, i was soooooooooo proud that day and i told him what a good boy he was.

    with storm i usually have a tennis ball or a frizbee with us out on walks and that works a treat x

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    1. Thanks very much! I do try to have that balance of "Of course i know what I'm talking about...this will totally work, right guys?"

      Tennis balls are great motivators!

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  3. Replies
    1. It is! Recall is definitely a huge safety precaution.

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  4. I think I have finally gotten past the "What's in it for me" to the coming without thinking. Maybe.

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    1. It comes and goes, probably! Definitely something I have to remind myself to reinforce just for fun, even if it isn't "necessary" at the moment.

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  5. Great tips! Nola is at the point that I will let her off leash, usually at the beach, and when I let her off I frequently call her back, treat her and let her go. That's whats worked best for us, I'm a better reward then the dead fish she's sniffing LOL
    Dachshund Nola's Mommy

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    1. Hey, better reward than a dead fish is pretty great!

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  6. Before I knew what "recall" or even "drop it," was, my dog Emma played with a neighbor dog as we were walking. They played with a live mouse, flipping it back and forth. I said "Emma" in a deeper voice and of course, she swallowed the mouse whole and still live - I saw the tail snake between her teeth! Egads! Got them home and called the vet. After they stopped laughing, they said to watch her for constipation. She never had a recall....and she didn't suffer from the mouse, either; poor mouse.

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    1. Oh my gosh, a whole mouse? Just like a 20's frat boy with a goldfish, eh?

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  7. Elka is so clever, and so is her Mum!!

    Now, in our house I'd definitely come despite what I was doing if Dad said Koala (that's when he gives me a big hug and carries me around the house - I love it!)….

    Mum, on the other hand, never really has anything tempting enough, she even tried Dentastix the other day to get me inside instead of barking at the Doggie guest next door, I did think about it and even came half way, then just ran away….. Tee Hee

    My Mum thinks she needs your book….. :)

    Have fun,

    Your pal Snoopy :)

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    1. "Koala" sounds like a lot of fun (and adorable!)

      Maybe your Mum needs to make meatballs. Elka really likes meatballs.

      (working on the book, not to worry ^^)

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  8. Such a good reminder that we're always working to be more interesting to our dogs than anything else. I experienced your "turkey sandwich" moment of surprise recently when I was able to recall Honey off-leash from chasing a squirrel. I was so proud.

    You're so right that it takes many hours of work. But I can't think of any better thing to work on with our dogs. Sounds like you and Elka are so in tune with each other.

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    1. Yeah Honey! I'm so glad.

      We're sometimes mor ein tune than others. It's one of those relationship things, I guess.

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  9. Frankie and Beryl both have perfect recalls ... as long as I only call them when I know they will oblige, lol:) It's something I will never stop working on or rewarding and will never take for granted when they do come as there is always room for improvement!

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    1. Well, they do say not to give your dog a cue you don't think they'll follow. I guess you have good timing ;)

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