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Does My Dog Need an Emergency Recall? (Take our quiz and find out)

October 15, 2015 by sharon Leave a Comment

What is an emergency recall?

It’s a way of calling your dog when something unexpected occurs and you need your dog to come to you instantly and without hesitation: your dog jumps the fence and runs toward the skunk, OR the leash breaks and he heads toward the highway, OR she slips her lead and bolts to your neighbor’s aggressive 90-pound dog. It German Shepherd Dog barking and lungingis not for everyday use or for regular obedience training. It is something you use to save your dog’s life. (It can be particularly helpful for reactive dogs.)

Does my dog need an emergency recall?

I think an emergency recall is a terrific trick to have when you really need a miracle. I don’t know you (or your dog), so I don’t know if you need an emergency recall. Maybe your current recall is so fantastic that it functions as well as an emergency recall. To decide whether you need to train a separate emergency recall, take this quick quiz.

1. When I call my dog now, he…
a) runs to me instantly
b) meanders to me eventually
c) pretends we’ve never met

2. My dog comes when called
a) 95 to 100 percent of the time
b) 60 to 80 percent of the time
c) When the moon is in the seventh house and Jupiter aligns with Mars

3. I am confident my dog will come EVEN ifskunk in a field
a) he is in mid-chase with a squirrel/bunny/duck/deer/rattlesnake/bear
b) he has found some good poop and is deciding whether to eat it OR roll in it (decisions, decisions!)
c) I am covered in bacon, hot dogs, and cheddar cheese and yelling, “DINNER”

4. I never let my dog off leash. I am also certain he will never run out the door, escape the fence, or slip his lead.
a) True
b) False
c) Ha ha ha ha ha ha!

Add Up Your Score

If you had all “a”s — Your current recall is fantastic, and you are really on top of management and training. Your current recall might work as well as an emergency recall. On the other hand, isn’t it better to train one extra trick to save your dog’s life? You’re a great trainer, and your dog is well-educated, so you’ll probably get it trained in no time.

If you had all “b”s — You have put some work into your dog’s recall, but it’s not reliable in an emergency. Your dog is the ideal candidate for an emergency recall!

If you had all “c”s — You definitely need an emergency recall. You also need an every day recall. May we suggest our previous post on the Golden Rules of Recall?

How to Train an Emergency Recall

Phase One: Create a Positive Association with your Emergency Recall Cue

Pick a word or phrase that you don’t normally use near your dog, which will be easy for you to remember. You can use “Lottery!” “Porcupine!” “Dinosaur alert!” Make it memorable.

For two weeks create a strong positive association with your new cue by pairing it with extremely Plate with a large grilled steak and a burger.high-value treats your dog never gets otherwise. Use several pieces of smelly, moist, delicious food, e.g.,  spray-cheese, steak, stinky cheese, or hot dogs. No commercial dog treats!

  • Every day, three times a day, go right to your dog, say your emergency cue, then feed several of these extra-special treats. Then do something else. Don’t make it part of a training session. Make it a wonderful surprise. Do it in different rooms and times of day.
  • The ORDER that you do this is important: say then cue first, THEN give the treats.
  • Do NOT use your emergency cue to call your dog! This cue is for emergencies only. If you need to call your dog, use their regular come cue.
  • Sometimes say it quietly, sometimes loudly. Sometimes say it in a panicked way.
  • If your dog loves meals, use mealtimes. Right before you put down your dog’s food bowl, say the emergency cue. It doesn’t matter if she’s already standing in front of you. You’re not training the usual way where she has to earn her reward. This is classical conditioning – connecting the cue with a joyous, unthinking response.

Phase Two: Test Your Emergency Cue

After two weeks, sneak to a different room with several special treats. Say your emergency cue. If he comes running, praise and give the treats. If he doesn’t come, it’s important that you go to him right away and feed the treats. Repeat Phase One another week and then test again.Happy Golden Retriever running toward us.

Phase Three: Keep the Cue Fresh

Twice a week, when you’re POSITIVE your dog will come (do NOT test the cue if he’s barking out the window or chasing bunnies), say your cue, then feed lavishly. This keeps the cue fresh.

Using the Cue in a Real Emergency

If you ever need to use the cue, try to say it the way you practiced. When your dog turns toward you, praise lavishly and RUN in the opposite direction, calling and praising. Once you’re safe, rewards for all!

Filed Under: Pet dog training, Recall (Train Your Dog to Come when Called), Training

The Golden Rules of Recall (training your dog to come when called)

October 13, 2015 by sharon Leave a Comment

“Recall” is dog trainer lingo for “coming when called.” I am hugely invested in good recalls. Why?

  1. I’m a dog trainer. We’re all fanatical about recalls. They can save a dog’s life.
  2. I’ve had dogs with fantastic and utterly reliable recalls and dogs with mediocre, unreliable recalls. The Black Bouvier in blaze orange vest runs across frozen pond.difference in my quality of life and stress level was vast!
  3. I live in the country, where almost nobody uses leashes. I love to go for off-leash walks with my dogs, and I want to make sure they’ll come when I call (not chase a porcupine or wild turkey).

Here is my first post of recall tips. Look for more in the future!

The Golden Rules of Recall — Build a Foundation for Coming when Called

Training your dog to come when called is one of the most challenging – and rewarding – skills for most owners. To get the best possible start on your dog’s recall, follow these rules.

The Most Important Rules

  • Always reward your dog WELL for coming. Use REALLY GREAT rewards: pieces of hot dog, roast beef, stinky cheese. Smellier is better. If you don’t have treats on hand, use lots of praise, a beloved toy, a butt scratch, a chance to play. Use what your dog loves.
  • Never punish your dog for coming. NEVER scold or punish your dog when he comes to you – even if he takes too long to get to you or jumps on you when he arrives. Punishment will poison your recall; it will never be as fast or reliable in the future.
  • Never call your dog for things he dislikes. Before a bath, ear drops, or leaving for work, don’t call. Go get him. Or call, reward well, then wait 10 minutes before the unpleasantness.

Other Important Rules

  • Only call your dog when you know she’ll come. If you call and she doesn’t come, you’re training her to ignore your cue. Call her when she’s looking at you, not at the squirrel!
  • Set yourself up for success! First train recall indoors! Get in lots of repetitions when things are boring. Play hide and seek. Don’t start at the dog park, when she’s unlikely to come.
  • Say the cue once. Don’t repeat it. If he doesn’t come, get him to you with these: kissy noises, run in the opposite direction (away from him), clap, laugh, kneel and pretend there’s something fascinating on the ground. Learn from this to call when you’re sure he will come.

Additional Recall Training Secrets!

Red and white short-coated Border Collie running across a field.TIP: Praise Your Dog to All the Way to You
After you call your dog, the second he looks at you, start praising him. Let him know that he’s on the right track. Praise him all the way to you, and then give him great rewards. Good dog! Good owner!

TIP: Use Real-Life Opportunities to Call Your Dog
Does your dog come running when you pick up her bowl or leash or when you head to the car? Use these times to train her recall cue. Say, “Lucy, come!” Then, pick up the leash and take her for a walk, feed her, or take her for a drive.

TIP: Use a Long Line to Prevent Your Dog from Learning the Wrong Thing!
If your dog is off leash in the yard or on walks, and he doesn’t comes when you call, he’s getting lots of training NOT coming when called. Instead, use a 30-foot line he drags behind him. That way, if you need to get a hold of him, you can step on it – much easier than trying to catch him! (This is my favorite long line.)

Filed Under: Pet dog training, Puppy training, Recall (Train Your Dog to Come when Called), Service Dog Training, Training

Dog Training Blog Posts Coming Soon

July 28, 2015 by sharon Leave a Comment

Hello and welcome to the At Your Service Dog Training blog!

Please pardon the mess. This website is still under construction, so I have not yet written any blog posts. Look forward to seeing future posts on these and other topics:

  • Why does my dog scratch during training?
  • Train Your Dog to LIKE Wearing Gear
  • When do I use punishment when training my service dog?
  • Can any dog become a service dog?
  • Group classes or private training: Which one is right for your dog?
  • Is Management on Your Dog Training “Bucket” List?
  • And more!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

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