More on recall

[Joy]

I took this video of Rajah on Monday. I recalled him when he was sniffing and I want to make it clear that when he came to me I not only gave him several treats but then released him to go back to sniff again (and he had been wandering freely for about 20 minutes at this point). I would never recall him from something interesting in order to put him on the lead. The reason I practise recalling him from distractions is so that I get an automatic response that I need when we compete in Rally. However later on the same day I had reason to be extremely glad that I had proofed Molly's recall. I took her to the river and we walked along the bank where there is a footpath next to a field but there were no livestock at all so she was off lead. We'd just got almost back to the road when suddenly from nowhere a single sheep with 2 lambs appeared. Molly jumped towards them, I called her and she immediately turned away from the sheep and came to me (and of course I put her on the lead). My heart was beating rather quickly! (I think the sheep must have escaped from another field and someone must have herded them off the road -just a small lane- into this one, as they definitely weren't there when we went in.)

Rajah at Butcher's Hole

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[HAH]

Incredible work Molly and Joy - and Rajah! I love that you explained the context, I find that really helpful. He’s fortunate to have such a sensitive trainer in you, looking forward to hearing about your next Rally adventures.

 

[Candy]

Phew! What a relief that Molly's recall was so well ingrained, a good lesson for us all in proofing. I remember years ago walking a young Solstice around a campsite in the Lake District very early one morning, off lead, when we had never come across sheep there before and I wouldn't have expected to see one then suddenly there one was! Being only about 7 months old (and Solstice !) she gave chase briefly, but came straight back when I called her. I remain convinced that this had more to do with her suddenly realising that the sheep was much bigger than her and an unknown quantity than, any training I had done, but I was hugely relieved! Good to be reminded of the calling back, rewarding, but not putting on lead technique though, it probably wouldn't do any harm to revisit this with my GGJ, just as a little brush up, very good girl though she is.

 

[Selina27]

Well done @Joy and a good reminder for us all !

I have found that having taught an emergency Stop! to be really helpful in such situations. I was extremely glad that I had a few months ago when Cassie and her spaniel pal Henry began playing in the orchard next door which was being pruned at the time. To my absolute horror I could see Cass hurtling sideways like they do towards a stepladder which had a man with secateurs at the top ! I could do nothing but bellow out "STOP" -- and she did! JUst in time, ending up swinging her backside round to sit down and face me just inches from the base of the ladder.

I can't how relieved I was! And so was Mark who was up the ladder!