Just to chime in on this long thread to say I'm working on re-training Henry's recall with the method and it's brilliant. His recall was okay until he was about 5 months old (off the leash since he was 3 months), but it deteriorated rapidly and the 'come' command was clearly broken. I found this method on another site and started about a month ago, with an interruption for his neutering and subsequent restriction. I am still at the stage of using the whistle in the park only when he is already on his way back to me or when he is not playing and fairly close. I will be moving on to the long-leash final stage soon, but for now I don't want to risk him ignoring the whistle and self-rewarding by getting to do what he wants.
The other thing I did at the same time as starting this training was to reward him with a high-value treat every single time he checked-in with me while off the leash. Now he checks in far more often, and generally stays closer. The most significant thing I've noticed, though, is that the old 'come' command has been revitalised - unless he is playing with another dog, he will mostly come back to me now just with a call. It might take a minute while he finishes sniffing around, or working out if the other dog really doesn't want to play, but just as I think I'm going to have to go find him, he will suddenly barrel around the corner, ears flying, looking for me.
I try as much as possible to make him come to me, even if that means I'm standing there like a fool while he runs off with other pups. Sometimes other owners look at me as if to say: Please come get your dog. And of course if the situation warrants it, I do. But I know that if they move away with their dog and I start walking the other way, he'll come to me and not run off with them, which was a real problem before I started this training.
So now our walks are so much more fun for both of us - him running off and back again, off and back again, me striding along fairly relaxed in the knowledge that he really does know he's my dog!
