Recall

[Wyldie85]

Like buses.... I haven't posted for a while and now they all come along at once...

I wanted to get your experiences on recall. I've used the search function and it says no results on the site but I'm sure it's been discussed.

I want to hear about recall when you're out on a walk.
Spencer was well socialised from a young age 'puppy parties' and puppy classes as well as agility. He has no fear around other dogs and is such a social butterfly that when he sees another dog in the park or woods he simply HAS to go and say hello. I usually keep walking and try and make myself exciting enough to lure him away. People are usually fine but I am sure they're thinking what a badly behaved dog when I stand there calling his name and try to make him chase me.

I've practiced with treats, even really exciting stuff like fish or cheese to tempt him but he simply HAS to say hello. In the park I suppose it's not a big deal and perhaps something I will have to accept but if at some point we were close to a road or somewhere that wasn't familiar and he wasn't on his lead then he'd be gone.

Does any one have any ideas? Is this something he might grow out of or anything else I can try?

Thanks in advance,

Daniel

** - I have just seen the fixed post about whistle training. Perhaps this is the way to go... Who has had results with this method?

[Mudmagnets]

When teaching recall to my two while out, I have a pot that rattles and in it there are fish4dog squares, cubes of cheese and a few fish star treats. I let them get so far ahead then rattle the pot, they come back (not always at once, but good enough for what I want - maybe a couple of rattles are needed) give command 'sit' and give them both a treat. I then send them on their way again and repeat it over the course of the walk. Sometimes  putting the lead on, and taking off again - others not, or they think 'oops end of walk', every time I call them back. I also play a game of hiding behind bushes etc., and calling them to me. 

It's not perfection, but works most times. It helps that neither of mine want to miss out on what the other is getting 

[phoenix]

I used the whistle method that Mark (Top Barks) has on this section. Worked fantastically.  I only use it for emergency recall these days,  when he is out of sight, and originally he would get a really special treat .   He gets puzzled when someone else uses one.  And I once blew it and collected a Labrador as well as Bob!

[MUDDYBOOTS]

   
     I am not an expert but perhaps he finds meeting other dogs more rewarding than you or any of the treats or rewards you

     can offer for returning to you.When I was doing gundog training with gabby even when her recall was 90% perfect I would

     not intentionally take her were she might bump into pheasants or rabbits because I new if she chased one I would have no

     chance of recalling her off it and I did not want to set her up to fail.If she did flush a pheasant I let her chase it rather than 

     call her back and let her practice being disobedient.

     So perhaps you could find a special treat that he really likes or game that he really likes and practice your recalls were he is

     unlikely to meet other dogs.If you do bump into another dog and he goes to say hello don't recall him if you are not

     confident he will come back because it will be pointless just go over and put him on his lead.Only when you think his recall is

     100% then try it out with another dog in sight.