Recall training

Hi All

We have just adopted two lurcher brothers (6 years old). We have 2 questions...

Jazz is terrible on recall....once he see's something more interesting, our treats and calling are totally blanked out. We know this can be a sighthound trait (hence the name sighthound) and we are going to make the treat more exotic...upgrading to a piece of cheese (which they like and doesn't cause tummy upset)...but does anyone else have any tips besides perseverence?

Next one - any Lure Coursing Clubs/Meets in the Hereford area? Jazz is a real chaser and we want to give him something exciting and different to do whilst wearing them both out.

Thanks in advance

I have been whistle training my dog. Step 1 is associating the whistle with the reward - so whistle blow and treat given simultaneously at first, building up to garden or long leash / rope recall, then in open spaces. But it really has been consistency, practice and perseverance for us. The reward of returning has to be of greater value than the reward of whatever else they are doing, so once basic recall is embedded, a hierarchy of treats is good. When it's a practice recall just to reinforce the learning, give a lower value treat like a toy, ear rub or whatever; but when it's a difficult recall (e.g. to come back from an exciting play or chase) a higher value treat like chicken can be given. I am sure others with more experience than me will be able to add more. I have been lucky as I have had my dog since he was a puppy, we were playing recall in the garden from day 1, and his middle name is Velcro!

I agree with the above. As well as a fantastic reward like liver, chicken or cheese the amount given is important too. If the recall was easy then a small piece will do, slightly more difficult then two pieces should be given one after the other. Build this up to giving five, or more, fantastic treats, one after the other for a really difficult recall. This can, if the dog is motivated by it, be followed with cuddles, play etc. The dog should get a real buzz from returning to a recall.

Once the recall is reliable for a while then you should give intermittent treats. On one recall no treat would be forthcoming and on the next it will. This is called being a gaming machine dispenser of treats rather than a vending machine. I withhold the treat if the recall is a little slow or very easy.

It will be hit and miss with most sighthounds but it is a life long battle

Thank you both so much for your advice.

I will be starting this today so I hope it goes well, we are lucky to have a big garden so will start there, fingers crossed!

Thanks again :flowers:

I forgot to say, make a big fuss when they come back, show how really pleased you are. I get quite frustrated at people yelling angrily at their dogs to come back - who would want to come back to that sort of a welcome? But it's the old domination thing. Positive training will win through!

And I forgot to say that only calling your dog to put him on the lead is a no no. Call him several times, reward, and release, over the period of a walk. This is so that when he has to go on lead he will not, hopefully, make a bad association about coming when called.

Adding to this, in initial training I tend to call the dog, give treats and praise, put its lead on then walk it a short way, like through a gate, then let it off again,