Emergency Recall (as promised) from dr2

[dr2little]

Originally Posted by adojrts

EXCELLENT!!!!!!!!!!!!
Agreed, most of us manage at one time or another to screw up the recall and then it doesn't work when we need it the most.

I am certainly going to train this, just another very valuable tool. Now I have to come up with a word.........going to ask my Hub and son they both have a wicked sense of humor and will love coming up with a word.

Do we have permission to print it off and pass it on to others or to cross post it to other forums??

Thanks again
Lynn

Yes Yes yes!!!!!!!!

A few words or series of words that class/private clients have come up with lately are -

Scooby-doo
Danger
Pickle
Red Zone
You're Nakid (lol)

The term should have some sharps in it, like the word PICKLE does, and should only be heard during ER or ER practice. It should also be easy to repeat several times in a row without getting tongue tied. ER should be practice with the same tone and urgency that you would use during a REAL EMERGENCY.

[jess2416]

This was a great post I started on it a couple of months ago, but Im not going to say what my call word is

[animalcrackers]

Great post! Thanks for sharing.

Dr2Little, is it possible to use a specific sound (versus a phrase or word) as an emergency recall? Like a dog whistle or some other object that makes a distinct noise.

[dakota41394]

Originally Posted by sourjayne

I have read about this, and I love the idea. I'm still trying to get straight in my head how it's different from a regular recall -- don't you want the regular recall to be hard-wired, able to turn on a dime and return to you no matter what the distraction? It's confusing to me to teach two things that mean the same thing? What's the difference between them, if I may ask without sounding too incredibly foolish?

I agree with your statement that no matter what the distraction, the dog should ALWAYS come to his/her name. I, personally do not believe in the "treat " as a reward in training. I give lots of praise for the reward. The harder the exercise the more praise is given. That way the dog looks to me as the "reward" not an outside source. If the exercise is not done correctly, instead of punishing the dog by not giving the " treat " I simply do not offer praise, and then patiently show the dog the correct way of doing the exercise and lots of praise when he/she gets it right.

I also agree that teaching 2 different commands for the same exercise would be confusing to the dog.

[dr2little]

Originally Posted by dakota41394

I agree with your statement that no matter what the distraction, the dog should ALWAYS come to his/her name. I, personally do not believe in the "treat " as a reward in training. I give lots of praise for the reward. The harder the exercise the more praise is given. That way the dog looks to me as the "reward" not an outside source. If the exercise is not done correctly, instead of punishing the dog by not giving the " treat " I simply do not offer praise, and then patiently show the dog the correct way of doing the exercise and lots of praise when he/she gets it right.

I also agree that teaching 2 different commands for the same exercise would be confusing to the dog.

You'd be hard pressed to have most dogs respond to praise when a highly distracting or frightening competing motivator is present.

Conditioning a dog, or any animal to an immediate response no matter what is happening..ie, an actual emergency, is much different than a regular recall.

The emergency recall is taught is to every dog (owner) that I train in both private training and class situations and the success rate is amazing.

FYI, the regular recall is also taught using the dreded treats .... which are of course faded. The results are better than any I've seen from trainers who still falsely believe that clicker/treat training is bribery.

As for confusing, I'm actually confused as to how a dog could be confused by two different verbals...

[dr2little]

Originally Posted by animalcrackers

Great post! Thanks for sharing.

Dr2Little, is it possible to use a specific sound (versus a phrase or word) as an emergency recall? Like a dog whistle or some other object that makes a distinct noise.

You could use an tool like a whistle but the reason that I condition a verbal phrase is that you will ALWAYS have that available in an emergency.

Originally Posted by dr2little

Yes Yes yes!!!!!!!!

A few words or series of words that class/private clients have come up with lately are -

Scooby-doo
Danger
Pickle
Red Zone
You're Nakid (lol)

The term should have some sharps in it, like the word PICKLE does, and should only be heard during ER or ER practice. It should also be easy to repeat several times in a row without getting tongue tied. ER should be practice with the same tone and urgency that you would use during a REAL EMERGENCY.

I have a question. How would you be able to use some odd word when your dog is running near a road, something that could get it killed? In a dangerous situation like that that a person's first reaction is to yell the dog's name.

[Doberluv]

I agree. I often wonder why people have such an aversion to paying their dogs with something they really really love. Most dogs love food. Most dogs get praise anyhow so it's all fine and dandy, but I use the most effective reinforcer I can. And that does vary depending on the circumstance. If the dog is frothing at the mouth to go outside, opening the door to let him out is reward enough for sitting and waiting nicely. But for a really reliable recall, nothing beats a good piece of filet mignon. LOL. My Doberman will turn on a dime in mid chase of deer. I no longer have to use treats every time, but do from time to time...definitely....to keep him on his toes.

I also have more than one cue for various behaviors. Most behaviors have a verbal and a hand signal. There are two cues right there for the same thing. They're pretty good at catching onto synonyms, once they get going on the learning game.

because your paying your dog for working for you. A treat shouldn't be pay for working. It should come with no strings attached. Thats what a treat is. I should not have to give my dog a treat every once in a while to get it to keep coming every time i call for it.

[Doberluv]

Well....when you grow up and if you ever learn about animal behavior, you'll find that that isn't how it works with animals. They're not our species and if you're smart, (which....well....) you'll go with the nature of an animal and that is to do what works for him....what has worked for eons to make him survive, reproduce and evolve. Dogs are much much much more willing to perform a behavior when there's something in it for them....just like they're much much much more willing to hunt in order to eat.

But I will not argue further with you or anyone who insists on making things up rather than learning from behavioral science and experience and success of the greats.