I have a common problem with my dog, a poor recall. I am about to start using a long line instead to avoid the dog being able to disobey the command. I also only call once and then if there is no response, I will gently tug the line. Does anyone have any extra tips to ensure I get a good response from my dog. I am using tasty treats as my dog is not really toy orientated. I am also practising the recall in the house and garden.

Thanks
Kerry

Welcome to the forum Kerry.

You have the right idea :-) But, you need to give your command and tug the line at the same time. Making sure that you actually pull the dog completely back into to you.This way you have control and are insuring that he understands that you want him to return to you.

If you recall him and then leave it a second before you tug the line, he will think that he can hesitate before he responds. He must learn that when you call, he responds immediately ... EVERY time.
When he gets back to you, give him lots of praise (and/or treat).

Let us know how you get on :-)

Leigh

Must be where I am going wrong with the Boomerang:D I thought you had to give them the opportunity to comply, then pull!

I had her back as an untrained teenager, and she is quite good, but will occasionally say sod you, wait until I am ready :(

She is getting better and better, having had her 2nd birthday last week, she is getting less inclined to act first think second!

For them to comply,you have to teach them what you expect them to do first ;-) and even when they are *taught* they will still stick a couple of digits up at you on occasions....lol :D

Tell me about it!!! :D

I was wondering how old your dog is? Sounds like an adult? One thing we do is, out on walks we do lots of change of directions, hide and generally make ourselves a bit unpredictable so that our dog tends to keep an eye on us, and when we call we do call just the once and walk away.....or on occasions we have run away to get her attention. She then charges back to us and gets a treat, it works very well when the dog is off lead. We now also use the Kong as a reward instead of treats as it works better when she is too distracted to guzzle Sainsbury's Cocktail sausages LOL :)

She is just turned two, but came back to me as an untrained teenager, so she had learnt to please herself. All those methods work, I would say they are standard approach for a clever independant breed like Elkhounds, lol, you have to keep em guessing! It is just the selective defiance that raises my blood pressure :D Her mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother have been known to be selectively deaf, but not so blatant, they at least pretend they didn't hear. Little madam will just stare at me, and raise two fingers when she has a mind, which to be fair is less and less now.

Ooh sounds as if you are having fun then! And sounds as if she is getting better anyway....you sound pretty clued up Brainless but can I offer a thought? Is it possible she is picking up on your frustration? (ie can she see you turning a nice shade of purple as your blood pressure goes up?).

From what you have said it seems it is sort of "genetic" or a bit of a breed thing as they are independent, but, could she be reading you and either thinking "Ooh heck, not going back to Mad Purple Person", or else could she be getting fun out of you being purple?! ;)

Dogs are so clever at reading our body language aren't they....anyway as you say if she came back to you as an untrained teenager then good on you for taking her back, and sure she will learn to recall with your perseverance :)

I think it all depends on what you want from your dogs. I work my dogs and in the course of their 'job' I require them to *think for themselves* every now and then. If they didn't think for themselves in certain circumstances, and needed to look to me for guidance ..then they could not do their job efficiently. I require an obedient dog but not a robot :-) Leigh

Right Leigh I think you are a good candidate for an Elkhound, contrary to popular beleif they can be trained to be reasonably quiet, three pups I bred are competing in Obedience, at the lower levels, Exemption, Beginners and Novice!

It is the reason i had them, I want a friend no a slave, and they are a challenge when they think faster than you :D

Yes, but are they soft mouthed and can they point ;-)
Add to list of things to do:
Find out when the Elk Season is ?? LOL

Definately soft mouthed, as one of my bitches brings me fallen flegdglings, but retrieving seems to go with them seeing some point to it :) I think they would point, squirrels for sure, but they are great air scent dogs. A gentleman in poland (now sadly deceased) used them much as an HPR, and for Boar. He maintained in the winter they were more useful than the GSPs that were most popular with the hunters. He convinced a few people, but the hunters are a conservative lot, and like their HPR and Bavarian Hounds, polish hounds and Wire dachs. but you were only leg pulling weren't you? In the states they do a lot of different things with them, hunting of various sorts, (rough shooting) as well as Agility and Obedience. Sadly in UK, with the emphass on presision shown by the Border Collies, and the traditions of the shooting Gundog, they have very few owners work them in any way. I know of one that belongs to a gamekeeper that deer stalks, and some that 'pick up', and some working Obedience and competing in Agility.

No, I wasn't pulling your leg :-) I find learning about the different breeds working capabilities very interesting Brainless. :-) I have friends in Europe who use them (and Spinone/Bracchi) for Elk. I would think that their coats would give them a greater advantage over GSP's in Europe. The hunting season over there does get just a tad colder than here doesn't it :D Most breeds of dog point to some degree and it can be encouraged in non *pointing* breeds.Do you find them noisy? I believe that they are required to give tongue when hunting so that the hunter can locate them and their quarry?
Questions, questions :-)

Leigh

Elkhounds can be noisy if not discouraged, and trained. Living in a housing Estate i cannot afford to have overly noisy dogs. I have never had them howl. I use a water squirter to distract, and give negative reinforcement if they do not shush on command. I cannot abide vociferous dogs, like next doors Jack Russels!

They are quiet while trailing the quarry, once it is at bay they bark, if it moves off again then they are quiet once more, you know they are onto something as they often do that sneezing type of breething (like hyperventilating). My dead friend proved them as being quite superior following cold blood tracks over all sorts of terrain. I haqve seen them hunting on video, they do not attack the quarry, but annoy it by circling and barking. I have also seen a video of them hunting Feral pigs in Newzealand, which are considered a formidable foe. It is the lightness on the feet and inate sensibleness that keeps them alive.

The Norwegians use two types of hunting bandhund (0n harness) and Loshund (loose). Some hunters (I have been told) that favour the brains required to be loshunds will not use a dog who only works bandhund. A bandhund could be masking a too gung ho attitude (which would get a loshund killed) or be not as brave or smart, as being under direct control of the hunter. I would also hazard a guess that loshunds need to be somewhat more biddable, to be useful. The majority of recent Imports to UK have been from Loshund hunters.

Oh its definately the latter. lol :D she is a wicked girl, this is the dog that will Rugby tackle its handler in a Ch show group ring, just for the hell of it, or in a stakes class jump two feet in the air land and carry on without breaking stride. If you aren't paying sufficient attention in the ring you will get your trousers/jacket grabbed, but when you look down to say no, you are sure you imagined it, as she is being an Angel!!! she has bags of confidence and personality, she is the most affectionate canine, but oh so willful. the worst of it she does it so appealingly :)

LOL .... she sounds like my type of dog Brainless! Give me *spirit* ANY day.... never a dull moment :D Enjoy her. Leigh

I do love her dearly, probably because of her cheek!!!!! :D

Totally agree folks, I hate seeing "robot" type dogs.....can't see the point really.