Our 9 month choc labrador is a nightmare when it comes to RECALL. He ignores everything I say, do and even his treats/food. We go to pup training but we haven't started recall there yet. I'm desparate for some good sound advice that might actually work please, please, please can anyone help:(

At 9 months your dog is entering those wonderful teenage years - the hormones are driving him far harder than anything you can offer :(  The best thing to do is to revert to keeping him on a long line (a length of washing line will do) so you are least in a position to reinforce your recall command and remind him you are NOT to be ignored. it doesn't have to be held all the time, just be close enough that you can step on it and get him coming in the right direction - remember to keep your voice pleased and welcome him with wide open arms and preferably in a crouched position so he doesn't feel threatened.

Hello,

My advice is to invest in a long-line, or a tracking line so that you can ALWAYS get the dog back when recalling.  A long line looks a bit like a very long lead, I use a 30 foot one on my 9 month old lab.  Put it on as well as the lead, when you let the dog off lead, leave the long-line on, but keep hold of the end of it.  Have something really tasty as a special treat.  Call your dog, and run backwards, still holding the line.  When he starts running towards you, reel in the line and reward him at the end with a treat, then praise him and let him off again. 
The biggest reward for most dogs, other than treats, is being let off to play again. If, when you call him, he ignores you, turn round and crouch down.  As long as you keep hold of the end of the line, he's perfectly safe- he can't go anywhere, but if he thinks that you're 'doing something exciting', he'll probably come to investigate.  Again, treat him, praise and release.
Have a go - I've always found that it works pretty well.  IMHO I have to say that I'm a bit surprised that you haven't started the recall yet, we teach it from the word 'go'- the sooner you start, the quicker it takes.
Anyway, let us know how you get on.
Ali :)

you don't need a tracking line or anything.  As you haven't yet coverd it at your classes yu will want to start right from the beginig.

While on a normal lead step the distance of  the lead away in frount and call you dog into you and walk backwards calling the dog and gently leading him with the lead.

Rox

What Roz says is probably what you will do when you go to classes.  Just don't get frustrated for now and wait to see how he goes in class.  He might surprise you!!??!!  You will learn the recall right from the very beginning.  Good luck I hope you crack it!

hi  labmad, (assuming you are talking bout me but presses wrong letter!!!)

It is what you should learn at classes as it is what I have done with all my dogs.

nly once used a tracking lead but that was from sending the dog away as it is very long and they need a skill to use!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rox

You used a tracking line to send the dog away?

yes.  so i had controll of how far she went.  otherwise she was going away but then decideing that she was far enough to charge as far away as possible as quick as possible and have "fun"!!!

Rox

Hi Rox sorry about changing your name for you!  That's how my dog learnt a recall.  On a normal lead, walking in front of him and then calling him to me and playing or rewarding with a treat.  Have you seen Mary Ray, she uses like a bungy type rope thing to teach sendaways..obviously not a springy one..just a long line.  She ties the dog up to something and sends him away.  It obviously works then if she does it!

Er before everyone starts attaching their dogs to a bungee and catapulting their dogs to a sendaway point I think it is important to point out that Mary Ray does no such thing!!!!!!!

She uses a bungee rope to catapult a toy so that the dog is more motivated to go out!  She does NOT attach anything to the dog and I have never seen anyone attach anything to a dog for the purposes of training a sendaway; if they have I would be intrigued to know the reason and how it helps!

oh yes it was the toy! I forgot to mention that! But she does tie the dog up on a long lead too I have got the video! oh god I didn't mean to tie the dog up to a bungee rope!!

:D :D :D

I have seen her do it in the flesh so to speak; it is not a method I would use myself but then in Working Trials the sendaway is a little longer than the obedience stagger out to 50 yards :D

God I had a vision of dogs on bungees then because that! it's a good job your here tohme!

Ok,1st practise at home iside on the lead. 1st take 1step,call ,when he comes praise & reward, it is Really important that he moves on the first call, if he dosent be quick ,to give a gentle tug with the lead.
be interesting & exciting to come back too!
Anyway over the next few days build it up till you are a few steps away[link some leads together],you can do it all over the house & in the garden, dont be afaired to take a step back if there is a problem.
then start to do it ,on the lead ,on your walks wher ther are other things going on.Remeber to really keep the praise & rewards going!when he responds have a real fun game so he thinks what a interesting person you are!
over time when out build upto along line.

Try not to call him when you know that hes going to ignore you! this wiill only teach him to ignore his name!
Also teach an INSTANT DOWN! if you cant get them back then a stop can SAVE a life

Please can someone tell me how to teach an instant down? Ellie is 9 months and struggled to learn down, but she is starting to get there, but as her recall isn't too good i would like to be able to do this. My other dog sometimes will, (2 year old border collie, who has done 15 months or so worth of training classes, so i would expect it by now!!) but i really need tips on how to teach it from the beginning as a specific exercise.

To teach down start at home. Take a comfy seat near a coffee table with a pot of  really good treats. Get dogs attention ie rattle pot and place treat under table and as dog goes for treat draw her gently under the table with lots of praise. Once shes going down under the table after the treat 10 out of 10 times, add the command and signal for down. Once she gets the idea lose the table and use your signal/down. When you get a 10 out of 10 response to down inside its time to go outside on the lead and practice in every possible situation. After a 100% response rate on the lead, try it off lead. Distraction levels can be upped as you get to the end of each stage, and you offer treats for the best responses as you go along. Its easist to get the down when the dog is running towards you first then go for a response when shes facing away. Make it fun, use the best treats possible and it dosent take as long as it does to describe it! :D We used it to stop Manic Morse charging into trouble, and still use it as an emergency measure when my tone of voice tells him its vital to obey.