Hi all

Our lovely little staffy puppy is now almost 15 weeks old and we are starting to train her now.  We have managed to get her to sit on command (most of the time anyway!!!) without giving treats every time and she is starting to grasp the "lie down" command.  She understands what "no" is. My question is, how do you teach the recall??  I really want to be able to let her off the lead when we are out walking but there are so many distractions and I'm worried she won't come back when called.

I have an extendable lead for her and if she gets to the end of the lead and I crouch down and call her, 9 times out of 10 she will come back and I make a fuss of her.  How do you know when they are ready to be let off the lead and won't run away when called???  I don't know what I would do if I lost her...

xxx Ria xxx

Little pups Im told tend to stick with their owners when out so if she answers her name and call in the house and garden 10 out of 10 it should be fine until she hits 6 months when independence kicks in and pups turn into teenagers with wander lust. At this point owners need a long line ( a flexi is good too) eyes in the back of your head to prevent a hi ho into the sunset and a good way of getting dogs attention. At the moment make sure she associates your call with something nice like food/games etc and let her off lead in a fenced environment for your sake at first.

Instead of a flexi, have a long trailing line, about 50ft of it, you can buy it off the roll at the hardware shop, and then carry on with what you have been doing.  Lots of praise and really yummy rewards for coming and if she doesn't come you can stand on the line to prevent her from running off.  (Put some knots in it so it doesn't slip underfoot) Don't make her come - better if she chooses to.  It is also better to keep your pup behind you. In other words keep changing direction so that she has to follow you and not the other way around.  If you follow your dog about, especially on a flexi they think they are teaching you to do a recall.  ;) Keep a special toy as well for playing with when you are out but stop the game when she still wants more and send her off to sniff or say hi to a freindly dog.  That way she is more likely to return to you for the promise of another short game.  Stay positive at all times and don't call her if you think she is unlikely to come.  Just stand on the line and walk up it to her if you need to.
Sally
wrote this ages ago and then we had a power cut before I could send it.