Recall Issues

[DobieMum]

I wrote another post on this girl awhile back on her toileting issues, that seemed to have fixed itself by: I have had to move into the outlaws for awhile, so the dogs are in the dogtrailer. She doesn't seem to want to mess in there, maybe it's to enclosed, we'll see how she goes when we move back into a proper home. Thanks for everyones help on that one, now I have a new problem for everyone.

A bit of history on her: She is a pet shop puppy - no I didn't get her from there, I bought her off her owners cause their dog wanted to kill her. She's had some sort of abuse in the past and is very timid cause of it and Men are the worst, she's really fearful of them. My husband has worked hard with her and now if you drop her in his lap she wil take any pats he will give her, but she won't come to him. The bloke we picked her up off seemed alright, but maybe I read him wrong??

She trains well for food and has learnt everything we've asked of her, sit, down ect. My daughter is really enjoying teaching her agility and she's obviously enjoying it, cause when off lead here, she hangs close to my daughter. But any other time, onlead she will come, but she's not happy about it, even though she gets heaps of praise. But offlead, she won't come and if you go to her, she will drop to the ground and cower. If I'm sitting out on the lawn playing with my dobie boy, she MIGHT come over and join us, but then the submissive licking starts. She gets on fine with dogs, it's just humans that she has issues with and it's cowering rather than aggressive and it's only the coming when she's called. If my daughter wants to teacher her a new trick, she really wants to learn and they both love the agility as I said.

What does everyone think????

Here's Cinder at the beach, notice the long line.

[pirate]

Sometimes the Bach flower remedies can be helpful for emotional issues. I have used them on number of occassions and have found them to be helpful. Recue remedy is the main one that a lot of people use, You can also do your own mix, have a look at the chart and work out what could help and go from there.

http://www.bachflower.com/38_Essences.htm

[DobieMum]

Sometimes the Bach flower remedies can be helpful for emotional issues. I have used them on number of occassions and have found them to be helpful. Recue remedy is the main one that a lot of people use, You can also do your own mix, have a look at the chart and work out what could help and go from there.

http://www.bachflower.com/38_Essences.htm

Thanks I hadn't thought of that, I'll give Rescue remedy a go tomorrow and see if it helps.

[lovemesideways]

First, just because a dog is nervous/timid/shy does not mean they have been abused. It could simple be poor socialisation during critical periods. (one of the Many problems pet store puppies suffer from ) So I would not assume abuse straight away unless you know for a fact.

Has her recall always been bad? Did you train it from the day you got her? There could be a negative association to the word, so change it up. Pick a new word and start totally fresh like she's a 8 week old puppy.

Don't feed her so she's extra hungry, handful of nice smelly treats (like cabonossi or cheese), wave them around it front of her nose to get her interested. Walk backwards saying your new recall word, like "Here!" and feed her as you go. Always walking backwards so she following you. This means she will be more interested as she has to "chase" the food a little, which is exciting. Plus you're reinforcing her following you and coming to you

You hold her by the collar, have your daughter wave food in front of her and say her name really excited, being as fun and interesting as possible, running backwards away. Then when your daughter calls her with the new word, you release and dog will run to your daughter (have the long line on so you can make sure she does). Daughter rewards her heavily, still moving backwards away from the dog.

Also, reinforce any and all behaviour that involves her coming to you throughout the day. She walks past you in the house. "yes! Good girl" treat. She's in the yard and looks at you at all, mark it and throw her a treat. Stop feeding her regularly and instead feed her through training.

(written on iPhone so hopefully it makes sense)

Edited January 6, 2012 by lovemesideways

[sheena]

Have you tried "shaping" her recall with a clicker.??

[DobieMum]

Thanks I give the new word a go and see if that changes things.

The clicker training,Iwe have done, hence why when on a lead it all works, might have to start again off lead at the beginning and work from there, hopefully she'll come round.