Firstly a massive thank you again to those of you who were so helpful in the original thread I posted re my recall problems with Dexter.

You will probably remember that SMOKEY BEAR kindly offered me some advice and suggested ensuring Dex was good and hungry before heading to the park and attempting some recall.

So last night I fed him very early and then this morning, Dexter was distinctly unimpressed to get no brekkie....

Did he die

At the park I let him off leash -
there were also other dogs fairly nearby and people appearing from time to time a distance away.

Result - A BIG IMPROVEMENT

FAB

Dex came 8 out of 10 times that I recalled him - I was even able to recall him AWAY from hurtling over to someone who entered the field we were in!

FAB

I also managed to recall him away from the other dogs!

FAB

He still ignored me on two occasions so of course we have a lot of work to do to get things 100%. But I definitely noticed a difference and am rather relieved....!

What did you do when he ignored you?

I think it's also helped that over the past week I've taken him to the park and kept him on a Flexi leash and done lots and lots of recalls while he's on that.

Just wanted to let you know and say again thank you to all of you - SMOKEY BEAR if it sounds like I'm getting anything wrong still please do tell me!

Thanks

Great so if you took out 10 portions of food, he should have only got 8.

Thus tomorrow he will be a bit hungrier, and hopefully come back quicker (that is if you are ONLY feeding on recalls and not giving him a free meal this evening?)

If you ARE going to feed this evening, it should be a SMALL one, eg a quarter of what he normally gets.

FANTASTIC

Thanks SMOKEY BEAR

Yep - he's had a small meal this afternoon but nothing until we hit the park again tomorrow.

RE what I did when he did not recall.. this is what I'm not sure about:

I went over to him and put him back on the lead and walked him away until we were where I wanted us to be and where he had failed to come to. Then I let him OFF leash again.

ABSOLUTELY SPOT ON! NEVER repeat the recall cue, as you just teach the dog to IGNORE the first one.

Is that right? I figured better not to keep recalling as on those two occasions he was busy with other dogs and was not looking my way....?

I now award you:

unimpressed to get no brekkie....

Did he die