Has Anyone Actually Been Able To Train Greyhound Recall?

[Jackandgrey]

Jilly's recall was perfect. She would never not come back, ever. All the other ones are pretty good with the exception of Jack, my first. His was dreadful but then he was my first dog and I didn't work with him as much.

[Guest FastDogsOwnMe]

That is very much the type of scene I enjoy in a Wilderness walk, some of my best of which occurred in Montana. Heaven on earth!

[cleptogrey]

a bag of marshmallows and a squawker and you have a greyhound up your .....in my house! i have been knocked over flat on recalls...

. just did a recall when annie attacked a feral cat in the yard sat. nite- bingo she was inside! let's see if it works w/ a skunk!

the obedience classes that i go to work on recalls BIG TIME- lots of distractions, lots of variations in the settings. all of the dogs that i have trained there have had fantastic recalls.

[Hawthorn]

My two both have a history of 100% recall to date, which is the most anyone can ever say, but I've worked hard to achieve and maintain that. Is this a guarantee that they'll always recall in the future? No, of course not - they're dogs not robots! Do I “trust” them? Absolutely not – I'm not going to be letting them off lead anywhere near roads, cliffs, trees or anywhere else that might be dangerous for them.

 

I think that perhaps some people just don't have the time/motivation/persistence/ability/whatever to teach a reliable recall, but this doesn't mean the dogs themselves are inherently untrainable. Personally, I love training recall because, if you do it right, you can make it so much fun for the dogs.

[Guest june]

I voted sometimes. This being said I have two ways that I call my girls; one means come right nowand I use it for obedience trials and in emergencies and they come. The other is less intense and means hey I'd like you over here which pretty much lets them know they can finish the sniff or whatever but we're going to do something interesting. They get the difference and respond accordingly.

 

I agree with what others have said, you don't have to be letting your dog run loose to have a reliable recall. You never know what might happen or when you might need your dog to come to you.

june

[Guest Greyt_dog_lover]

Probably the reason the off-leash topic is such a hot button topic is because most, if not all, greyhound adoption groups have a leash clause in their adoption contracts. Couple this with people that think since they have had "dogs" all their lives, they understand greyhound behavior automatically. I have three hounds that are recall trained with a sports whistle. The reason I went with a sports whistle is because it is a relatively unique sound (as long as you don't live by a sports stadium) as well as can be heard over loud noise (such as a greyhound traveling at 40mph with wind noise). Will they come every single time, don't know, I would hope so, but you never know. I have my hounds recall trained for the unlikely event they get out. Do I allow my hounds off-leash outside a secure area, only for LGRA, no other time, ever.

 

For those that believe there is such a thing as 100% recall, I give you:

 

TRUST ~ A DEADLY DISEASE

 

There is a deadly disease stalking your dog; a hideous, stealthy thing just waiting its chance to steal your beloved friend. It is not a new disease, or one for which there are inoculations. The disease is called TRUST.

 

You knew before you ever took your puppy home that it could not be trusted. The breeder who provided you with this precious animal warned you, drummed it into your head. Puppies steal off counters, destroy anything expensive, chase cats, take forever to house train, and must never be allowed off lead!

 

When the big day finally arrived, heeding the sage advice of the breeder, you escorted your puppy to his new home, properly collared and tagged, the lead held tightly in your hand.

 

At home, the house was "puppy-proofed". Everything of value was stored in the spare bedroom, garbage stowed on top of the refrigerator, cats separated, and a gate placed across the door of the living room to keep at least part of the house puddle free. All windows and doors had been properly secured, and signs placed in all strategic points reminding all to "CLOSE THE DOOR!"

 

Soon it becomes second nature to make sure the door closes .9 of a second after it was opened and that it really latched. "DON'T LET THE DOG OUT" is your second most verbalized expression. (The first is "NO!") You worry and fuss constantly, terrified that your darling will get out and a disaster will surely follow. Your friends comment about who you love most, your family or the dog. You know that to relax your vigil for a moment might lose him to you forever.

 

And so the weeks and months pass, with your puppy becoming more civilized every day, and the seeds of trust are planted. It seems that each new day brings less destruction, less breakage. Almost before your know it your gangly, slurpy puppy has turned into an elegant, dignified friend.

 

Now that he is a more reliable, sedate companion, you take him more places. No longer does he chew the steering wheel when left in the car. And darned if that cake wasn't still on the counter this morning. And, oh yes, wasn't that the cat he was sleeping with so cozily on your pillow last night?

 

At this point you are beginning to become infected. The disease is spreading its roots deep into your mind. And then one of your friends suggests obedience. You shake your head and remind her that your dog might run away if allowed off lead, but you are reassured when she promises the events are held in a fenced area. And, wonder of wonders, he did not run away, but came every time you called him!

 

All winter long you go to weekly obedience classes. And, after a time, you even let him run loose from the car to the house when you get home. Why not, he always runs straight to the door, dancing in a frenzy of joy and waits to be let in. And, remember he comes every time he is called. You know he is the exception that proves the rule. (And sometimes late at night, you even let him slip out the front door to go potty and then right back in.)

 

At this point, the disease has taken hold, waiting only for the right time and place to rear its ugly head.

 

Years pass -- it is hard to remember why you ever worried so much when he was a puppy. He would never think of running out of the door left open while you bring in packages from the car. It would be beneath his dignity to jump out of the window of the car while you run into the convenience store. And when you take him for those wonderful long walks at dawn, it only takes one whistle to send him racing back to you in a burst of speed when the walk comes too close to the highway. (He still gets into the garbage, but nobody is perfect!)

 

This is the time the disease has waited for so patiently. Sometimes it only has to wait a year or two, but often it takes much longer.

 

He spies the neighbor dog across the street, and suddenly forgets everything he ever knew about not slipping outdoors, jumping out windows or coming when called due to traffic. Perhaps it was only a paper fluttering in the breeze, or even just the sheer joy of running -- Stopped in an instant. Stilled forever -- Your heart is as broken as his still beautiful body.

 

The disease is TRUST. It's final outcome -- hit by a car.

 

Every morning my dog, Shah, bounced around off lead exploring. Every morning for seven years he came back when he was called. He was perfectly obedient, perfectly trustworthy. He died fourteen hours after being hit by a car. Please do not risk your friend and your heart. Save the trust for things that do not matter.

 

- by Sharon Mathers

 

Courtesy of Canine Concepts and Community Control magazine, September 1986

[Guest Servicedog]

Gwynnie does not ahve good recall. I bought the Really Reliable Recall book and DVD, hoping to get busy and train her for recall. Now that winter is finally over and it is nicer in the frozen tundra (NW Minnesota) we are outside more and everything is more pleasant.

 

I had a horrible scare a week ago. When the weather is wet, I let Max and Cedar go free, they come back reliably and are Labs, and Gwynnie goes on a tie out. The knot came loose, and she had quite an adventure!

 

The short story is that I finally got her back at 11 pm after miles of driving and walking, and getting neighbors out of bed to help me. They were wonderful. I live in the country, and we do have coyotes. Saw the entire north side of my property by flashlight and now know there is a LOT of buckthorn out there!

 

Gwynnie has a nasty cut on her inner thigh and a bad scrape, and is on antibiotics. My vet wouldn't stitch it because he said the suture material is thicker than her skin there. That is probably another reason she was a hunting reject.

 

She had a shower when she got in the house, and I picked many many ticks! She was very tired and glad to be home!

 

She is here at my feet at work, where she should be. She wrote a note to Mike and Fritz, his wife, and said she would try very hard not to have an exploring adventure again and would stay home and take care of Mom. A gift card was enclosed.

 

Needless to say, she has not been tied out again. I will be working on recall this summer. It is harder when your dog is not treat motivated.

 

Mary and Gwynnie

[Guest Greyt_dog_lover]

Going on the assumption that you adopted your greyhound through a group, did they tell you never to tie out a greyhound? If they didnt, I will tell you, Dont tie out a greyhound. Because of the quick acceleration of greyhounds (close to top speed - 45mph in less than 30 feet or so) it is very dangerous to the hound. Should the hound decide to sprint after something, have 10 feet to accelerate, the sudden jerking of the leash could break the hounds neck.

 

Chad

[Guest FastDogsOwnMe]

I wouldn't get a dog from anyone who would make me sign away my rights as an owner of a pet in order to adopt, but that's really besides the point. As mentioned by myself and others, you can teach a recall without ever intending to let your hound off leash outside of a securely fenced area. Many people do just that.

 

I do agree the only 100% recall dog is one who dies of natural causes and never once disobeyed a recall. My old boy is working on it

[Guest der_Windhund]

Going on the assumption that you adopted your greyhound through a group, did they tell you never to tie out a greyhound? If they didnt, I will tell you, Dont tie out a greyhound. Because of the quick acceleration of greyhounds (close to top speed - 45mph in less than 30 feet or so) it is very dangerous to the hound. Should the hound decide to sprint after something, have 10 feet to accelerate, the sudden jerking of the leash could break the hounds neck.

 

Chad

Yes thats one of the first things I learned! Thanks

[Guest Greyt_dog_lover]

Going on the assumption that you adopted your greyhound through a group, did they tell you never to tie out a greyhound? If they didnt, I will tell you, Dont tie out a greyhound. Because of the quick acceleration of greyhounds (close to top speed - 45mph in less than 30 feet or so) it is very dangerous to the hound. Should the hound decide to sprint after something, have 10 feet to accelerate, the sudden jerking of the leash could break the hounds neck.

 

Chad

Yes thats one of the first things I learned! Thanks

 

 

Sorry, that comment was for "servicedog"...

[Guest Greyt_dog_lover]

Fast dogs,

You are so right, I would never work with those horrible adoption groups that try to get the greyhounds placed into responsible homes and do a little bit of education along the way. Absolutely horrid!

[NeylasMom]

Like gazehund I didn't answer the poll b/c I think the answers are a bit too cut and dry, but yes, I believe Zuri has a reliable recall. I'm able to call him off mid-chase when he is running top speed after my friend's lab so I feel pretty confident his recall is solid, but we still work on it constantly and will for the rest of his life. I actually do intend to switch from a verbal command over to the whistle that someone else mentioned as ultimately I think that will be a better option for us, although I'm happy to have the verbal command as a back up in case I don't have the whistle handy.

 

In case you're wondering, I plan to teach that separate from our current recall. My plan is to simply blow the whistle before mealtime every day. I can't think of a better reward really given that we feed raw so meals are huge chunks of meat.

 

Fast dogs,

You are so right, I would never work with those horrible adoption groups that try to get the greyhounds placed into responsible homes and do a little bit of education along the way. Absolutely horrid!

Really? This isn't what fastdogs said at all. She simply said that she would like to retain her right to offlead her dogs if she so chooses and would not adopt from a group that would ask her to do otherwise. Frankly, I appreciate that she chooses who to adopt from based on her beliefs rather than simply signing the contract and then doing it anyway (ie. lying).

Edited May 5, 2011 by NeylasMom

[Guest Greyt_dog_lover]

Neyla,

Fastdogs has made many anti-adoption group comments across many threads here on GT. I am reading between the lines... Regardless, the comment was directed at her, not you...

[BootsyCollins]

This thread is asking specifically about teaching recall, not off-leading. So stop trying to make it a hot button thread, please.

[Guest Wasserbuffel]

I work on recall with mine but she's far from perfect. Twice she has escaped, (different enclosures) and while she was busy having fun during both escapes she didn't respond to recall one bit. The first time she was bouncing around in some underbrush after something. DH was able to pick her up to capture her, but she wasn't listening at all. The second time she ran around the farm house where we were staying a couple times and was only stopped by running into a barbed wire fence.

 

I didn't have a squawker either time, so I'm not sure how she would react to one in an actual escape situation. I bought one to train with after the second escape, so far she responds astoundingly fast to the squawker when we train with it.

[Guest FastDogsOwnMe]

I'm not anti-adoption group. If someone signs the dotted line then that's his or her choice. I wouldn't sign that particular dotted line. I have problems with blanket "must have a fence" and "no kids ever" and similar policies. I have a problem with anti-racing adoption groups. But aside from that, I don't have a problem with groups at all, and I routinely give them time, money, and any help I can offer. Even the groups I don't agree with do great work placing hounds, and I don't think I've ever seen anyone argue that. NO WHERE did I say adoption groups are horrible or that education is bad. Education is everything! Making people SIGN a contract not to off leash their hound in safe areas with ample training is NOT educating. Advising people that many Greyhounds will NEVER be reliable off leash and the owner needs to use extreme caution is educating.

[Guest Audeamus]

Gir has a decent recall, it's something that we're working on all of the time. Like you I have an Alberta coyote hound/sight hound cross that I did not get from a group, and I've had him since he was roughly 6 months old. We have had our ups and downs, he has escaped from people watching him before ( there's nothing like getting a call saying this person has your dog when you're 2 hours away from home. Tags do work). Personally I live on two busy cross streets in a city; Gir needs to 1) know his name and 2) have a decent if not better recall in the event that he does get out. Yes he would have to get out of a security door and he does know/like the people who run the bar below us he'd probably wander into but I'd rather be much "safer" teaching/working on a recall and teaching him his name.

[Guest BrianRke]

My 2 boys will come to me when I call them, The girl will only if she feels like it. I would NEVER try it outside a fenced area. Not worth the risk.

[Guest GreyHawk]

Do I allow my hounds off-leash outside a secure area, only for LGRA, no other time, ever.

 

Well that's alright then ... no risk there

Edited May 6, 2011 by GreyHawk

[Guest Greyt_dog_lover]

Greyhawk, do you know what LGRA is?

[Guest GreyHawk]

Do you know what hypocrisy is?

[Guest Wasserbuffel]

Where was Greyt_dog_lover being a hypocrite? He would be if he claimed he never let his dogs off leash no matter what and then did. Giving people information about why it is dangerous is not hypocracy, even if you do it yourself.

[Guest Swifthounds]

Way to make a train wreck out of an important topic, people. Why draw attention to an oft-overlooked and potentially life saving skill when we can turn this into another great debate about off leash greyhounds and get the thread locked...

[Batmom]

What's wrong with drawing attention to the fact that many people who trust their dogs to recall end up with big vet bills and a corpse, or an unending, heartbreaking search? Nobody's said not to train recall. Couple people have simply given some cautions in relying on it.