Joined
·
5,442 Posts
Wow. I don't think I ever met anyone unreasonable enough to put a dog down because it hasn't learned a recall. (Probably have seen cases where they dumped them at the pound which often amounts to the same thing).
Baby puppies need to stay close to their protectors because they are vulnerable. So, they want to come. As they enter adolescence, they become bolder and want to explore. So, it's possible to have a young puppy who appears to know the recall, but is really just sticking close to security. If you have been giving your recall word in situations where the pup has the option to do something else, that's what you've been teaching her: "come if you want, if you don't want to, you have plenty of other options. So, only say your recall word in situations where you would bet a $50 bill that your pup is going to come. If you wouldn't do something else - have the pup on a long line to limit options, walk the pup down, turn and run the opposite direction to see if you can get the pup to chase you, etc. A really good little booklet to read is "The Really Reliable Recall" by Leslie Nelson which will give you a step by step of how to get a good emergency recall http://www.dogwise.com/itemdetails.cfm?ID=dtb813 Another must is to teach her to wait at the door instead of dashing through.
Baby puppies need to stay close to their protectors because they are vulnerable. So, they want to come. As they enter adolescence, they become bolder and want to explore. So, it's possible to have a young puppy who appears to know the recall, but is really just sticking close to security. If you have been giving your recall word in situations where the pup has the option to do something else, that's what you've been teaching her: "come if you want, if you don't want to, you have plenty of other options. So, only say your recall word in situations where you would bet a $50 bill that your pup is going to come. If you wouldn't do something else - have the pup on a long line to limit options, walk the pup down, turn and run the opposite direction to see if you can get the pup to chase you, etc. A really good little booklet to read is "The Really Reliable Recall" by Leslie Nelson which will give you a step by step of how to get a good emergency recall http://www.dogwise.com/itemdetails.cfm?ID=dtb813 Another must is to teach her to wait at the door instead of dashing through.
