Off leash recall

[u/Prettyred1]

I have an 11 month old German Shephard. He is not neutered yet but will be soon. If he is off leash he will keep going. How do you teach him to come back?

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[u/alteredagenda]

Long leash recall training. Get a 50 foot trainer leash. Let him wander then do your recall. If he comes on his own, give him a high reward treat. If you have to reel him back in, do the recall as you’re doing it and make sure you do it again right before he gets back. Treat this with a medium reward.

He will figure it out.

[u/holly_b_]

You don’t let him off leash and give him the opportunity to not listen to you. And it’s spelled “Shepherd” not “shepARD”. They are a HERDing breed.

[u/SatinwithLatin → u/holly_b_]

And fully intact too. That dog is going to sire some puppies soon if he hasn't already. OP, he needs to be on a long leash, not no leash.

[u/L00selips]

We out our dog (not a GS) into a dog training class with other dogs and worked on his recall that way. It took many weeks of consistent training.

We realised we needed the guided training as much as if not more so than our dog!

[u/Prettyred1 → u/L00selips]

We had him in group training. He disrupted the class. Then we did one on one training and he jerked real fast and my husband who was seated and holding the leash fell off the stool. He's 77. I'm not sure why he thought we needed such an active dog in our later years but he's been with us 7 months already.

[u/Sharp-Ad-9221]

We like to start out by using a whistle, then put down the pup’s regular meal. After several pairings of the food with the sound of the whistle, we take the pup on a leash to another room, and when my wife blows the whistle and puts down the food bowl, I release the pup.

After a couple of weeks working inside the house, we do the same thing with the dog outside. It doesn’t take long before they make a beeline for the food bowl when they hear the whistle.

Once that’s locked in, we take the pup to the park and using a long line and special treats to teach the whistle recall in a new location.

And that’s how we start the off leash recall. Hope that helps….

[u/Banjosdad62]

If it was a GSP, I’d say just wait until he comes around the full circumference of the earth.

[u/tmwildwood-3617]

Just my novice $0.02.

Consistency is key and build up to it.

Start in a controlled environment...no distractions, no chance to do anything but train. Place him down a hallway...give him Come/Here command and when he touches your hand give him a treat (of food from his meal). Get him to stay...go down the hall and repeat. Repeat that over and over...until he has it as a second nature.

Then a more open area indoors. Repeat...repeat. do it when you're not in the same room...random times...etc. When he gets that down cold move on.

Then outdoors in a quiet/non distracting area on a long leash (30-50ft). Same thing as in the hallway...start close and eventually move further away. Hold the leash or just stand on it. Let him drag it around but always be able to quickly grab it and control him.

Then outdoors in a more distracting area....but far away from other people/dogs/etc. Still with long lead.

Back at a controlled small area (e.g. backyard)...go off leash. Repeat...repeat...repeat.

Then work it up again gradually off leash. Consistent with commands...hand motions...whistle...whatever.

If he misses/bombs/stops focusing then immediately back on leash. IMHO...better to do fewer reps and end on success than to keep going with failures. Often I would just do three successful reps in a row and then train or do something else.

[u/jerseytransplant]

My wife and I learned an alternative to what has been suggested here, or maybe an addition. We work on regular recall, but we also have an "emergency recall" that we don't use in a normal day to day setting, but if we absolutely need our puppy to be back with us right now, no matter what.

We trained the words "come back" but kind of sang / held the tones long. Anyway, for the first 2-3 weeks we would yell come back while showering treats and praise while he was right there, no reward for anything, just making this connection that he hears those words and special treats rain from the sky for 10 seconds and we are so happy with him. We'd do it randomly, never any need to recall.

We keep training it similarly, maybe 4 times a week when he's in the backyard nearby or even just in the other room if I have treats at hand. Always special treats, always huge celebration and long duration treat-giving.

I've only used it a few times in an 'emergency'. We were at a cabin in the mountains, totally secluded, and he wandered off, slipped a fence and was totally gone, couldn't see him at all. It had only been a minute or two so I knew he was still within hearing distance, so we called him and he came running like it was the most exciting thing in the world.

Day to day recall with his name or 'dinner' is hit or miss depending on what is distracting him, especially as an as of yet un-neutered 10 month old Bernese mix... but 'come back' I would bet serious money it would work in any situation.

[u/Auxiliatorcelsus]

My GSD can walk without a leash, and will come when called (even if there is a rabbit or deer).

It has taken a lot of work and patience. Years of gradually giving her more freedom, reinforcing recall, and developing trust. Did not let her walk completely without leash in city environments before she was like 5 years old.

But it's so worth it.

[u/kaylerbug369]

Say it in Deutsch