I Can’t Recall
March 23rd, 2009
Filed in: Uncategorized
My friends recently adopted a new dog. Meet Teddy:
(Check out his back feet … he has double rear dewclaws and they’re enormous!)
Teddy is a wonderful addition to their household, but they need some help with two vexing issues: 1. jumping up, and 2. not coming when called. We tackled the jumping up behavior with my typical fix, the magical “arm cross sit,” and Teddy was a natural. We then did a little recall practice and had a serious discussion about Teddy’s behavior.
Coming when called is more than just an obedience issue … it’s all about relationship, or more specifically, the Bond you have (or don’t have) with your dog. In Teddy’s case, the relationship with his people is so new that a Bond doesn’t really exist yet. They told me hilarious stories about how Teddy was more than willing to leave the dog park with a complete stranger (someone who hadn’t even interacted with him at the park), and take off jogging with random folks on the trail.
Thus far they’ve allowed Teddy off-leash freedom when walking in the woods, since resident dog Truman has earned the privilege (meaning, Truman doesn’t take off for parts unknown and he comes back when they call).
After talking it over we decided that Teddy’s not ready for off-leash freedom. They all need time to perfect their “controlled environment” recall (in the house/in the yard/in the park on a long line), and more importantly, grow their Bond, before Teddy can be trusted off leash.
In some households, growing a strong Bond happens naturally. That’s going to be the case with Teddy and his people.
Some lucky people don’t even need to think about growing their Bond – it just happens because they instinctively do everything right. In other households … not so much.
For those folks, may I be so bold as to suggest that help is on the way?
On an unrelated note, a friend of LOTL needs your vote … adorable 4-year old Gracie (human, not canine) is in the running to win the Nick Jr. “Super Fan” contest. Take 2 seconds and cast your vote for her here. (Scroll down, look for finalists and click on the cutie who is leaning over and kissing her doll.)
