Rat Terriers : Hi Dawn, the best method for recall training that I have found

[Rat Stuff]

Hi Dawn, the best method for recall training that I have found

Posted by Cruzin Kennel on 11/4/2009, 11:16 pm, in reply to "posted too soon, more here"
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Is to start at square one. Put your Rattie on a 20 ft line and a martingale lead. Work him in the yard by walking the yard with the end of the 20 ft line looped over your thumb with your fingers clasped over it. Hold your hand to your chest, and just begin walking the yard, but throw right abouts and left abouts in so that your guy has to watch you and follow. They learn quickly to join up and stay in step with you. If he rebels and runs the other direction, he will get a natural correction but this is best I feel because they learn that they are connected even though they are within a 20 ft radius and you didn't have to do a a thing. This lesson should be practiced for a week. Then I switch to the 6 ft lead and do the same exercise with only a 6 ft radius. Lots of right and left abouts cause them to watch closely and heel beautifully as well as be responsible for themselves and use their bright lil minds. I am very careful with a rattie to make corrections very gently and give lots of verbal praise while we work. Rats are sensitive and need a gentler hand than a cattle dog, or a Rott like I was used to. I guage it by the individual. Take off from there and work your obedience work with him. Lots of leash time will quickly bring him in to connect up with you and learn that he is not the master of his own destiny. Running free is a very serious and dangerous situation. I'm sure I don't need to tell you this though. Good old fashioned obedience work is the key to success with this baby. Obedient dogs are safe dogs. I know many believe in treat training a dog, positive motivation is what it is termed. My two contentions with that method are that giving up food is a subordinate behavior in a dogs mind. A smart lil guy like yours will doesn't need mixed messages. As well, I want a solid recall and down stay on my dog. If I were out and about with them in an off lead area and a rabbit were to run in front of them and shoot across a busy road, for example, I want my dog to drop if I say down or turn and come back to me if I say come. (I have had this happen) It is seldom we have a doggie treat in our hand to bribe a dog with when we are in a situation like that. Solid obedience training can save a life. It wounds like you have done lots of training, so I am sure you will get this hiccup ironed out.