Need a Catchy Recall Command!

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

So we started "family Dog 2" at classes with our trainer tonight.  Must say, my guy was the star of the class (IMHO).  Of course, just before we lef for class, he was running around on our front lawn with the electrician's gloves in his mouth, refusing to "drop" and teasing/taunting and being a general brat.  We have a jeckel.hyde doodle.  Sweet, obedient, loving in doors and DEVIL INCARNATE outside, especially when he can get his jaws around any matter that fits in his jaws.  hence more classes.

Today, we had a couple of workers here installing a generator (so that LI can be assured of NEVER having a power outage again so that we can never say _ NANANANANNA  ) Anyway, even though we tried to keep him inside, he would escape periodically and he stole their tape, their gloves, their rubber gloves and ran around like a complete idiooot on the lawn each time, taunting us.  

really embarrassing.   funny that one of the workers is a dog trainer...he got Quincy to sit and stay, but even he could not get him to release the whateverwasinhismouthatthemoment item.   

I had to go to class without DH, another story since Q. pooped and I had no bag and an arm full of supplies, but I digress..

this class teaches a no kidding around RECALL COMMAND.  tonight we were told to come up with a NAME....something the dog does not hear all the time, something we would remember and something that would come to mind and be forceful and catch the dog's attention.  the idea is that in class and in practice it is used only for recall and a very high reward is then given.  so if you picture (g-d forbid) your doodle running toward a busy road and potentially about to be hit by a car, you want a word that  not only he will respond to, but that you will remember....

she actually said, OH sh_T! was probably inappropriate.

so, fellow DK-- what word works for you or do you suggest?   

[F, Calla & Luca]

I use "Here". It's supposed to be reserved only for when I strictly want them to come and it's supposed to result to result in an instant response, unlike C'mon for example. Ned to do some work on that : )

[Deborah Brown]

I'm probably not much help but we use the full name like you would with a child.  Penny becomes "Penelope" with a very stern voice.  In my experience, the sternness of the voice is a whole lot more important than what I say.

BTW, we also have a devil dog.  We call her the hellion.  She is PERFECT at training classes but a little devil when left to her own devices.  If only I could entertain her full time...

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I've heard that school of thought too and for a while I thought that it kind of made sense to have a "special" word...kind of an emergency "come".  We even worked on it a little.  I've since realized that for my guys a word they seldom hear doesn't mean much....they don't have a good enough frame of reference to process it quickly and respond.  Instead we've just worked long and hard on a reliable "come" command.  For us it seems a better alternative.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Choose a food that you (perhaps) don't eat much. Lobster? ;)

[Donna K & Quincy]

Like F I use 'here' and that works most of the time, if that fails I use 'heel' which means he is to come, circle behind me and sit at my side. I'd say one of these will work 90 percent of the time. I need to do more training.

[Pat and Traveler]

"Come" is my go-to word.  But I have a special call:  Traaaaaav....Cooommmmme.  Both words have a high-low tone that isn't used any other time, so it's two words, with two tones.  I can't say how well that would work for other dogs, but Trav responds instantly to it, and comes at a run.  I'd so love to say this response is due to my excellent training skills, but he's just always done it, from the time he was a little puppy.  I very rarely use this command, but have practiced a couple of times when he was on the other side of the yard.  It works!  Thank you, great god of dogs!

[Pat and Traveler]

I'll never forget being at the park one time, standing with another dog owner, watching the dogs.  Trav and his dog started running after another dog's ball, and I called Trav with his special "come" call.  He came racing to me.  The other dog owner had been talking rather patronizingly about his dog training methods, but his dog was still running after the ball and right beside him was this unlikely looking pair demonstrating a perfect recall.  Sweet, that's what it was...just sweet.  LOL

[Bonnie and Kona]

Now that was a triumph! Congrats Pat and Trav. 

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

That's a great story Pat! 

[Pat and Traveler]

Thanks!  I just have to smile every time I remember this incident. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Nothing sounds more "I mean business" than the German commands that are used with most police dogs, and it's doubtful that Quincy will hear any of them at other times in daily life. :)

Here's the list: http://anacapaworkingdogs.com/Training_Commands.htm

Personally, I favor "Aus". (Owsss") When spoken loudly and sharply with a good hiss at the end, it's a great attention getter.

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

the trainer mentioned she had been hearing a lot of German words being used lately-hey, I'd listen.