The Best $250 We Have Ever Spent!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Last night we took Lucy and Sophie to Bark in the Park at the Cincinnati Reds game.  We got downtown early as to avoid the rush hour traffic and were just walking around a little bit.  I'm not sure how people downtown have dogs, because finding grass for a potty was a challenge.  We finally spotted a small area of grass (ok, I was being nice, it was just weeds).  We crossed a 4 lane down town street and were walking through the weeds to get them to potty.  All of a sudden Sophie's prong collar came undone.  (I have no idea what happened as I checked and rechecked that it was secured when I put it on her).  Anyway, she turned and looked at me and took off.  I can't even come up with any words to explain how I felt at that moment.  I instantly started after her thinking I can't let her get to the street but she was running so I said I have to stop and not chase her.  I stopped and screamed SOPHIE STOP to her.  (Don't know why I thought she would understand STOP, as it isn't anything she was every taught).  She turned around and looked at me, and I heard Mike behind me say Sophie COME ... Our recent training kicked in and I dropped to my knees and started clapping my hands excitedly saying Sophie come, and much to my total and complete amazement, she started at full speed running right to me!    I am so very thankful that we have been working on the COME command for the last couple of months as a result of the training we started in February!  We had never tested it outside of the back yard, but I feel a slight bit better.  I won't stop working on it as it could have gone the other way and I don't even wanna think about what would have happened because we were just on a tiny little piece of a lot between the Ohio River and a 4 lane City street!  It had disaster written all over it.  So, if your doodles do not have a 100% recall, please please start working on it today!  Don't put it off another day as you never know when you will need it.  This is also leading me to more practice to get off of the prong collar and onto a collar I feel more comfortable with, as that is a situation I don't ever want to be in again!

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

This is a great price for 2 dogs and a PERSONAL trainer! Does he come to Wisconsin??? LOL!

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Oh yeah, private is way better!

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

How frightening, but now you know that Sophie will listen and respond to you.  I'm pretty Cubbie would have just kept going and if he did stop it would be to glance back at me before he continued in the other direction.  Ollie, might have actually returned to me. 

I don't know how to practice a recall, because every time we are in a class they seem to know that they need to come back to me.  when we are in our yard, they respond pretty well (maybe not immediately but within just a few seconds).  But how do you practice this in a way that will really matter?  If we practice in a large fenced in area, they will usually respond because it is fenced in.  If we are in an open area, I keep a long training leash on them and they respond because they are still on a leash and know it. 

[BG and Gavin]

Very scary indeed!  Good girl Sophie for remembering your recall lessons!

Here is the picture of our back up system: (just note that in this picture I have the leash hooked to the dead ring (through both rings preventing the collar from tightening).  If you are using the active ring, put the carabeener through the ring opposite to the one you attach you leash to.

 

[F, Calla & Luca]

Thanks for the photo BG.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

What a truly terrifying ordeal, that recall is so very important, it probably saved Lucy's life in this case.  I would need a stiff Brandy after such an episode.  

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I am so glad it turned out okay.  Good girl Sophie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Sophie! What are you doing to your parents??

I am SO happy this had a happy ending. Thanks for reminding us all about recall.

[BG and Gavin]

One of our trainers used an oversided choke chain with leash attached to both, so big that when she pulled to correct on the prong, there was still lots of slack in the choke collar, but if the prong let go you could tighten it right up.  Gavin's has let go once before.

[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

OMD! I am soo glad that you got her back okay.  How scary!  I actually watched that game on TV, and I told my DH, I am watching to see if Lucy & Sophie are there.  He looked at my like I was crazy.  I was looking so hard for you guys, because I figured you would be there!  I am hoping to take Bexter & Maggie to a Bark at the Park game soon there in Cincinnati!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Congratulations to you and to Sophie.  Great training.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

I am late in on this discussion but watned to just say a big "PHEW!". What an ordeal. I'm so glad Sophie's recall is so good. My Sophie is getting better but still needs some work. This is probably the most important command you can teach a doodle!