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?   

[Emily, Jace, & Maggie Devers]

That sounds like jace, he acts like a pure angel when he's in the house but you let him outside and he gets something he knows he shouldn't have in his mouth he acts like a psycho!!! the other night we were having a little bonfire and he got the marshmallow bag in his mouth... needless to say Jace didn't get to enjoy in the festivities after that little stunt, but we do have a command that always gets him to come to us. It's a lot like F.'s command. we say touch and he will run from where ever he is to touch his nose to our hand and he always gets a treat, unless it's an emergency situation of course, but it always works! LOL:)

[Linda, Webber and Seda]

I scream "TREAT" at the top of my voice and both dogs come running. I used pieces of hot dogs or cheese initially but now just the word works.

[Julie and Charlie]

I use "Venez!" -- which is the command form of "come" in French- it's not the right form for a dog, but it's two syllables and better than "Viens!". My French degree, to good use!

I also considered "Pronto" and "now" but settled on something that I think of and remember, but don't use in every day conversation.

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

That's exactly what the trainer suggested: something that [you will] think of and remember, but don't use in every day conversation.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

This is a good idea. In Spanish, the word for "here" is "Aqui!", which would work, too.  

[Christine & Camus]

I started out using COME with Camus, same command I used with prior dogs, but at ~ 2 years he stopped responding.  Now I use HERE and he responds beautifully.

[Leigh & Allie]

My word is "touch" with my hand open and down at her level. She then touches her nose to my hand. It works for us and when she gets close enough to touch my hand, I can get whatever it is that is in her mouth. I do use it as a fetch game so that she knows MOST of the time she will get whatever I have taken away back because I throw it for her to fetch again.

[Wendy and Myla]

I had heard of this also and had a word (I forget what it was) but it didn't work because the times I needed to use it (not training) I was so caught up in the moment I just yelled whatever came in my head which was usually "Myla come!" and she ignored it but when I yelled "Myla come NOW!!!" she would turn around and come back - so that is what I use when I need to.  For example, she loves chasing shore birds so when we come upon them and we both see them at the same time, I say "leave it" and she does but if she sees them before me and starts chasing I will yell "Myla come back" and if she's in full pursuit and ignores me I will yell "Myla come NOW" and she has been turning around and comes back - she does get a treat when she comes back but I'm pretty sure she turns around because of the tone of my voice and how loudly I say it. 

[Doris]

We use CHEESE.  He comes every time and gets a tiny piece of cheese.  Probably not the best idea, but it works for us!

[Robin & Josie]

We haven't discovered the magic word with Josie yet, but many years ago, our not-very-well trained Wheaten Terrier escaped and was doing laps around my neighbor's yard. We were frantic and terrified that she'd keep running into the street and nothing was working. My then 14 (?) year old yelled out "cookie"!, which was our word for treats, and she came bolting back.

We are thinking we should do the same with Josie, only more deliberately. I will say that our first trainer taught us to make a game out it and say, "come find me" and then, an excited "you found me!". That actually works better than "come".

Our current, much more qualified trainer, says we should practice "come" in two voices - normal and emergency-hysterical. Both with high quality treats. She also suggests NOT using that command when something distasteful is on the other end (ie: going into the crate and leaving). Kind of obvious, but I feel like nothing is obvious to me with this puppy!

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

I think it's a good idea!  whatever works- he knows there is a reward for his following the command 

[Kyoko]

I just use "come", along with their name.