Stopping a doodle

[Florie R.]

My sweetie ran full bore into my leg last week returning her Frisbee.  It partially tore my MCL.

She always come running fast and hard when called or fetching and I don't know how to slow her down before she hits me.  I know she is sorry and I'm sure she had a doodle headache, but still continues to do it.  Any ideas?

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

First, have you been to Obedience Training?   There you learn Recall.  Not everyone, but included in our training was a process called:  Sit, Stay, Come, Sit.  The dog comes to you and sits right in front of your feet.  

Then I added the command, Drop It.  So, Spud would drop the toy in his mouth at my feet.

So, start with the Sit > Stay.   Go from there adding another Sit and a  Drop It

There are many videos online showing you how to teach Recall but I encourage a professional trainer to help you also.  

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

There are many videos out there but I chose this one for you as it shows A LOT and it has a perfect sit at the end of recall.

Certainly, we all have a long way to go. This takes a long time. You have to create a habit.  Remember to ALWAYS reward the Come command.   

But, watch this video to see the sit in front, then just start working on basic recall using a long lead 30-60ft.  

See if there is an 6-8 week Obedience Course you can join.  It is much more supportive and worth every penny

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Ignore, for now, the first exercises seen in this video. All I want you to see is the COME and then sit at the feet. 

She is doing  awesome exercises here but ignore the first few minutes.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I will add that I also learned this the hard way and find it as important as you do now.  My doodle also would slam into me.   I had a terrible deep tissue bruise to my left breast that cost me hundreds in the long run but it all worked out for the best.  I also had a knee incident at a dog park with over zealous Rottie chasing a ball and found my knee. It happens

Hope you feel better soon.

Your Girl is adorable 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I agree with Joanne. The solution to this is to teach a proper recall, which is part of a larger obedience training program. 

When JD and I took basic obedience, there was a hand signal used as the dog was coming to you to indicate the spot in front of you where the dog was to stop and sit, along with a verbal command. It was one of the easier things for JD to learn, and he is not the smartest dog in the universe, lol. 

[Thomas, Chari, & Lady Belle]

Running into people/things is a particular problem for Belle as she is blind.  She needs a "stop" command that says STOP wherever you are.  I had a private lesson with an excellent dog trainer.  The "stop" command is one that needs to be shaped.  She talked me through the process.  I too would suggest an obediance class or a private lesson.  That's a lot cheaper than a torn ACL.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Stop is a great command. A favorite of ours and it seems to work even better.

  I still think she needs a solid sit, stay, come, sit,  first but hey, however a dog learns to STOP the charge is all good

[Thomas, Chari, & Lady Belle]

I wasn't suggesting "stop" as an alternative to "sit, stay, come."  But if I had a choice of just one of the four, I'd prefer to have "stop" first as it could be a life saver for both a blind dog or to a sighted dog chasing a ball into the street.  Having said that Belle has "come" and "sit" in her vocabulary but not "stop".  The first two are much easier to teach.  ;-)  Sitting in your chair during a TV commercial, say "come" then reward with treat.  Take a sip of beer. Repeat.  Sitting in your chair, say "sit", push on her butt then reward with treat.  Take a sip of beer.  Repeat.   Eventually the work required decreases as you don't have to push on her butt any more. 

But we're about to start working on "stop".  But it has to be shaped in a series of steps, most not in front of the TV.  No beer sipping for most of the steps.

[BG and Gavin]

We learned the stop command by recalling your dog from a distance and then several metres before he reaches you do a lunge forward bending down to one knee, palm over palm thrusting your arms fully foward and yelling stop. It will startle them a bit, but that is the idea. We also were told not to over practice this command as you want to keep some of the shock factor.