Dogs - Fast Recall Game

The cheeseball game is a great exercise to build drive on your recalls. Featured here is Chase, a Rhodesian Ridgeback rescue. A big shout out to Ginny R. (K9 Obedience Club) for first telling me about this game. I thought she was crazy! I was pretty sure I didn't want 90lbs. of uncoordinated ridgeback charging at me. But, he learned to duck and never ran into me once. Big dogs can move fast, too, so don't give up if you have one. :-) Visit rogersmmr for more ridgeback and trick videos.

You REALLY must start this game on a hard surface. It will not be as effective if the dog has to search for the treat. And, if you're not the best thrower, like me, it will still be easy for your dog to spot the treat on a hard surface. The reason for the cheeseball is to make the treat stand out and easy to see so the game moves quickly. I say "get it" so he knows he can take the treat. He is supposed to ignore treats he sees on the ground unless he has permission to eat them. Also, you should start with shorter distances until the dog understands the game, then work your way up to longer throws. It's a fun exercise. Let me know what you think.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Rhodesian
• Ridgeback
• recall
• fast
• rescue
• come
• obedience
• cheeseball
• obedient
• game
• exercise
• creating
• drive
• training
• trick
• clever
• talented
• clicker
• chaserogers

[SplishSplashCrash]

I love this exercise, nice to see a video on it. This exercise is a little dangerous with a lab named crash a high drive mal :)

[rogersmmr]

LOL. I have to admit - I was nervous at first. Chase is 91 lbs & 29" at the shoulder. He is high drive/high enthusiasm. He figured it out pretty quickly and now it's one of his favorite games. He had lovely recalls in competition.

[mollybrandybillly]

im going to try this!! i am desperate to find a way of teaching my one year old border collie how to come! he just ignores me!! so im hoping thsi will work for me! im also going to try some other things!

[rogersmmr]

This exercise is really intended for dogs who already have a reliable recall. Maybe we can talk Emily into making a video on how to teach a strong recall (Emily-hint, hint). Always make it fun and NEVER call your dog to you to do what he/she perceives as punishment. And, if your dog has already learned to ignore your recall work, you may want to start over with a new word (here, front). Good luck with your training!

[TerraNik]

What a cool exercise!!! Pity I don't have a food driven dog... But I suppose I could substitute the food for a tug toy or ball!

[rogersmmr]

Let me know how that works. You may want to give the cheeseballs a try just to see if it works. Because the food is moving, and they can see it move, it plays to the dog's prey drive (in addition to food motivation). Let me know how you make out either way.

[clouseba]

This is interesting.  I am curious what the negative comments are and if there are potential downsides. I see that you show a sit and can mix the pass through with a sit command so the dog responds. Again, curious of downsides and things to avoid in process. You can find me at Dublem Gundogs for email. We are trying to use many positive training techniques and this looks good to me.

[SalsaTiger83]

@mollybrandybillly with young dogs it might be easiest to make the gesture for "invitation to game" which is both hands down, preferably on the ground, when the dog arrives he can play with a toy or whatever, then do progressively bigger distances with signal and name together. With older dogs, that often fails.

[MultiAnimalcrackers]

Love this... i play this recall game in many different ways....recall follow the arm around in clockwise or anticlockwise direction and throw the treat out to the front of me, through the legs and straight round to the front and throw treat out, recall and round me standing still and throw treat out in front. Recall 'touch hand' and throw treat out But never tried throwing the treat straight through me legs to end up behind me..so one for me to try. Thankyou,

[NibblesDribbles]

Great video :) you're obviously a great dog owner, and have put heaps of time and love into training your dog. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us/

[KeenCan]

Great idea! I really am going to try this!

[detvarpokkers]

Love your videos. Im really learning. And i thought that I had a well trained dog. :D

[pamelamarxsen]

What a cool way to make it a game. My BC will love it. It might also improve my slow girl Isabelle. Thanks! Pam Great Channel!

[mrajewski]

Great idea... My boy (in tact) has the "exploration gene" and I really would like to improve his recall. This looks like a great method to employ. THANKS!