The Power of a Recall (Quick Scare)
I decided to let the Shikoku have free roam of the front yard unsupervised. It's fenced in and I'm in the main house close by so I figured it was "okay". I kept checking up on them like every 5 minutes though because I'm so paranoid.
Flashback
I mean, Miss Lynxiene jumped the 6 ft brick wall in the backyard some time ago. Running amuck around the neighborhood late at night until Georgie found her and called out to her.
I expect that kind of thing from my Malinois but not my Shikoku. I know my Shikoku are capable of it, but didn't think one of them would actually want to venture outside our property. So, as luck would have it. I go out for my 5 minute check and see Mr. Shoushuu squeeze out from the underneath of the front gate. Can you imagine what was going through my head? Quickly, I took Kotomi and threw her inside the house, then ran off with a bag of treats after Shoushuu.
I lost sight of him, he wasn't where I last saw him. Dogs are amazingly quick to relocate in a matter of seconds. So I shout out his name "Shoushuu, Shoushuu, Shoushuu!" Then what do you know? Suddenly, this husky colored, wolfish looking dog appeared from across the street charging towards me!
So as he's coming at me, I give the "HIEEEERRRR" command. He gave me a lovely frontal recall. So I immediately click my tongue and hand him a treat. Talking to him a high voice, "What a GOOD boy you are!" -treat- by now I have my hand around his chain collar and I'm leading him back to our property. I set him free once we were safely inside the gate. I ended up doing a quick training session. Then ran to the back house with him tagging along behind me. Another quick training session with more treats. Played with the yellow plushie ball for a bit and then left him loose in the house.
I wanted to make sure I reinforce his coming to me with LOTS of positives. Coming to me doesn't mean the fun is gonna end, it means LOTS of food and playtime!
-sighs- It didn't take very long to get him, he was out running about for maybe 3-5 minutes. It was still very scary though! I'm super glad I started recall training on him. I think that 50% rate just went up!
Flashback
I mean, Miss Lynxiene jumped the 6 ft brick wall in the backyard some time ago. Running amuck around the neighborhood late at night until Georgie found her and called out to her.
I expect that kind of thing from my Malinois but not my Shikoku. I know my Shikoku are capable of it, but didn't think one of them would actually want to venture outside our property. So, as luck would have it. I go out for my 5 minute check and see Mr. Shoushuu squeeze out from the underneath of the front gate. Can you imagine what was going through my head? Quickly, I took Kotomi and threw her inside the house, then ran off with a bag of treats after Shoushuu.
I lost sight of him, he wasn't where I last saw him. Dogs are amazingly quick to relocate in a matter of seconds. So I shout out his name "Shoushuu, Shoushuu, Shoushuu!" Then what do you know? Suddenly, this husky colored, wolfish looking dog appeared from across the street charging towards me!
So as he's coming at me, I give the "HIEEEERRRR" command. He gave me a lovely frontal recall. So I immediately click my tongue and hand him a treat. Talking to him a high voice, "What a GOOD boy you are!" -treat- by now I have my hand around his chain collar and I'm leading him back to our property. I set him free once we were safely inside the gate. I ended up doing a quick training session. Then ran to the back house with him tagging along behind me. Another quick training session with more treats. Played with the yellow plushie ball for a bit and then left him loose in the house.
I wanted to make sure I reinforce his coming to me with LOTS of positives. Coming to me doesn't mean the fun is gonna end, it means LOTS of food and playtime!
-sighs- It didn't take very long to get him, he was out running about for maybe 3-5 minutes. It was still very scary though! I'm super glad I started recall training on him. I think that 50% rate just went up!
Comments
It is great that you point out that after you returned him, you had a quick training session to reinforce the connection that coming when called equals fun and food. I think that is something that can easily be forgotten after a scare like that.
I had something similar happen with Kuma too. But he got out probably a 1/2 hour before I was able to locate him. Lots of people who said he went "that way". When I called, he must have finally heard me (he ran pretty far) as he went back to the last place I called and the guy there caught him. I had already gotten in the car and driven away looking for him.
He has a really good recall when he is within earshot and perfect recalls to front. But he squeezed out under the fence and was off before I knew it. He had been let out in the fenced yard unsupervised (ie, for < 1 h at a time) and had NEVER shown any tendency to want to get out. I don't know what got into him that one time....
Glad Shoushuu came back. It is devastating to have them out and not be able to find them. They do move so quick and seem to disappear (ask me how I know...years of owning Siberians and having to make my yard and kennels like Fort Knox to keep them in).