How to have a great recall?

 Have you tried training her with a long line?  That is mostly what I used to train Ben's recall, so he could wander but if he didn't come back when called I could gently tug to remind him to look at me and then come back, when I would praise and treat like anything.

I also played "recall games" in secure areas...where my DH and I would stand a distance apart and call Ben back and forth between us.  

LOL!  Kate stole my suggestion!

The long line was invaluable to us as well.

Thank you, thank you!! will definately try!!  

Expand your long line to include a stop and a back up.... Go to the hardware store (or some other such place) and purchase a length of chain you can attach around a variety of objects (think fence posts of varying sizes, small trees, etc.)  Make sure the links are wide enough you can use some coupler and attach a pulley to the chain.  Select a single pulley that is the correct width for your long line.  Attach the chain and pulley low to the ground and thread your line in the pulley.  When you start have about half your line on each side of the pulley... You might even want to get multiple lengths of long line to increase your distances.   You now have a method to call your dog and stop them (at a distance) by stepping on the line  as well as a way to put leash pressure for a back up at a distance by drawing the line through your hands.

Strategies learned from Cappy Pruett, stock dog training, handling.

That's an idea.  I used Anne's idea of tying a knot at several points in the line to step on.  Shoot, I don't seem to have any GOOD ideas of my own.....always swiping someone elses!

It took 6 months before I could say with confidence that my dog had a reliable recall.  I started in doors using treats, stay command and walking away and calling him to me.  I did everywhere, if I went to the bathroom I would tell him to stay and then once I was in there I would say "River come"! that my command.  Then when he came I would treat and praise.  Then we used a long lead and my DH and I would set him up.  Each on would call him back and forth and treat.  I also used the line on my own to let him go a distant and call him and treat him.  If he hesitated I would turn and run the other way and he would come bouncing toward me.  Using game like hide and seek are wonderful too. 

One valuable suggestion is you can't allow him not to come to you when called.  If he doesn't you HAVE to go get him (don't' get mad at his not coming, coming is always a good thing) and encourage him to come to where you were and treat him.  That's were the long lead comes in handy because you can stop him from going the other way and lure him back to you.  With River, once I stopped him and gave him a pull to come to me he would happily and I would treat him. Every-time you allow him not to follow the command is a reinforcement that he doesn't have to.

You've got two good opportunities a day to practice a recall. Come - and get it. Meaning at meal times.  I'd call when your dog is not expecting it, like when turned out to the fenced yard for potty or play.

To get fast recalls, I toss a little treat, cheese - or something, and the dog runs out to get it. As soon as the dog starts to eat it call COME and treat with another bit. Repeat and repeat till the dog is hauling butt back to you. Quit on a good note, always leave your dog wanting more.

MRV-your amazing!

Thanks,,, but Cappy is really the amazing one... If he does a clinic near you it is worth the audit price. 

FYI, I'm not sure where in pgh you are, but Misty pines is holding a recall class in a few weeks, 1 hr on a saturday for $16.  If you email/PM me I have the email about it I think.  Just in case you think you need more ideas/help.

I just found out about Whistle Training for Reliable Recall and I'm going to try it.  

 There's a lot more to it than just training a recall imo. You need to work on attention games, a strong leave it command AND a recall. If you don't have attention or a leave it the recall will never be 100%. So, I start with treating the dog each and every time it looks at me. We work on this every where  - in the home, outside on a walk, in the pet store in front of the critter cages, you name it. Then I start treating for when I call its name and it gives me its attention - again practice this every where. While all of this is going on I work on leave it - we practice this every where too - I take them to the pet store and roll toys around and tell them to leave it (as an example). Basically you want to reward the dog for giving you attention on its own and when you request it. On a walk if you see that the dog is distracted, call its name. If it looks at you or comes to you throw a party with lots of rewards. Also mix in the long leash recalls and get someone to help you with restrained recalls.

Restrained recalls are when someone holds your dog and you run away then call the dog. This makes the dog come RUNNING! Throw a party when it gets to you. Hide and seek helps with recalls too. 

Something to add to all the great advice above:

Don't make come = end of fun.  As in, "come, we're leaving the dog park" or "come, daddy is going to take you out of the back yard, put you in a crate, and leave for work."  Sure, you'll need to sometimes make recall = end of fun, but try to keep it below 10%. 

I've been trying to reinforce recall while at the dog park.  "Winnie come"  (she comes) gets LOADS of praise, zillion $$ treats (if allowed at the park) and then I say "go play."

So for Winnie, come = great stuff.  We're not quite reliable yet, but we're definitely improving.