Ruby’s instant recall

You can leave your comments on this blog by using the 'Comments' tab below

Hints: ON | OFF

1
Mar
2010

Ruby demonstrates her instant recall

Julie Cozze-Young first volunteered as a Puppy Socialiser for Dogs for the Disabled, the assistance dog training charity, in April 2007. She wanted to be involved in the work that helped disabled people live fuller, more independent lives with the help of their trained assistance dogs. Recently, Julie welcomed Ruby, her second Dogs for the Disabled puppy into her home, and in her blog we follow her progress as she socialises and trains Ruby.

“I have been able to take Ruby on a few training walks now that her paw is healed, and have been working on down-stays and recall from a distance.

From the start, I have trained Ruby to respond to whistle and voice to ensure that she is familiar with either method that a future client may be able to use. Overall her recall is instant and excellent, even when she is running about with my own two dogs. Ditto with her down-stay, where she stays focused despite potential distractions around her (including one of our dogs walking up and sniffing her).

It was after returning from one of these training walks that I noticed a couple of small spots of blood on the kitchen floor. Of course, given her recent paw injury, the first concern was that Ruby had had another brush with a Blackthorn, but a quick inspection soon confirmed what I had suspected – Ruby’s first season had started!

My own two dogs have both been castrated, so, although they are showing more interest in Ruby, they are not a risk to her. But I have to take care to ensure she does not mix with any dogs that are still entire.

This means that, for the next three weeks, I will restrict Ruby’s walks and activities to a couple of fields outside the village where there will be no risk of Ruby meeting any other dogs. I will keep working on the recalls and stay commands, as well as enable her to free run in a safe environment with my own dogs.”