Hiking/Off-leash/Recall - What Our Hikes Really Looks Like (Patreon)

I thought it might be fun to show you what a real morning walk/hike looks like with Whip. This video is a glimpse into some of the techniques I use to keep our hikes fun and make sure our recall is crisp. These things are important because on this hike where I am filming we were run up on by two off-lead dogs. When I saw them coming I was able to call her over, ask for a "middle" so she was between my legs and not engaging, and call to the owner to get his dogs. The owner was not able to recall his dogs easily, so having Whip between my legs keeps her safe, as I do not know these dogs and do not want my dogs greeting offlead dogs I don't know, with an owner who doesn't have control of them. 

Now on to recall/attention examples: 

The first clip is something I will do often with Whip since a ball is rewarding for her. I don't always recall my dog to me when I want attention. Instead I can offer something they really enjoy in exchange for immediate attention so that when they hear their name on a hike, they immediately snap around to look at me because they never know what might happen. Here I call Whip's name and then immediately give her the "go" cue, which is the cue to run out and I'll throw her something. Once she finds it, I cheerlead her back in. The second time she started running immediately so I didn't need the go cue. 

The next clips are of a search. I like to change between toy and food rewards. She enjoys searching for food I throw and I will often have her come towards me, and then throw the food behind for her to find. Having to scent out food can also often calm an overarroused dog. I also use this for some fun "come to heel" type work where I will say "get it", toss a cookie behind me, she retrieves it and as soon as she comes from behind, back to my side, I "yes" and throw another cookie behind. It's a fun game to play on walks so they learn to stay by you and not get too far in front because the reward zone is at your side. 

The clip at :58 timestamp is an auto check in. When she chooses to come back to me, which I have rewarded heavily, I reward it. I have also taught her that if I stand still it's a cue to check back in to see what's going on. Here I reward it again. I start all of this on a long-line, clicking for any eye contact in my direction. The click the moment she turns to me marks the behavior, and then she comes into my hand for the treat. I use "free" to release her back to her sniffing. This teaches that checking in doesn't end the fun, and in-fact it's more fun because you also get to run back away which Whip finds intrinsically rewarding. 

The final clips are also important. These are the on-leash parts. Just because some of my hike is off-leash doesn't mean that all of it is. In areas where there's any risk (like near roads, heavy animal populations etc.) or if there is ANYONE present within my vicinity or within eye-shot, she gets leashed. This is critical so that everyone around me feels safe and not uncomfortable. I may know that she has excellent recall and isn't going to leave me, but that person up the path doesn't and doesn't deserve to feel uncomfortable on their morning walk. So I simply call her to me, leash her up, treat for getting leashed, tell her to "go sniff" and off we walk. Then later, I may take her off lead again in a clear area where I can see around me that I'm not bothering anyone.