Working on recall and waiting.

[hmhershey]

So bentley is doing good training but there are two things that he still needs work on. The first one is when we are leaving he bolts towards the door. We can get him to sit but as soon as we open the door he freaks and it's horrible to get out. How do I get him to to not freak. It didn't start until we went on vacation and left him for a week with my father in law. He was taken care of but is so attached to us I think he thinks that every time we leave we won't be coming back.

The second issue is recall. He will come running sometimes but we usually have to start walking the other way in order for him to come running back to us. What is the best way to get him to recall every time... I would be pleased with even an 80% recall. Any ideas would be so appreciated!

[Tanya]

have you trained the recall at all? It is a command you need to train like all others, start with a long line and high value treats, use your word (come is not the best rcall word as it slips into everyday language). if puppy does not come, gently tug on the leash until they come towards you and reward. repeat, repeat, repeat. when they are 90%, add distance OR distraction, but never both at the samee time. during the training NEVER use the word in regular non-training time unless you are 100% sure he will come and have a reward. the more you say the word and he CAN and DOES ignore you, the more useless it gets.