What is a Recall?
There are two types of 'recall' in competitive obedience, the 'Novice Recall' and the 'A Recall' ...
In Introductory, Pre-Beginner, Beginner & Novice = 'Novice Recall': The short answer is training the dog to wait then you walk away, halt and turn to face your dog, then you call the dog to sit in front of you, then: you ask the dog to sit beside your left leg.
All this in a public area, in a marked out ring area.
In Class A = 'A Recall': The short answer is training the dog to wait, then you walk away and keep walking where told, then you call your dog (whilst still walking) your dog is to join you and do heelwork (see 'What is Heelwork') until told to halt (stop).
In Class B & C: The Recall is as per Class A details above BUT it is incorporated with the 'Sendaway' exercise (see 'What is Sendaway')
The long answer is set out below ...
All this in a public area, in a marked out ring area.
In Class A = 'A Recall': The short answer is training the dog to wait, then you walk away and keep walking where told, then you call your dog (whilst still walking) your dog is to join you and do heelwork (see 'What is Heelwork') until told to halt (stop).
In Class B & C: The Recall is as per Class A details above BUT it is incorporated with the 'Sendaway' exercise (see 'What is Sendaway')
The long answer is set out below ...
Novice Recall (classes up to and including Novice) ..
What to Expect in the ring:
The Introductory to Novice Recall exercise begins with the dog sitting or laying down beside you (on your left side) (the 'usual' is to sit the dog beside you) - you will be directed by the ring steward to the starting position and they will wait for you to set your dog up beside you.
You can use verbal encouragement or commands throughout the exercise, you cannot touch your dog during the exercise.
* = If you hear the instruction as above, then you can turn to face your dog by turning in either the right or left direction, but turning to the right is the 'usual' way .. BUT .. you may hear the instruction as 'Halt, ABOUT turn and face your dog' - if you do then you must ensure that you turn to the RIGHT to face your dog, or you could lose points for not following the stewards instruction.
... you may then hear something like:
The Introductory to Novice Recall exercise begins with the dog sitting or laying down beside you (on your left side) (the 'usual' is to sit the dog beside you) - you will be directed by the ring steward to the starting position and they will wait for you to set your dog up beside you.
You can use verbal encouragement or commands throughout the exercise, you cannot touch your dog during the exercise.
- Once the dog is beside you, you will be asked by the steward 'Are you are ready handler' - always speak up if you are not ready to start (ie if your dog has moved) - clearly say 'No, not ready' and re-position or prepare your dog again - tell the steward when you are ready. Note that the sit/down beside you is part of the exercise and you may lose marks for crooked positions.
- 'Command your dog ... pause ... leave your dog'
- 'Halt, turn and face your dog'
* = If you hear the instruction as above, then you can turn to face your dog by turning in either the right or left direction, but turning to the right is the 'usual' way .. BUT .. you may hear the instruction as 'Halt, ABOUT turn and face your dog' - if you do then you must ensure that you turn to the RIGHT to face your dog, or you could lose points for not following the stewards instruction.
... you may then hear something like:
... Tip .. keep a space between your legs (ie don't have your feet touching each other) for the dog to aim for and have both your feet pointing forward in a straight line. ... you should then hear something like:
... you should then hear something like:
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'Here I Come'
example of the call to you Many thanks to Dawn with her Boxer 'Jasmine' for permission to post this |
Video showing example of recall: Wait, call up and front present with Badger (Pembroke Corgi)
Many thanks to Emese for permission to post this |
The video shows an example of
recall: front present & sit at heel with Lyka a rescue crossbreed Many thanks to Gill for permission to post this. |
Photo Examples of the 'Present' position ..
Many thanks to Dawn with her Boxer 'Claudia' for permission to post this
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Note the straightness of handlers feet
Many thanks to Gill with her Crossbreed 'Lyka' for permission to post this |
Example of beginning the instruction to move to the final heel position.
Many thanks to Jan with her Golden Retriever for permission to post this |
'A' Recall (class A, but incorporated in send away in class B & C) ..
What to Expect in the ring:
The 'A Recall' exercise begins with the dog sitting or laying down beside you (on your left side) - you will be directed by the ring steward to the starting position and they will wait for you to set your dog up beside you.
Only a command and signal (and dogs name if you want to) can be used at the start of this exercise, extra body signals, head movement during the exercise will mean loss of points. You cannot touch or verbally encourage your dog during the exercise.
The 'A Recall' exercise begins with the dog sitting or laying down beside you (on your left side) - you will be directed by the ring steward to the starting position and they will wait for you to set your dog up beside you.
Only a command and signal (and dogs name if you want to) can be used at the start of this exercise, extra body signals, head movement during the exercise will mean loss of points. You cannot touch or verbally encourage your dog during the exercise.
- Once the dog is beside you, you will be asked by the steward 'Are you are ready handler' - always speak up if you are not ready to start (ie if your dog has moved) - clearly say 'No, not ready' and re-position or prepare your dog again - tell the steward when you are ready. Note that the sit/down beside you is part of the exercise and you may lose marks for crooked positions.
- 'Command your dog (or Last Command) ... pause ... leave your dog'
- 'Call your dog'
- 'Halt' (you stop and the dog is to sit at your left side)
- 'Exercise Complete'
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'A Recall' Example .. the dog (Henry) waits in the 'down' position, handler walks away where told, then calls Henry (whilst still walking), Henry joins doing heelwork (see 'What is Heelwork')
until told to halt (stop). Note: when an arm signal to call the dog is used you cannot move your head in the dogs direction at the same time without losing marks Many thanks to Emma with Henry for permission to post this. |
What you Might Lose Points for during the Novice Recall ..
All judges marks are 'graduated' according to the severity of the fault. So any part of the exercise might be marked 1/4 of a point if a minor fault occurred or even 2 points if a major fault occurred.
All the individual faults marks are added together to give the overall score for the recall exercise.
Each time your dog does one of the things below you may lose marks
Items in brackets () are the common name for the marking
Set up - Dog beside you - you may lose:
All the individual faults marks are added together to give the overall score for the recall exercise.
Each time your dog does one of the things below you may lose marks
Items in brackets () are the common name for the marking
Set up - Dog beside you - you may lose:
- If your dog is not 'straight in the body' beside your leg (crooked position), or if the dog is too far back or too far forward.
- If your dog moves from position (maybe stands instead of sit or down)
- If your dog follows you when you walk away (anticipation)
- If your dog comes before you call it (anticipation)
- If the dog does not come at all
- If your dog does not come the first time you call it
- If your dog comes extremely slowly
- If the dog deviates, maybe goes off sniffing
- If your dog does not sit 'straight' in front of you (crooked sit)
- If the dog goes past you a bit and then comes back to the front of you
- If the dog does not move when asked into the position beside your left leg
- If the dog jumps very high during the manoeuvre
- If the dog does not end up sitting very straight beside you (crooked finish)
- If the dog sits too far back or too far forward beside you (crooked finish)
- If the dog stands beside you instead of sitting
- If the dog goes too far away from you either to the side or behind you
What you Might Lose Points for during the A Recall ..
All judges marks are 'graduated' according to the severity of the fault. So any part of the exercise might be marked 1/4 of a point if a minor fault occurred or substantially more if a major fault occurred.
All the individual faults marks are added together to give the overall score for the recall exercise.
In Class A and above you may also lose marks for intentional or unintentional body signals (hand, arm, head movements).
Each time your dog does one of the things below you may lose marks
Items in brackets () are the common name for the marking
Set up - Dog beside you - you may lose:
All the individual faults marks are added together to give the overall score for the recall exercise.
In Class A and above you may also lose marks for intentional or unintentional body signals (hand, arm, head movements).
Each time your dog does one of the things below you may lose marks
Items in brackets () are the common name for the marking
Set up - Dog beside you - you may lose:
- If your dog is not 'straight in the body' beside your leg (crooked position), or if the dog is too far back or too far forward.
- If your dog moves from position (maybe stands instead of sit or down)
- If your dog follows you when you walk away (anticipation)
- If your dog comes before you call it (anticipation)
- If the dog does not come at all
- If your dog does not come the first time you call it
- If your dog comes extremely slowly
- If the dog deviates, maybe goes off sniffing
- If your dog joins wide of you (ie away from your leg) (wide working)
- If your dog jumps up beside you on join up (jumping)
- See bottom of the 'What is Heelwork' page for heelwork issues
- If your dog sits very wide, crooked, forward or backwards from your left leg
- If your dog is very slow to sit beside you in the 'halt'
- If your dog does not sit beside you (ie might stand)
- For intentional or unintentional body signals by hand, arm, shoulder, head etc movements
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Dog Shows, Dog Sports, Dog Activities, The Kennel Club, Heelwork, Retrieve, Recall, Sendaway, Scent, Distant Control
Dog Shows, Dog Sports, Dog Activities, The Kennel Club, Heelwork, Retrieve, Recall, Sendaway, Scent, Distant Control