Using a Check Cord to reinforce the COME or HERE command with 6 Month Old Springer Spaniel.

The COME or HERE command is the most important command you can teach your young dog. Free funs without strong recall can be dangerous for young pups; busy streets, reactive dogs, environmental hazards all pose threats to puppies if they are not ready to come into you when called. For this reason ‪@WhitewaterGundogs‬ puppy program begins reinforcing the HERE command with a check cord at around 10 weeks old, generally coinciding with those first retrieves when the pup starts to get the idea that they are going to keep the bird instead of deliver it to you. For the puppies safety the check cord will be part of his "work uniform" until they can consistently demonstrate strong recall to voice and whistle.
Oliver came to one of our training sessions and it became clear that recall was not in place as soon as handler and dog approached the field. This was a brand new training area for both Paul and Oliver and once Paul removed the lead Oliver took off for a good 5 minute free run. Very quickly, training focus shifted from our planned ONE UP, ONE OUT pattern work drill to an introduction to the Check Cord.

[@boblathrop9983]

I’ll share this with my 10 month old Boykin Spaniel, Oliver. It’s one step forward and three steps backwards with any dog named Oliver.

[@WhitewaterGundogs]

LOL...maybe something about that, but pretty sure it's just part of training in general 😅