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"We chose our house, on a quiet rural cul de sac with an 8' Basenji proof fence, with the B's in mind. On the few occasions they've gotten loose, my reflex action is to grab their Cookie Jar. The neighbours think I'm nuts when they see me running down the road clanging dog biscuits in a huge glass bin, but it works like a charm. I even used it to lead a shy puppy mill foster boy home after he bolted out the door…he wouldn't let me put a leash on him, but he was happy to follow the jingling jar!"
That would probably be a funny scene with the cookie jar! But it works! sounds like something I do too. I have 10 acres and he does go off leash on the part that is not fenced in at times (our back yard). So when I want to recall him, I had him very well conditioned to the whistle as he partially learned it from Candi the hound mix. Both are so food driven (luckily...). When I blow it, he comes running to a screaming halt to get the 'treat' I always have for him. I am not saying it is 100% fool proof, but he has dropped a mushroom in exchange for the 'whistle treat'. 99.99% he comes 'running' to me immediately, sometimes he takes his time....but he comes.....Really wouldn't want to experiment in a residential area, but he has been to the neighbors house 5 acres away playing with the other dogs, and he does come back within a few minutes, and a few blows from me!