Banjo usually walks out to the mailbox with me. Today I opened the door, and he just stood there, front feet out and back feet in, like a statue. This had me very concerned. I was scanning the area for bad guys or snakes, when a bunny suddenly darted out of the rose bushes. Banjo immediately launched out the door. I yelled “NO” and he stopped dead in his tracks, even though the bunny was still running. I told him, “In the house” and he immediately did that also.
This was our first accidental field test of his recall and response, and it worked flawlessly.
He had gotten locked out of the backyard two weeks ago for chasing a bunny into the pool. I had to grab the bunny with a pool net and left him to dry off on the deck. His bunny mate came and checked on him, and they left together. So Banjo possibly knows that I don’t want him chasing the bunnies.