Recall Basics
Dog Training Tip-April 2023
As dog owners we all want a good RECALL!
Let’s first talk about why it is so important. This is a life saving skill, we can all think of many dangerous scenarios where we want them to come back to us immediately.
It also needs to be continually practiced and proofed in all types of settings and scenarios for it to be reliable.
Most find it frustrating when our dogs only listen in certain settings or if there is food in front of them. Truth is, we need to be REALLY exciting and use a variety of high value rewards for them to learn. Do not be cheap with the treats on this skill.
Last month we covered the importance of “Name Attention.” This will provide you with the foundation you will need to get started with this next step. Your dog needs to look to you when you call their name.
You will find success in breaking it down, this will ensure your dog fully understands what you are asking of them. You do not want to skip right to the dog park and start calling out come. You want to practice with them in small steps without all life’s distractions first, until you know your dog has mastered the step.
We will cover some basics so that you can start off on the right paw. It is crucial to begin with NO DISTRACTIONS. This means inside your house, do not teach this skill outside first.
You want that initial success and then to progress to your yard. Have a friend help and slowly create distance by cueing between the two of you for even more fun. Remember you only want to practice this in short sessions, you do not want them or you to lose interest.
Start by standing on your 6-foot leash. Have your treats in your hands and ready.
Call your dog’s name ONCE, then use your COME cue. Do not repeat their name or the cue. You want them to listen when you say it once, not 6 times. Wait it out or make some type of kissy noise to get their attention.
Hold the lure by your knees and use another word to start cheering them on. Start with a small distance and increase it on leash so they cannot wander in the house and lose focus.
When your dog approaches, use the lure to have them sit. You can cue them at first if necessary, but we are trying to eventually build that to an automatic sit when they come to you.
It is important to always grab your dogs’ collar and harness, every time! This will prevent your dog from learning to zoom right by you when you call them and playing keep away at the park.
Have a Party! This is super fun to practice, for you and your dog! You may think it is over the top and wonder what the purpose is, but the benefits are huge!
Throw this in your training session whenever you feel like your dog needs a bit of a reset or if they are struggling at any time.
When they come, you need to BE the party. Instead of delivering that one expected treat, we provide at least 20 seconds of verbal praise, excitement and treats that seem to never stop.
It will feel like a really long time to be that excited and over the top. Your dog will think it is the best and will absolutely remember that super positive association. Dogs are gamblers and will take the chance that it could be one piece of boring kibble or that party where treats rained from the sky. So be creative and do not lose the value in your treats.
One thing that cannot be said enough is to never scold or act disappointed when your dog does come no matter how long it took. This is an indication that more training is necessary for your dog to learn. We need to constantly read them and find ways to ensure they can learn at their own pace.
If you feel like you have given your dog a bad association with your word “come”. Simply change it and start fresh, building up that positive association!
It is also important to set up your scenarios for training so that your dog does not associate coming back to you with the fun stopping. Do not forget when you are getting them to come that you are also allowing them to go back to that good sniff or play session again after. Hold that collar or harness and use your release cue.
You will appreciate the practice you both put in now in quiet environments when we move to the next steps with more difficult distractions.
Biggest tip is to have fun short training sessions that enrich your dog and work in with your busy lifestyle. You will both enjoy it and reap the rewards!
