We all know that recall saves lives.
You’ve taught your puppy how to come when called (that’s recall,) inside your home. He listens…most of the time. Maybe 90% of the time.
When you call him from your backyard, he doesn’t come. He makes a game of it — coming partway and then running away again. You have to go outside and get him. He’s hard to catch. It frustrates you (especially when you’re in your pyjamas and the neighbours are watching.) And winter is coming.
Winter is coming. Time to teach reliable recall. (Photo: a person standing in a blizzard in a clearing in a forest)
When you’re on hikes, he comes when called about 75% of the time. He won’t come back if there’s another dog, bunny poop, a dead thing to roll in, or a squirrel to chase.
You need your dog to come when you call and the first time you call, no matter what (Photo: Grey squirrel on a tree trunk)
One time, he wouldn’t come back and you spent an extra hour and a half trying to catch him (after an hour and a half long hike.) You were hungry, cold, and furious.
How can you improve your recall?
The best place to begin improving your recall is inside your home. A dog who doesn’t listen to you inside your home will not listen to you outside your home. It’s that simple.
Attach an inexpensive, lightweight, six-foot leash to your dog when you’re home and able to supervise him. Cut the handle off the leash so it can drag behind him and not get caught on the furniture. Supervise him so that he doesn’t ever chew this leash. It’s not a chew toy. Period. Remove the leash when he’s crated and anytime you’re not able to fully supervise him.
Using his kibble as a reward, practice recall three times a day for a couple of minutes. If your pup doesn’t know recall at all, you want to hold the end of that leash. There should be no tension on the leash, you’re simply holding it so that if your dog ignores you, you can gently reel him in and reward him for coming to you.
You can begin saying “good come” as soon as his body begins coming toward you. Pay him with a piece of kibble when he gets to you.
Do your best to lure him into a sit as he arrives, to avoid “come” looking like Fred Flintstone arriving home to Dino the dinosaur. For those of you who didn’t grow up watching The Flintstones, Dino would greet Fred by jumping on him, knocking him flat on his back, and licking his face. This is not ideal for most dog owners who want their dog to come to them, their children. their grandmother, etc.
Reward your dog for coming to you. Aim to lure them into a sit to prevent being knocked over. (Photo: a black and white dog sitting down and looking up at the camera)
Teach your dog to come and sit calmly in front of you to avoid injury and/or the “hi and bye” game (Photo: Border Collie sprinting toward the camera with its tongue hanging out)
Be inviting with your body language. Check the floor behind you. If it is flat and safe and there’s nothing to trip backwards over, back up as you call your dog. You may even spread your arms wide as you back up. This inviting posture makes your dog want to be with you.
Practice recall in many different rooms of your home, so that your dog learns that he needs to listen to you everywhere, not just in your kitchen when you are standing near the treat jar.
Before you know it, you’ll be able to set the leash down and your dog will come to you no matter where you are in the home.
You should also practice on-leash recall during your walks. Keep the distractions low at first (because outside is distracting enough with all the great smells.)
Practice on-leash recall in your yard, on your deck, in your driveway, in the hallway of your condo building, etc.
Practice on-leash recall with your dog everywhere you go (Photo: a white terrier sitting on grass wearing a leash and looking up at his owner who is holding the leash)
The next step in your journey to reliable recall is a longline. Read this post to learn about longlines. https://beyonddogtraining.ca/news/long-lines
Longlines are really long leashes that don’t have handles. They are used to transition dogs to off-leash life and can help you build up to reliable off-leash recall. Think of longlines as training wheels. You don’t take the training wheels off until you and your dog are both reliable with them on.
If you need help fading out the food, schedule a free call with us now.
https://beyonddogtraining.ca/take-action
We’ve helped so many families fade out the food (so that you don’t have to wave a bag of treats from your back door or worry that your dog won’t come back on your hike because you forgot your treat pouch.)
We’ve also helped many families whose dogs can’t have treats because of sensitive stomachs and families with dogs who could care less about food.
Don’t wait until your dog eats something poisonous during your hike or gets hit by a car — improve your recall today.
You deserve peace of mind on your hikes.
Schedule your free call today: https://beyonddogtraining.ca/take-action
Happy training!
Alyssa
Photos by: Upsplash Images (a dog raising his arm as if he’s asking a question,) Akhil Verma
@averma91 (a person standing in a blizzard in a clearing in a forest,) Saori Oya @saorio (Grey squirrel on a tree trunk,) Upsplash image ( a black and white dog sitting down and looking up at the camera,)
Jesper Brouwers @jesperados (Border Collie sprinting toward the camera with its tongue hanging out,) Christof W. @christofw (a white terrier sitting on grass wearing a leash and looking up at his owner who is holding the leash.)