Teaching your dog to come when called, known as recall, is arguably one of the most crucial skills a dog can learn. It’s a fundamental aspect of responsible dog ownership, ensuring your companion’s safety and fostering a stronger bond between you. However, mastering recall can be a journey, as the world offers countless fascinating distractions for our canine friends. Each time we call our dog, we’re asking them to disengage from something interesting and return to us. Therefore, to cultivate a dependable recall, we must consistently demonstrate that being by our side is the most rewarding and enjoyable experience available. This is the cornerstone of effective how to teach your dog to walk on a lead.
Understanding Reliable Recall
A “reliable recall” signifies that when you issue a recall command, you are almost certain your dog will respond with enthusiasm. While dogs aren’t automatons, making a 100% guarantee impossible, a lifesaving skill like recall demands the highest level of consistency we can achieve.
The importance of a reliable recall is particularly pronounced if you aspire to allow your dog off-leash freedom outside of secure, fenced areas or a designated dog park. Furthermore, a strong recall is indispensable in emergency situations, potentially preventing serious harm.
Alternatives to Off-Leash Freedom
There is absolutely no shame in maintaining a leash on your dog if you lack complete confidence in their recall. Instead, consider allowing them supervised play in securely fenced environments or utilizing a long leash. These alternatives can provide your dog with ample opportunities to explore and exercise while remaining safely under your control. Always remember to respect local leash laws, which often apply even within your own unfenced property and certainly in public spaces like parks.
A Brussels Griffon is shown standing in the grass on a leash.©otsphoto – stock.adobe.com
The Art of Recall Training
A key element in teaching recall is transforming the training process into a fun game for your dog. Begin in a low-distraction setting, such as inside your home. Initially, capture your dog’s attention with a favorite dog toy or a delectable treat. Offer verbal praise as they approach you, and crucially, ensure you reward them promptly. After a few successful repetitions, begin incorporating your chosen verbal cue (e.g., “come,” “here”) the moment your dog makes a move towards you. It’s vital to introduce the cue only when you are confident they are already on their way.
Gradually increase the challenge by asking for the recall before revealing the reward. Always follow through with a high-value treat—such as pieces of chicken, cheese, or beef liver—once they reach you. Simultaneously, slowly extend the distance within your controlled, low-distraction environment.
Engaging Recall Games
Catch Me: While your dog is on a leash, engage their attention. Then, turn and jog a few steps away. As your dog follows, enthusiastically call out your recall cue. After a short distance, stop and reward with praise, a toy, or a treat. Before initiating this, ensure your dog is focused on you to prevent any sudden leash jerks. This game is an excellent way to practice how to stop a dog from jumping up at you.
Find Me: Once your dog shows proficiency with recall, you can enhance their speed and responsiveness by calling them from another room. When your dog successfully finds you, shower them with abundant praise and rewards. This game of hide-and-seek is highly enjoyable for both dog and owner.
Hot Potato: Involve two or more family members or friends, each equipped with high-value treats. Stand a short distance apart and take turns calling your dog to come to you. Lavish your dog with rewards each time they respond to the person who called.
A common pitfall in recall training is recalling your dog, immediately leashing them, and heading home. This can inadvertently teach your dog that recall signifies the end of playtime, diminishing their future enthusiasm for responding. A more effective approach is to recall your dog, offer praise and a reward, and then release them back to their previous activity. This reinforces that coming to you is a positive experience, not a prelude to ending fun. This is particularly relevant when learning how to teach a puppy to stop jumping.
Avoiding a “Poisoned Cue”
Does your recall command sound like this: “Come! Come! Come! Come! Come! Please come!”? If so, your recall cue might be “poisoned.” This often happens unintentionally when a cue becomes ambiguous or develops negative associations for the dog, leading them to ignore it. Overusing a cue without a successful response is a primary way to poison it.
A Cocker Spaniel is shown running in the yard.©OTS-PHOTO – stock.adobe.com
In such cases, the most effective solution is to introduce a new verbal cue. For instance, if “come” has been overused, transition to a different word like “here” or “close.” Revert to the foundational steps of training when introducing this new cue, ensuring your dog understands its meaning. The principles of how do you train a dog not to jump can also apply here, focusing on positive reinforcement.
Essential Recall Training Tips
- Minimize Repetition: If you find yourself repeating the recall cue, the environment might be too distracting for your dog, or they may not yet grasp the skill at the current level of training.
- Reward Eye Contact and Proximity: When you notice your dog looking at you or voluntarily staying close, offer immediate verbal praise and a treat. Initially, generous rewards are key to reinforcing the important lesson: proximity and attention to you bring good things.
- Never Punish a Recall: Regardless of how long it took your dog to respond, always praise them when they come to you. Punishment will only create negative associations with recall.
- Generous Rewards are Crucial: Employ high-value treats and favorite toys, especially during the initial learning phase. Rewarding every successful recall solidifies the association between coming to you and receiving something wonderful. For younger dogs, consider techniques for how to teach puppy not to jump up.
- Daily Practice: Gradually increase the difficulty and level of distractions. Rushing the process can confuse your dog and undermine reliability.
- In Emergencies, Don’t Chase: If your dog needs to be recalled in a critical situation, avoid chasing them, as this can encourage them to continue the “game” by moving away. Instead, try running in the opposite direction to entice them to chase after you.
