Having a reliable recall can potentially save your dog’s life! Do you trust your dog off leash? Will he come when called? Of course there are levels of distraction: it might be easy to come when nothing is happening, but dog parks present a challenge. Although I have met numerous dogs that don’t come to their owners no matter what.
The first step is to determine if your dog doesn’t understand, or is purposely ignoring you. If it’s as simple as he doesn’t know what to do- we retrain the command using specific steps. However, if he is choosing to ignore you, we have a different issue. It’s not longer about coming when called, it is now about improving your relationship with your dog. He doesn’t see you as pack leader!
Either way I can help! Until then enjoy these DO’s and DON’TS.
DO
- Always make recalls rewarding during training – we can fade the food out later!
- Use yummy treats! (not boring ones)
- Be happy and exciting, but firm. Come is a command not an option.
- If you don’t have a reward handy, make a big production by praise and petting
- Start indoors, then backyard, then quiet park, etc. Add distraction slowly
- Come means close enough that you can touch your dog/grab their collar without moving your feet
DON’T
- NEVER punish a recall, even if your dog just ate the couch or took 10 min. to get to you
- Don’t even call her for something she doesn’t like, just go and get her
- Don’t call your dog when she isn’t going to respond. Yelling “Missy, come!” over and over as she runs around ignoring you only weakens your cue.
For more information on training a reliable recall, contact us today!
The story of Peedie the pup
Our boxer will not come when called. This occurs when she escapes into the front street. She will come when called in the house and in the back fenced yard. She has daily walks that total to an hour or so and these walks always start out the front door. She will run up and down the street and even around the corner for as much as 1/2 hour. Too hard to catch and she knows it. She will return only when it suits her. Can’t even consider an off leash dog walk area. There are times when she gets so excited about a visitor or something she sees outside that only a tug on the collar gets her attention. We have tried showing her the pack leader by taking complete control. She will sit, lay down, go to bed, roll over and leave the kitchen table area on demand but will not come when called. Suggestions?