Never Chase Your Dog Again: Recall Training Guide

If you’re reading this then you’ve probably been in a scenario when you are standing in the middle of a park, calling your dog’s name over and over, as he continues to play with his friends, runs in the opposite direction, and then pauses to look up at you and decides that having a good sniff around will be more fun than returning to you. So, you run to grab him shaking your box of treats, but he just runs further away, rather enjoying the game. You imagine every onlooker is judging you and your embarrassment is obvious.  When you finally reunite yourself with your dog, you are furious, out of breath and late for work. You chastise him and immediately put him on the lead and march him home.

Don’t worry- it’s never too late to teach a reliable recall.

First you need to understand why your dog isn’t coming back.
Dogs are not naughty on purpose. There is always a reason for their actions.

• Is he bored at home, and the only opportunity he has for mental and physical stimulation is his walk?
  Make sure being at home is fun too.

• Has he had a meal before his walk? What reason would there be to go home for?
  Always feed after a walk.

• Do you always put him on the lead at the gate of the park?
  Put the lead on and off at different stages during the walk so he doesn’t know which one signals home time.

• Are you boring on walks? Do you ignore him and talk on your phone?
  Play with your dog during walks. You should be the most interesting thing in the park.

• Do you carry treats? Are your treats good enough or just boring kibble?
  Take the highest value treats with you if your dog has poor recall. If he’s not treat orientated then take a ball, or whatever turns him on.

• Do you call your dog standing still? Why should he come if he thinks you’re not going anywhere?
  You may have more success if you call him and shuffle backwards, or run in the opposite direction, or turn and say ‘this way’. Most dogs don’t want to be left behind.

• Do you scold your dog when he eventually returns to you after some time?
  Never scold. Your dog live sin the moment, and will be learning that when he comes back to you, he gets punished. So he will avoid coming back to you. Always praise his return, no matter how long he has been away.

Here are some basic steps you can follow to teach good recall from scratch:

1. The key is to start practising in an area of little distraction. I always suggest starting at home. Use a treat your dog likes, which is one step up from his normal food.  Let him know you have it- ie put it under his nose, but don’t give it to him.  Now you have engaged his interest, throw the treat across the room/garden. He will go and get it and probably make his way back to you for more.  As he returns to you, call his name. Since he is already coming towards you as you call, he can’t get it wrong. Give him another treat when he reaches you. Repeat a few times.

2. Now he knows that coming when he is called leads to good things, reward him with a treat every time he comes when you call in the house or garden. You can now practise calling him from one room to another, and reward.

3. Next go to a public park or field with few distractions. Pick a quiet corner devoid of other people, dogs or squirrels if you can. Now you are up against the great outdoors you will need to up the value of your treats. I find cooked chicken, cheese and sausage work well.  Attach a long line to him. Let him start to sniff around. Then call him. If he comes, give a reward and lots of praise. If he ignores, then give a tug on the lead. This starts the forward motion towards you and jolts his brain out of whatever he was fixating on. If he is attached by a long lead, he can’t get it wrong. He has to come to you.

4. Gradually introduce distractions- a dog nearby but not too close for example- and repeat step 3.
   The further away your dog is, and the more distractions there are, the more YOU have to be interesting to him.  Be animated. Sound upbeat and fun. Run backwards as you call his name (dogs naturally like to follow moving things). Go to town with the praise when he reaches you. I like to have a treat ready in my hand which I sweep from above my head down to my knees. Then I hold it at knee level for him to immediately take as he reaches me. Not only is this a good visual cue for him from a distance, but it also stops him flying by you and off somewhere else.

5. When he is coming back every time, without you having to tug on the long lead, then he is ready to go off lead.  Keep up the treats.  With time you can drop giving treats every time, and give just every so often. The key is that he is expecting a treat. Always give praise.

Dog recall issues?