Solid Recall

 

The first cue to teach a dog is a solid recall. Going in a sit or a down is all fine but when you have a solid recall, it means you can keep your dog out of harms way. It also means your dog can be off lead more often.

How many times have you been out walking your dog and a loose dog comes running up with their owner running behind yelling their name. It happens more than you realize. The dog sees something they want to go investigate. This can be a dog, a person.

Not everyone likes a strange dog running up to them. This also includes a lot of dogs. Dogs who are elderly, injured, reactive or scared. A loose dog without a solid recall can get hurt. They can cross the street because they are so excited by that cute dog on the other side. That dog might just have had surgery and isn’t feeling all too well and might bite. There are so many risks when you let your dog run up to everyone and everything. Your dog might be friendly, but others might not.

There is an on-lead protocol in many areas. Even if your dog does have a good recall, it is still mandatory to keep your dog on a lead in those areas. The dog can always get spooked by something in the environment and make a run for it.

When you walk in an off-lead area, you can still find many dogs who might still be on lead. This can have all sorts of reasons. When you see a dog approaching on a lead, call your dog back and put their lead on. When you’ve passed each other and it is safe again, your dog can be let off lead again.

To teach a solid recall, is easy. Start in a safe and quiet environment without any distractions. Call your dog’s name and when they respond, give them a treat. Repeat this a few times in a row and in different parts of the day. Your dog will quickly realize that his name will mean treats.

When your dog responds every time you call his name, you are going to go to the next step and add a little distance. Call your dog from the end of the hallway and see if he responds and comes to you.

Each time he does, treat. You can start with more distance or even work from different rooms.

Your yard, if you have one, is also a good place to work on a recall.

Step by step start increasing more distractions.

When you are ready to take it outside, keep your dog on a long line. This will still keep him attached to you when he is too distracted by his environment. Only when your dog responds every time you call his name, you are able to let him off lead. Make sure you start in quiet environments first and gradually add more and more. If your dog listens to his name while in your yard and you take him to the dog park and let him off the lead right away, chances are that you’ll be calling his name continuously. This will have no effect. When you take the time to teach your dog, you will have a dog who comes when called.