A dog must not be off leash unless the owner can call it back on the first try. Here are some tips on how to train recall with your dog.
You need to be able to trust that your dog will always come to you when you call – even if it wants to do something else, like chase a rabbit. For this to work, your dog has to see you as a valuable resource. Someone it can trust and rely on in any situation. That might mean giving it a job to do, providing food, or being a source of comfort and safety.
¶It’s important to start early
A young puppy hasn’t yet developed a strong hunting instinct or a big interest in other dogs. That’s why it’s important to use things like treats or affection as motivation when you teach it to come when called. When you see that your puppy is expecting something from you, that’s when you should call it. Practice as often as you can.
¶Train indoors with your puppy
It’s a good idea to start recall training indoors. That way, the puppy can’t run off anywhere. When the puppy is on its way towards you, use a word such as “come.” But only say it when the puppy is actually moving towards you and focused on you – never when it’s moving away. That way your puppy learns to pay attention to your command. Once it has learned this, it will come when you call it using the word “come.”
¶Repeat the same training
When you’re outside practicing recall, don’t call your dog unless you’re fairly sure it’s going to come. It’s important that nothing outweighs its desire to run to you. Wander around a bit. Hide behind a tree or something else when you can. Don’t show yourself, but still try to keep an eye on the puppy and let it find you. Watch how the puppy reacts when it can’t see or find you. Help it by calling so it doesn’t run off in the wrong direction.
¶On its own little adventures
One day you’ll experience that your puppy seems to have forgotten all the training you’ve done together.
Your dog will find something really exciting that’s more fun than you are. When this happens, your puppy should notice that you’re not as happy as you usually are. Walk the other way without calling to see whether your games (where you’ve hidden from your dog) have created a habit of it following you when you disappear.
The puppy should want to make it up to you when you’re annoyed. Take the opportunity to turn around and run away from whatever has captured the dog’s or puppy’s attention. Try to entice it to follow. When the puppy comes after you, reward it with a treat or a short play session.
Try to create a similar situation again as soon as possible to confirm that what you just practiced has worked and that your dog has learned from it. If it hasn’t learned yet, try more play, more treats, or being a bit stricter. Then just keep repeating until it works.
