Many new dog owners are nervous about letting their buddy off the lead. You want to protect your dog from every dangerous situation. But recall training is important so they will reliably come back to you when you call them, and keep out of trouble.
So, how do you teach your furry friend to come back to you and not go off chasing something more exciting? We know you're not a dog trainer, but with these easy steps you can’t go wrong.
What is Recall Dog Training?
Recall training with your dog is the act of teaching them to come back to you when you use a certain command, gesture, or both.
Strong recall is perfect for when you're out on a long walk, to prevent them from getting into trouble with other animals, to get them away from potenially poisonous objects or if you just want them close to you in a busy environment.
The key elements to getting it right are consistency, practice and rewards for your pooch. Just remember, the training is supposed to be fun for both of you. So a key element to recall training your pup is to stay calm and keep things upbeat for them.
But why do you even need to nail the art of recalling your furry bestie?
The Importance of Recall Training for Dogs
Any time you don't have control over your dog can be potentially dangerous – not only for your pooch but for other dogs, cats, wildlife, livestock, and people. Dogs that are on the loose can run onto roads, causing accidents, become lost or get stolen.
Training a reliable recall means your dog will return to you when called, so you can allow them to run around off lead when it's safe with the certainty that they'll always come back to you. No one wants to be held responsible for their pooch ruining a family picnic!
How to Teach a Dog Recall
Recall training can be started in the garden or inside your home. Put your dog on a long lead, take a step back and with a flat hand up, and ask them to stay. After 5 seconds, call them to your side and reward them with a treat.
Use Simple Dog Recall Command Words
You can then call your dog to you by using their name and adding a short word such as 'Come'. Other good recall phrases could be:
- Here
- Now
- Quick
- Move
- Front
Use a happy, excited voice and crouch down to welcome them back with lots of praise and a treat. You can use a whistle if you prefer and open your arms wide so they also have a visual clue.
Gradually increase the time and distance - you could ask a friend or other family member to hold your dog to start with.
Be Consistent with Your Recall Cues
Always remember to use the same cue words and body language when recall training your dog. Swapping words or gestures could become confusing for your pup, and the same goes for any other family members or walkers. They should also use the same recall words and signals.
Once you're confident your bud understands they're training recalls and that they must come back to you when called instead of going off for a wander, you can head out using a long line.
Where to Train Recall with Your Dog
Choose a quiet area and time in a local park or other public space when there's unlikely to be many other people and dogs around to practice your recall. You can increase the distance on the training lead to help improve recall when they're further away.
Practice calling your pooch several times on every walk you take together. Don't despair if your buddy would rather go off exploring than come back to you. It might take several weeks or even months before they get the hang of it and you have reliable recall.
If you don't give your buddy consistent cues, they can become confused, and this can make them appear disobedient. So be patient, keep practising in a quiet area, and don't be tempted to take your dog to open public areas before they're ready.
Recall Training with Rewards
You’ll soon know which kind of reward your dog loves most - it needs to be a better reward than whatever they’re doing! The reward should be a high-value treat like something tasty, a favourite toy or ball to play with, heaps of praise or a game that you can play together.
Once you know which reward works best for your pooch, you can repeat the recall training. It may involve a lot of patience and repetition until your dog consistently comes back to you when called. Always be positive, the training sessions should be fun and relaxed.
If they lose concentration, become distracted by some exciting smells, or your dog finds chasing squirrels preferable to training, try again another day. Never get angry or impatient with them, as this will make them more unlikely to want to return to you.
After a while, you won't need to reward your dog when they return, but it's always a good idea to have some treats ready to keep them motivated from time to time.
Getting a Buddy Involved
Involving a friend of your pooch in recall training can make the process fun and engaging for your pup. Start with a familiar dog that your dog enjoys being around, allowing them to interact in a safe space - this works even better if your friend has already mastered the art of recall!
Call your dog to you while their friend is nearby - using treats, toys, or praise as motivation. You can also create a game by having two people call their dogs back and forth, keeping the sessions short and lively to maintain interest.
Letting Your Dog off the Lead
Once you’re both ready to move on to the next stage, you can move from using a long training line to letting your dog off the lead altogether.
Make sure the area is secure and dog-friendly - a dog park is ideal. Only let your dog off the lead in an open space if you’re confident that they’ll return when called. It’s a good idea to keep practicing the recall from time to time to make sure your dog is still on-message!
What to Do if Your Dog Doesn't Listen?
If your dog won't listen to your recall commands, it's important to remember to stay calm. We want this training to remain a fun activity for you and your pup. Plus, there are a lot of distractions in the outside world, so it might be understandable that the person they see every day isn't quite as interesting at that exciting moment.
However, if your dog is running off and not returning on recall, it can be dangerous - especially around busy roads. This is why it's important to practice your dog recall training in wide open spaces away from any potential hazards.
The best way to make sure your dog consistently comes back to you when called is to repeat the training regularly. Always be patient and positive, but if they still haven't mastered reliable recall, a qualified trainer or behaviourist can always help.
And always make sure your dog has a collar, ID tag and microchip with up-to-date details – you know, just in case!
Everypaw Dog Insurance
Everypaw's Dog Insurance comes with 24/7 unlimited access to vets and vet nurses that can help with your pet's health, care, nutrition and behaviour. So you can rest assured your pup will be well looked after.
Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Canis - www.vetstream.com/treat/canis
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