Getting an instant recall every time your dog is called is not always easy. It generally takes lots of training, persistence and patience. Ensuring that your dog develops a good recall is essential for their safety.
Dogs that fail to come back to their owners when called could potentially be hit by a car, get lost, become bitten by another dog as well as be very frustrating. There are generally three reasons why a dog does not return to their owner either they arnt aware what the command means, they would rather do something else or they are afraid of the consequences if they do return . Firstly the main thing when training recall is to give your dog a reason to return.
This maybe a treat or a toy which ever works best for your dog. If choosing treats it needs to be something of high reward preferable something that the dogs doesn’t receive in its daily diet. In initially try practicing in the house, call your dog 10-15 times a day and give him/ her a treat. If the dog doesn’t come to you ignore it and try a few 15-20 seconds later. Ensure that you do not get into a habit of having to call your dog several times before it returns to you.
To begin with you need to try to catch your dog when he/she is more likely to return to you. After practicing in the house try introducing it into the garden. Following the garden take your dog over a field and on an extendable lead when there is no dogs or people. After several weeks start introducing the exercise when there is some distractions.
If your dog stops responding then you have proceeded too quickly and you will need to go back a step. Only when your dog is returning instantly 10/10 times do you then let them off the lead.
Its very common for people to struggle with recall if you require further training check out our training page
