Does your dog come when called?

How good is your dog’s recall? Does he or she come every time you call? Most of the time? When he wants to?

Just like getting to Carnegie Hall, the answer to the question of how to get to where your dog comes every time is … practice, practice, practice.

When I teach my recall class (which is VERY fun, by the way), people are amazed at their dogs and how excitedly they run to them when called. But it’s not a big trade secret. We don’t hold out a big steak to call them and we don’t freak them out and scare them if they don’t comply.

What do we do? We practice. In a very structured and gradual way, so that the dogs (all of them) are successful.

We start super-easy, with zero distractions, and then work our way up to practicing while making the environment more and more challenging. 

If your dog’s recall success rate is anything less than 80%, it’s time to up your game, or that success rate is going to start to slide.

And always remember the Five Rules of Recall:

1.    Don’t call your dog if you know he’s not going to come. Just go get him.

2.    Don’t repeat the cue. Don’t be that dog owner who’s yelling Fido! Fido! Fido! at the park.

3.    Don’t call your dog when it’s time for something they don’t like (think: bath, nail trims, etc.)

4.    If your recall fails, be creative! Wave, say “woo woo!” or run up and get your dog to chase you. Just remember Rule #2.

5.    Always reward HUGELY! This is really important and goes hand-in-hand with always being happy when your dog comes back to you, even if he just scared the bejesus out of you by running down the street.

I’m currently drafting a unique program focusing on recall. It will be self-directed, and you will also have access to my coaching through the program. It will help so many people improve their dog’s recall, which, let’s face it, is the most important skill your dog will ever learn.