Make this change in your Recall Training

A common mistake owners make with recall training is thinking it’s about rewarding the dog WHEN they come back.

Instead let’s shift the mindset of this first step to… when my dog hears this sound (such as a whistle, their name called in a specific way or another cue), excellent stuff happens.

It’s a subtle change in mindset, but it helps take the recall from the dog thinking about the consequences (eg when I do this, this is the consequence that has happened in the past) to instead being an involuntary reflex from the dog associating the sound predicting good stuff - exactly like how they reliably appear when you open the cupboard where their treats are kept! This shift gives a far better success rate when facing competing motivators such as other dogs, animals or smells on the ground and lays a good foundation for other recall training to build from.

Start with your dog right in front of you & just calling your recall cue or whistling THEN reinforcing your dog - food, toys, whatever they value most. The sound, FOLLOWED BY the thing they like.

Gradually start using it with more distance, increasing distractions and challenges - making it into a real recall cue you can use in the real world.

If you’re struggling or working in a busier space, having a long line on your puppy or dog while they’re learning is always a great idea to prevent them finding reinforcement elsewhere while learning. I just don’t have a collar small enough for this pup currently.

There are many exercises I do with my dogs when training a recall, but this first step makes the rest a lot easier and smoother. Give it a go and see how you get on.

If you’re in the Waikato and need a hand with recall, get in touch to organise some coaching with your specific dog. Hello@wolfedogs.nz