7 Tips to get your puppy to come when called.

Recall i.e. the art of getting your dog to come when you call them!

Are you tired of your furry friend ignoring your calls?

Have you experienced the joys of your dog running wild in the park, blissfully ignoring you while you stand there, calling their name, red faced and trying to smile at tutting onlookers? 

Are you just too scared to let your dog or puppy off their lead for fear they’ll run off into the sunset never to be seen again?

I know it can be super frustrating when you're shouting your dog’s name and they just keep doing their own thing. It can be dangerous, lead to accidents and, at the end of the day, if your dog won’t come when called, they’re classed as ‘out of control’. No one wants that!

But don't worry, I've got some secrets to share with you that will help you get your fuzzy buddy at your side in a flash. That’s right… it IS possible to train your dog recall… (Yes… even you husky owner.)

At Baywood Dog Training, we get a heck of a lot of calls from owners who are desperate for help to teach their dog to come when called. Whether they’ve experienced a frightening situation, want to know their dog won’t wander off on their next camping trip or just want to stroll through the park without a fuss, they know the freedom that comes with teaching reliable recall.

So, here’s 7 top recall tips to get you started… following them could change your life and your walks forever!

First off…Tasty Treats.

If there is ever a time to use food to train your dog, it’s when we’re teaching them to come when called.

You’re asking your dog to stop something they’re really enjoying such as playing with their friends and come running to you… all the way from across the park as fast as they can. They’re going to need more than a stroke to motivate them and food is their payment. Would you keep going to work if they didn’t pay you?

So, start off using treats as an incentive, and later on, you can gradually phase them out.

When I say reward, I actually mean reward. When the task is harder, we need to increase the value of the reward. Would you do more for one pound or one million pounds? It’s the same for your dog. They might do a sit in your living room for a bit of dry biscuit that they get every day at breakfast time but that’s just not going to cut it for this training! Think cheese. Think hot dog. Think chopped up dried sprats (if your nose can handle it).

Random Rewards and hitting the jackpot!

What if you didn’t know whether you were going to get a quid or a fortune?

Think of rewards like your dog playing the lottery. If they know there’s a chance of winning BIG but never know when they’re going to win next or what they’re going to win, they’ll keep playing!

This is why random rewards work so much better than using the same type of food every time. Mix up a few different types of tasty treats in a bag and watch their performance transform!

The key is to keep your dog guessing. Don’t let them know what they’re going to get until they’re at your feet… and sometimes… give them more than one little piece. Imagine, your dog comes back and gets 5 different treats in a row. JACKPOT!

One clear command

Question for you… how many different names, phrases and tones of voice do you use when you call your dog? Come on, be honest. Most owners have a very wide selection! The truth is… all these different words and phrases are just different sounds that add to your dog’s confusion.

Consistency is key when it comes to giving commands. We really just want one word or phrase that we use every single time and we want it to be in the same consistent tone. You can choose any word you want! Most people choose a word such as “come” or “here” but it can be “meatloaf” for all your dog cares. All that matters is that you choose a word, stick to it and then need to TEACH your dog that this word or phrase means, “Come here, something brilliant will happen and then I’ll let you go and play again”.

Don’t use your dog’s name. Their name is their name. You will use their name so many times a day, for different reasons.

If, up until now, you’ve been using a particular word that your dog has learned to ignore then scrap that and pick a new word. It’ll make life a lot easier if your dog has never learned that they can ignore the cue!

Keep control

Now, let's address the issue of control. At Baywood, owners often ask, “What do I do when he’s running off and won’t come back?”. Well, there’s not a lot you can do. The secret is to not let it happen in the first place. Like most things, prevention is better than cure!

Every time a dog repeats a behaviour, it becomes a little bit more learned and a little bit harder to stop. So, make me a promise right now please… from this moment on, you will not let your dog run off or ignore your calls again.

But HOW do I do this? I hear you ask.

Simple… you use a long line until you have the recall nailed and they choose to come running to you. First time. Every time.

Just a little word of warning. The safest way to use a long line is to attach it to a harness. If you attach it directly to your dog’s collar and stop them abruptly, you can injure your dog and we definitely don’t want that!

Set your dog up for success.

Firstly, start at home and practice from just a few feet away from your dog. If your dog doesn’t come when called at home in their everyday environment with minimal distractions then what chance do you think you have when they’re halfway across a park full of distractions?

Stand with your dog a few feet away from you in your living room or kitchen.

Hold a treat in your hand and say your cue such as ‘come’ or ‘here’.

When they arrive at your feet, say “yes!” and IMMEDIATELY give them the treat.

Slowly increase the distance and distractions.

Don’t ruin your hard work

The quickest way to ruin a developing recall is to scold your dog or completely stop the fun when they arrive at your side.

Picture this… you think you and your dog are ready for off lead time. You call your dog and they don’t return to you. When they eventually do, you tell them off for not coming quicker. Your dog hasn’t got a clue what you’re angry about! All they know is that they came back to you and were met with bad energy… making it a lot less likely for them to come running to you next time. Instead, praise them massively for returning and take a few steps back with training. Back on that long line you go, fido!

If you only call your dog when it’s time to clip their lead on and walk back home, they will quickly learn that coming back to you means the end of their fun and will start to ignore your call! When you’re in a position where you can let your dog off a lead and they return to you reliably, make sure you call them to you many times on your walk… have a fun game, give them a treat, clip their lead on for a minute then let them off again.

Increasing motivation

Very simply… a hungry dog will work for food. A dog who is full will quickly lose interest.

So, train recall when your dog is hungry and not after dinner.

At Baywood Dog Training we absolutely love helping people to teach their dog to come when called! It allows your dog to have so much more freedom and makes walks a lot less stressful for you too.  Don’t forget, our courses will help you get your dog at your side faster than you can say sausage! We’re always here to help!

Good luck and happy training!