Recall Tips for Dogs
Teaching your pup to come when called is one of the most important and critical skills to have. Recall training is crucial not only for emergency situations (for example, when your dog is loose), but it’s also the foundation for every other important behavior. Recall training can help dogs learn to focus, help you build a better relationship with them, and gives you an easy way to redirect them when they’re mischievous. Here are some tips to improve recall at home:
- Pick a recall word. Many dogs struggle with recall because they associate it with negative things. For example, if you call your dog in from outdoor play, call them for bath time, or any activity they may find unenjoyable, you may be decreasing their likelihood of responding to their name next time. Instead, pick a word to ONLY use during recall practice or in an emergency. If you need to call your dog outside those settings, just use their name, not the emergency recall word. Limiting how frequently we use the cue makes it special for dogs, and reduces the likelihood of not responding.
- Always use a high-value treat. If you’ve called your dog using a special emergency recall word, make sure to pay them well – even if they just misbehaved. If your dog gets out and you punish them, they’re less likely to come back the next time. Use a high=value treat every single time, to ensure your recall word has the strongest reinforcement history possible. Try using cheese, meat, or a treat your dog rarely receives.
- Practice every day. You probably already give your dog stuffed Kongs, treats, and bones, so why not practice recall when they receive these things? Recall training doesn’t have to be a long, drawn-out practice. Simply call your dog randomly throughout the day, using your recall word and a high-value treat. This helps maintain a great association with the word with minimal effort.
- Lower your criteria in distracting environments. If you haven’t proofed your dogs’ recall, they may still struggle in high-distraction environments. You can practice in these situations by putting your pup on a long-line and start by calling them from a close distance, slowly gaining space as their recall improves. Avoid saying your dogs’ name or recall word over and over, as they will learn to ignore the cue.
Depending on your pups’ age, breed, and personality, you may find teaching good recall is more difficult than it appears. The important things to remember are to keep it positive, and meet your pup where they are having success. You can learn more about recall training by emailing us at training@uptownpupindy.com.