Tips for a Good Recall or Coming Back When Called.
Your dog coming back when called is far more likely when it’s a rewarding experience. Remember your dog is having fun and when you call them to come back to you that fun is ending so, you want to make sure you are worth coming back for.
Practice calling your dog when you don’t need it and you will be more likely to have it when you do need it.
Avoid calling only when the fun is ending – call during a walk and then praise/reward and continue on the walk. Call them when playing then when they return to you continue playing. This will encourage them to come to you when you do need to end the play because you have practiced when it didn’t end.
Don’t use your recall word when wanting to do something that your dog may not find fun – cleaning their ears, giving them a bath, brushing them or something that your dog really doesn’t like. If you use your recall word for those events, when you need them to return to you, they may think “when he says ‘here” it means not fun things happen …. I don’t want to go back right now. I would rather chase the rabbit.”
ALWAYS reward your dogs for coming back no matter how long it took them to come back and then keep on practicing. Scolding or punishing when it takes them longer to return creates fear/anxiety about coming back. They may start to think returning means bad things will happen. So, always make it happy and a party!
Don’t continue repeating the same cue or words over and over. Repeated calling will develop a loss of interest - it becomes white noise to your dog. Try whistling, clapping or running in the opposite direction – use lots of encouragement.
Watch the inflection in your voice. Even if you are angry, make it a happy voice – think would you want to go to someone with an angry voice? Use a happy, excited voice and an upbeat tone. Go ahead …. Embarrass yourself for your dog 😊
Practice in areas with low distractions. Play hide and seek inside and outside – reward your dog when come back to you.
If your dog is really interested in a good smelly scent or area, you are much less likely to get a response. So, wait a little bit until their interest is over and then practice. Set your dog up for success!
If you practice when it’s fun and rewarding to return to you, you will be much more likely to have a successful recall when you need it.
Dogs will learn faster and retain what they learn longer if they learn with fun.