- Build a strong bond with your dog. You are the most important thing to them
- Your verbal recall command should be the dog’s name and then the command, e.g. “Willow, Come!” Always use a consistent command and do not keep repeating it if your dog ignores you the first time, do something about it to help your dog succeed. All you do by repeating a failed command is teach the dog that it doesn’t need to be listened to.
- Use a high value reward (treats or play) to build up a pattern of behaviour for recall that you want the dog to do.
- Slowly increase the distance you expect the dog to recall back to you, as well as the levels of distraction around your dog.
- Have an invisible perimeter ‘bubble’ around you and don’t let your dog stray further than the bubble limits
- Use recall, check-ins, hunting and retrieving as techniques to keep your dog within the bubble perimeter limits
- Use a long line if your dog is struggling to return to you and go back to basics
- Make sure you have a ‘happy face’ when your dog returns (whatever they’ve been up to!)
- Continue to train recall with a long line until you are confident the dog will return
- Always set your dog up for success. Do not except your dog to recall from something super exciting in a new place when the behaviour has not been fully proofed in many locations and scenarios. In these instances use your long line or move to a lower distraction area to ensure your dog doesn’t fail.
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