How to start recall training with your puppy, step by step
If you want to be able to let your dog run loose when you're outdoors, it's important that your dog learns recall. You need to be absolutely sure that your dog always comes to you when you call. It’s a good idea to start recall training very early. In this article, we've put together some simple exercises you can use to practise recall with your puppy.
Recall isn't something you teach your puppy in a week. It’s a long process that relies on your puppy receiving plenty of rewards for the behaviour. It's also a good idea to give your puppy extra tasty treats when it comes to you.
Here’s how:
Wait until you see your puppy approaching you in your home environment, then call your puppy’s name once and reward them when they reach you.
You can do exactly the same thing when you’re out for a walk. To begin with, make sure you do the exercise without any distractions.
What should I do if my puppy doesn’t listen?
You shouldn’t call your puppy if you’re unsure they will come. It’s therefore important to gradually increase the difficulty for your puppy regarding the environment, activities and other things that might distract them. Use a long lead on your puppy until you feel confident they will come when you call, especially in more challenging situations.
If you happen to call your puppy and realise the environment was too challenging, you could call an adult dog who’s with you on the walk – your puppy will likely come too. When your puppy is heading towards you, call them in and reward them generously. If you don’t have an older dog to lead the way, turn around and walk the other way. When your puppy sees you and comes towards you, call them in and reward them.
Keep this in mind:
When you’ve made progress with recall and you dare to let your puppy run loose, you don’t want them to associate recall with being put back on the lead. Therefore, don’t put your puppy on a lead immediately after they come to you. This can teach your dog that recall always means the lead goes on and the fun is over. Instead, call your dog in often when they’re loose, play together for a while, and give praise. Remember that being loose is an important reward for your puppy, so it’s by far the best reward for recall training too!
Combining with other recall training:
Also read:this exercise to combine with recall training, helping your dog stay a little closer to you on walks. Remember that your dog should always be rewarded for seeking you out on walks and when they come to your call. This applies throughout your dog’s life.
