We ask our dogs to come when nothing is going on, and then ask the same when people are at the door and the other dogs are barking their heads off. This is another point that sounds simple but is violated all the time. Start easy and gradually work up to hard. It’s always good to break any behavior down into steps, and the first step we want is for a dog to take her attention off of X, and turn it to us. I like to say Good!, clap and run away from the dog as soon as they turn their heads toward me. Never forget the power of using a problem (dog wants to do X and it wasn’t what you had in mind) as a reinforcement, as long as it’s safe.īe sure to reinforce at the right time, especially in the beginning. My dogs always want to run to the barn to start our woods walk, so calling them back and then saying “Okay!” is a great reinforcement. You know your dog ask yourself what your dog wants to do herself. Mix up what a dog gets too–food sometimes for sure (especially when starting or training through a high level distraction), but letting your dog chase you while you clap and laugh, throwing a toy, and getting out the dinner bowl are great options. ![]() You might consider having different levels of reinforcement, like kibble for an easy recall and chicken for a hard one. Are you still being crystal clear?ĭecide what reinforcement you are going to use, and be sure to have it handy. If you’re in the maintenance phase, pay attention to what you’re saying and doing. Why confuse your dog or pollute the cue? Less is more here, and that takes training ourselves to be consistent. Most of us use too many cues for coming when called. This step seems trivial to many, but it’s hugely important. I like to use a visual clue too–turning a little sideways and patting your thigh is a good one. Use verbal clues that are sharp and clear, like PUP PUP PUP or clapping your hands. Here’s a summary of the steps I use to teach a recall, and to maintain it.įirst, before anything else, decide what cues you are going to use. I thought it might be a good time to review not just teaching your dog a recall, but also maintaining it, to make sure their response is what you want it to be. But the more control you have over your dog, the more freedom they can have. I found myself wishing that every dog could experience the kind of freedom my dogs had that evening, knowing full well that it’s simply not possible in many cases. ![]() It was nasty weather, but I still reveled in letting my dogs soak up the scents of a late midwestern summer. On our last night there I walked the dogs at the end of a brutally hot day, the air as hot and heavy as soup, while the electric whine of cicadas played back up to the rhythmic chirping of field crickets. (Not to mention doing this with dogs bred specifically to work with you as a team I didn’t see any Beagles running around loose.) There’s nothing like training a dog to listen to you from hundreds of yards away when running high speed around prey to inspire confidence closer in. I was not alone my dogs were little different than most of the other dogs at the sheepdog trial. But what a joy to be able to let the dogs be free to explore with their eyes, ears and noses. (Maggie requests chicken please.) I was not an idiot and never let them get within 10 yards of the fence, and like all good dog owners, was always looking 50 yards and 5 seconds ahead. I made a mental note to do a couple of sessions of “coming away from food on the ground” with some kick ass reinforcements. Were they obedience competition perfect? No I had to use my “outside voice” a couple of times, once when Maggie discovered a treasure trove of kibble someone had left in the grass after driving away. ![]() What a joy to know that I could trust my dogs to stop when I said, stay close when asked, and come when I called. The area was surrounded by a knock-you-to-your-knees electric fence. ![]() Last weekend we were at a sheepdog trial, where I could walk the dogs off leash in a field full of campers and other dogs.
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