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One of the essential abilities your dog should have is to come to you when called. However, because dogs find so much of the environment fascinating, training for this may be difficult. We’re asking our dogs to stop what they’re doing every time we ask them to come to us.
That means ignoring other intriguing odors, pets, and food to come to us. As a result, to develop a dependable call, we must educate our dogs that being near us is the most enjoyable thing they can do and the most rewarding.
What is Reliable Recall?
The term “reliable recall” is frequently used by trainers, but what exactly does it imply? When you call your dog to come, you want to know that they will answer excitedly 99.99 percent of the time. Because dogs aren’t machines, there’s no assurance that they’ll follow your commands perfectly. However, when it comes to a life-saving skill like recall, we want them to be as consistent as possible.
If you wish to let your dog run off-leash outside of a fenced yard or dog park, having a reliable recall is vital. Even if your dog never goes off-leash, a dedicated memory is an essential skill to have in case of an emergency.
Recall Training
Making training a game for your dog is a crucial component of teaching recall. You want your dog to be excited to be near you.
Begin your training in a quiet, low-distraction area, such as your own home. Show your dog a toy or a treat first, then praise and reward them as they approach you. After a few repetitions, add your selected verbal cue anytime your dog looks at you and begins to walk towards you. Make sure you only use the signal when you’re sure your dog is approaching you.
You may gradually raise the stakes by asking your dog to come before revealing the treat. When they arrive, reward them with high-value food like chicken, cheese, or beef liver. Also, inside your low-distraction setting, gradually increase distance.
Avoid a Poisoned Cue
A ‘poisoned cue’ arises when the cue has an ambiguous meaning or has a bad connection for the dog, causing them to disregard it. Overusing a signal by repeating the term without your dog reacting is the quickest method to poison it. Try to keep your recall cues direct and straightforward to understand.
In this situation, changing your verbal cue to anything fresh is the ideal option. If you had previously used “come,” for example, you might switch to “here” or “near.” When introducing a new recall cue, it’s better to go back to the beginning and start from the beginning.
In Conclusion
Training a dog can be difficult; it’s important to do research. Talk to experienced dog owners, and don’t be afraid to seek the help of a professional trainer.
Check out some of our puppies!
Here’s a link to some training treats.
Here’s a video about this: