Coming when called, or recalls, are one of the simpler skills.
Coming when called, or recalls, are one of the simpler skills. They do require repeated drilling to achieve proficiency. Most people are surprised to recognize that many animals have shockingly good recalls. The problem is that it’s to the wrong sound. Many dogs come running when they hear the crinkle of a treat bag. These are recalls. The animal hears a sound and comes running. If you can teach a dog to run to sound of a treat bag, you can get a pretty decent recall with a dog. Most people train with hope and pray training. They call their distracted dog, hoping and praying that they will listen. When it fails, they become trapped in a situation where all options are bad. Repeating oneself teaches the dog that the word isn’t that important. Chasing the dog becomes a fun game for the animal. Say the word, clearly and distinctly. It should stand out from room conversation. Pause for a second. Then reach for several pieces of special food. Give it to the dog no matter what they do. Feed the dog by your feet. Don’t deliver it to the dog. Then comes the drilling. Add distance. Work in different rooms. Play hide and seek. Incorporate distractions. Start easy. Drill through progressively harder ones.
To read more, subscribe to Buddy Life!
" >
" >