RECALLS

Phideaux, come!  Come, Boy!  Phideaux, HERE!  HERE!  NOW, PHIDEAUX, COME!!

Does this sound familiar?  Does the cue of “Come!” signal to your dog that it’s time to practice for the long distance Olympic run?  Wouldn’t it be nice if Phideaux decided that coming to you was better than running wild and free? Good news!  It is possible to get your dog to come no matter what his age or background.

Perhaps one of the finest trainers of recall is Bob Bailey, who trained animals for several different governmental agencies.  From dolphins for the Navy to cats for the CIA, Mr. Bailey developed reward-based techniques to have the animals return to the trainer.  Dolphins returned reliably even after missions that required them to be in the open ocean for twelve hours.  He accomplished these phenomenal results without the use of aversive equipment such as shock collars (also known as training collars or e-collars). Positive training does work!

So what does it take to get a good recall on Phideaux?  Let’s start with your relationship with your dog.  Step back and take a look at why Phideaux might consider it worth his effort to come to you.  Dogs do what is rewarding to them.  Does coming to you mean something good will happen or will he be put in the house, away from all the fun smells?  Will it mean he gets a treat or just end his playtime?  Will he get praise and petting or will coming to you mean he will be punished?  Have you established that coming to you is better than whatever else is out there?

The best time to start recall training on your dog is when he is a pup.  Puppies have a natural desire to be with you. Using this to your advantage will pay off down the road.  Begin by rewarding the pup every time he comes to you.  Rewards can be treats, games of tug or fetch, or simply petting.  A great game to play is called “puppy ping pong” in which two people face each other and practice calling the puppy  back and forth between them.  Each person should have a reward for the puppy when he comes.  Another great game is to disappear around a corner when the puppy is otherwise occupied and then call him by name, making sure to reward him when he finds you.  Be sure not to make it too difficult for the puppy in the beginning. Try these games with your older dog as well!

What if you have adopted an older dog or you just didn’t spend time training your puppy to come when called?  The good news is your dog can still be taught to come on cue!  You will want to start with some of the best treats ever (in his opinion, not yours).  Say his name, then use a marker like a click from a clicker or a quick “Yes!” the minute he turns to look at you.  Reward him with a treat.  Do this throughout the day in areas where Phideaux will not be distracted.  Should Phideaux choose not to look at you, be sure to ignore him for a short while then try again.  If he continues to ignore you, choose better treats or try working in an area with fewer distractions (a new use for the bathroom!). Keep working until Phideaux is reliably looking to you when cued.

Begin to add a little distance so Phideaux must come to you to get the treat when you call his name.  You can add a cue word for the recall when you are sure he will come.  Please note that it is extremely important to use a new, different word from what you may have previously been using.  If you have been using “come,” try “here,” “front,” or “check” as Phideaux probably thinks the old word means “keep doing whatever you want.”  The better Phideaux gets at coming, the more you will want to add distractions like working outside or adding people or other dogs to the trials. Just remember to always set him up for success.  Go slowly, adding one new element at a time.  In other words, don’t take him to a park with five new dogs the first week of training and expect a perfect recall.

There are rules for recall.  Keep training sessions short and fun.  Never call your dog to you to punish him or do something to him he won’t like - just go get him instead.  Training for off lead work should always take place in a safe area.  Have fun! If you’re not having fun, chances are he’s not either!

Jan Casey is a reward-based trainer and owner of Smiles and Wags Pet Services in Cookeville.  Email her at jan@smilesandwags.com  with any questions you may have.