How to Do the Perfect Recall with My Dog?

Perfecting the recall in dog training is paramount to creating a well-trained dog. A recall is an essential part of having a dog, as it makes sure that the dog will come back to its owner, regardless of any distractions. The recall command can be used in many different scenarios and should be perfected by all owners. Here are some tips on how to perfect your recall training routine. As Daniel explains:

"So, I like to call it training the 'spontaneous recall.' And, the best way to do that is a long line. So, I would let out a lot of line and let the dog run around to teach the dog the initial spontaneous recall. And, what I would do is I wouldn't feed the dog the night before or that morning. I would go out relatively early in the day and I would have super high-value treats in my pocket, right? And, I would spontaneously call the dog to me, reward with a high-value treat, do it several times, just change directions walk around the park."

And, as your dog begins to master this first phase, you move onto a more difficult stage. Take them near areas that are known distraction triggers. This may be near a tree or even traffic. As Daniel elaborates:

"In the case of my client, we did it with chickens the other day, and as soon as the dog - well the dog autocorrected once. So, the dog's on a prong collar and a long line, and the dog ran off, autocorrected. All he did was hold the line, the dog autocorrected, and immediately we called the dog back to us without getting mad at the dog for breaking the - you know, just the kind of the proximity, radius of which we were in running after the chickens. 

We didn't get mad, we didn't scream at the dog. The natural human reaction is 'Hey! Come back here!' We don't do that. We always keep it happy and encouraging."

And, by maintaining calm, assertive energy and using a sturdy voice command, you can help your dog to maintain spontaneous recall autocorrection even in difficult circumstances. And lastly, when you're practicing these exercises, it's important to always end on a positive note.

With that in mind, Daniel says he believes this type of training is the best way to avoid having your dog take off after something, and to keep it coming back.