reliable recalls

I think "coming when called" is the most important command you can ever teach your dog. If your dog has a reliable recall, you have a safe dog!

What you’ll need
Start off with making sure YOU are ready to practice recalls. Have on good shoes - Don’t train in flip-flops! Have high-value treats ready. I like to use cut up cheese, hot dogs, chicken, etc. Dogs love real meat. Usually better than a boring ‘ol hard biscuit.. Have your dog on-leash, and most of all, have an up beat, positive attitude!

Practice inside first
When you're starting your recalls (calling your dog to come to you), you want to start off with your dog very close. Set your dog up for success! Start with them close to you, and on their leash. Actually, the BEST place to start practicing is inside your house! Just like we talked about with leash walking - Start where there are limited distractions. Start with your dog in front of you and, if you're able, just jog backwards a couple steps AS you're calling your dog to come. Dogs love to chase! So, have them chase you! Make this a fun game! Just go a few steps at a time and the reward. You don't HAVE to have them sit (remember, you're working on "come" for this, not "sit"). You can jog backwards, so you are facing your dog as they are coming towards you, or you can turn around and jog so your feet are headed the same way as your dogs. Either way, make sure your dog is chasing YOU, and not the other way around.

Distractions - Baby Steps
Just like with any command, you want to start off with no distractions, or really really low level distractions. Practice in your family room, or kitchen. Just a few feet away from your dog. Then work your way up to different rooms, then further away from your dog. Once you can do that, you can start adding in very easy distractions. Maybe someone is holding a toy near you when you call your dog. If your dog gets distracted by the toy, quickly go over to them, wave that high-value treat in front of their nose, and lure them towards you. Still reward them! You were able to gain their attention back on you so they get a reward for sure! Each time you work with a distraction, you’ll get to the point where that distraction is no longer distracting. At that point you can make the distraction a little more difficult. Don’t do too much! Remember, you want to set your dog up for success, not set him up for failure. 

Over-Excitement
I’m happy if my dog is excited to work on the come command with me! I told her “no”, but I’m not going to get too upset. In my opinion, it’s better than having your dog act uninterested and not happy to be playing this game. So, if your dog jumps up on your while you're doing this command, don't get too discouraged. Just choose to reward the behavior you want, and that behavior (jumping up) will eventually disappear.

Treats!
You'll also notice that I treat IMMEDIATELY. The second my dog gets to me I have my treat out and ready. Sometimes it takes me a second to get out more treats after that, but I always have an initial treat out and ready for my dog. Don't fiddle in your pockets after your dog has already come to you. You will have missed that small window of reward. The next time you call your dog, they will remember that they didn't get rewarded. If you reward them a few seconds AFTER they get to you, you've already missed it. They could have sat, turned and looked the other way, walked a few steps away from you. If you take too long to get the treat to them, they might not put two-and-two together, and may not understand why they are getting the treat. So, to make it effective in your training, make sure you're treating them the split second they get to you!

Some people make the mistake of having boring treats. Or, thinking that petting your dog for coming to you is enough of a reward. Believe me, if your treats are super exciting, your dog will be super excited to come to you! Dogs are creatures of habit. If you create a habit of your dog running towards you when you call them (because they get this awesome reward), your dog will remember that. It will carry over. The higher-value treat you have, the more motivated your dog will be to get the treat!

What does your dog see as a reward?
Some dogs really enjoy physical praise. That’s great. If your dog loves it when you pet them, go ahead and pet them - After you’ve treated them for coming. Some of my dogs like it, some don’t. Don’t get me wrong, my dogs love to snuggle. But when they are “working”, having to stop and get pet is definitely not a reward for them. You’ll see them walking backwards to move away, and virtually rolling their eyes at me. 

Here’s a scenario I want you to think about - Say your dog is outside, playing with one of their dog friends. But, you want to get home. So, you call your dog to you, clip on his leash and head home. Hmm...Your dog probably understood that interaction as a negative, right? He was playing, you called him, and now his play ended. Here’s another one - You have a few extra minutes, so you decide it’s time to trim your dogs toenails. So you grab the clippers and call your dog over. Hmm… Your dog came to you and ended up getting his toenails trimmed. Think he’s going to come the next time you call him? Nope! Be sure to call your dog for something he perceives as a reward. If you need to do something that your dog won’t think is super fun and awesome, be sure to go to HIM, rather than call him to you.

Use your voice
The way you use your voice can make or break how your dog listens to you. If you call your dog in a deep, slow voice, your dog will probably not come as fast. If you use a more encouraging, upbeat voice, your dog will be more excited to come running to you! Slow, monotone voices tend to make dogs go slow or stop (PS, this is a great voice to use when you want your dog to stay). Higher, happier, upbeat voices tend to make dogs move or go faster! Always keep it happy!

Use your body
Our dogs are masters at watching our body language. I can imagine they do it all day long! If you watch dogs play with each other, you’ll see them use body language constantly. Typically standing tall, with your body facing your dog, means stop or back up (PS, again, this would be the perfect body stance when working on stay!). Making your body smaller, like bending down on one knee, makes you more inviting. Less intimidating. More welcoming for your dog to come to you when you call him. Even better is turning your body away from your dog and jogging the opposite way to engage your dog in chase! Chase me! (remember, don’t chase your dog, get him to chase you!).

No dog is 100%
They are dogs, they’re not little robots. Even the most reliable dog has something that will distract him. I’d love to say that my dogs are rock solid, but… What about that one time when we had deer run through our yard? There is always the potential for an uncontrolled distraction. Continue to proof your dog (working in different environments with different scenarios), but always remember to do your job to keep your dog safe. You are the great human being that has the ability to reason and decide if an environment is going to be safe and successful for your dog. So, don’t put him in a situation where he may fail. I can’t tell you how many 100’s of times I’ve heard “he’s never done that before”. Please, keep him safe.

Come! Come! Come!
Please-please-please don’t repeat your command. Let me say this again, please… Okay, hopefully you get it. If you call your dog ten times before he actually comes to you, he’ll realize he doesn’t need to come until you’ve called him ten times! Clearly call your dog one time, then use your body. Jog away. Pat your leg. Clap your hands. Make fun little squeaky or kissy noises! Do whatever you can to make yourself more inviting than that squirrel that is running up the tree!

Be goofy!
Loosen up! Your dog loves a silly you! Smile at your dog, be happy and enjoy the moment! Keep your training sessions positive and have fun!

Catch them in the act - And encourage it!
If you see your dog walking or running towards you, quickly say “come!” and then tell them how smart they are.

Games!
I love making this into a fun game! You can play hide-and-seek! Again, make sure the environment is safe, and make it very easy for your dog at first. Hide behind a chair, or a corner in the house. Work your way up to hiding in a different room!

Another fun game is calling your dog from person to person. Each person has gobs of treats - One person calls, treats the dog, then the next person calls and treats the dog.

Giene Keyes

Giene Keyes is the owner of Moon Dog Training, LLC, providing positive in-home training, behavior consultations and group classes. After receiving “Best of Madison'' multiple years in a row, Giene sold her dog daycare to focus on her dog behavior work.  Giene has been working with pets and their owners for over 30 years.  She is a professional animal trainer and behavior specialist in Southern Wisconsin. Giene divides her time between teaching group classes and private lessons – Specializing in manners and aggression cases.  Giene works with vets, rescue groups and shelters, evaluating dogs for adoption, developing Canine Aggression Management Programs, and educating staff on dog language and behaviors.  She consults for dog daycares and training companies by educating staff on dog body language, cues, managing a pack, difficult dogs and much more. She provides behavior consultations for service dog organizations and rescue groups in the Midwest.  She has been an Instructor with the American Red Cross in Pet CPR and First Aid, a Certified Canine Good Citizen Evaluator with the American Kennel Club, and a Licensed Judge with the WI Dept of Ag, Trade & Consumer Protection. Giene is a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer.  She routinely presents seminars on dog behavior and training, as well as chicken training seminars to promote team building.  Giene has been a regular guest on popular Madison radio shows and evening newscasts. Giene has also been featured in numerous local magazines, including the cover for Wisconsin Woman. Giene is a published author (see her Chicken Training Book!) and loves demonstrating to people how clever dogs, chickens and pigs can be.

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