Come when called – recall
One of the most common requests by dog owners is for their dogs to come when called. Many start off well, but later find that the dog will only respond when there is nothing better on offer. When their dogs are running with other dogs, response to a recall command is non-existent, as if the dog has never heard of it before.
Until approximately 12 weeks of age, a puppy will instinctively want to keep close to the pack when on unfamiliar territory - use this to your advantage. Train your puppy to come when called at this early age when he/she wants to anyway. Take the puppy to safe, but unfamiliar places, without other dogs around, such as a park, a fire-trail, a friend’s backyard, etc. Remove the lead and then walk away from the puppy without paying too much attention to him/her. They will want to follow, not get left behind, in this unfamiliar place.
But beware! As your puppy matures and confidence increases, distractions will become more appealing and the puppy will begin to learn that there are options to coming when called. If you allow the puppy to ignore your recall command, repeating again and again in an attempt to gain the right response, you will be allowing the puppy/dog to learn that the command is optional.
To commence training your dog or puppy to come when called you will need to build an association to the command. With the dog on lead, hold a tasty treat (sliced up frankfurt, cabanossi, cheese, cooked chicken, etc) to his/her nose - move backwards, slowly at first - when the dog follows the food treat, command COME in a happy animated tone of voice. Continue moving backwards, more briskly now and simultaneously praising the puppy for the correct response. Come to a stop and manoeuvre the tidbit above the dog's head to bring him/her into a sitting position. (Teaching the sit before the recall will make this step easier.) Praise the dog and give the reward whilst the dog maintains the sitting position. Keep the dog's focus on further tidbits, further rewarding for maintaining the sitting position, before giving the release command, OKAY. Repetitions will strengthen the association. Early training will be significantly enhanced by using the lead to block any attempts at incorrect response, such as sniffing the ground or moving towards some other distraction.
To progress the exercise, have another person restrain the dog at a distance from you (five to ten metres, at first) and release him/her only when you issue the recall command, COME. Occasionally call the dog out of the blue to come and get a tasty treat - a one-off exercise, again strengthening the association and building motivation for future recall commands. Call the dog to COME between two or more people, receiving rewards only for correct responses to the person who issued the command.
Once we have established a strong understanding in the dog's mind, of the recall command, COME, there are three main principles we must observe whilst progressing the exercise:
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The dog needs to have a reason to respond to your command - motivation could include the possibility of a tasty treat or a game of ball or tug, though the reward schedule should now be on a variable basis similar to the poker machine - the dog responds correctly in the hope that this time might bring the jackpot. Rewards must not be in your hands by this stage – keep them in pockets or pouches. The dog is performing “on faith”, that you may provide a reward after he/she has responded correctly.
- The dog must come to understand that only the correct response will be possible. You must be in a position of control so that you can block any attempts at incorrect responses, such as distractions; completely ignoring your command; or failing to sit on arrival. Keep your dog on lead during the training of this exercise so that you do have the ability to follow through on every command you issue. Do not call your dog to COME when he/she is running free with other dogs or some other equally distracting situation - the dog will probably not respond correctly and you will be allowing your dog to learn that commands are optional when off lead.
If your dog ignores your command to come, use the lead to prompt him or her then move backwards away from the dog and praise most excitably as the dog moves towards you. Praise and or treat when the dog sits in front and then release him/her back to the game/distraction. The dog will learn that the command is simply an interruption to get a treat – an interruption that cannot be ignored.
- The recall command must not signify the end of a pleasurable event. Many owners only ever call their dogs to COME when it is time to put the lead on and go home or perhaps when the dog has escaped into the street. Your dog will very quickly learn to avoid you when you are calling the command COME if it is most commonly to return him/her to the backyard or to end an enjoyable activity. During your jaunts at the park or out in the street, call the dog to COME away from something they are enjoying - you may have to prompt the correct response by use of the lead - praise enthusiastically and release the dog back to the previous enjoyable activity. Repeat numerous times so that your dog learns that he/she has no choice but to respond to the command, but will probably be allowed back to what they were doing anyway. The command is simply an interruption to their activities, perhaps for a reward, not an end to their enjoyment.
Ensure that you practice recalls when the dog is not distracted and is happy to respond correctly – make these the majority.
These three principles must be applied throughout the entire training process of the recall exercise, even when you consider that the dog is completely trained.
The following are three variations of the exercise to strengthen the dog's understanding of the command through experience and repetition.
- With your dog in the sit or down-stay position, stand at the end of the lead, facing the dog. Your dog should not break position on his/her name, it should merely gain attention for the following command. Call COME in a clear, animated tone of voice. If the dog does not immediately move towards you, use the lead to prompt the action. Praise your dog as soon as it is moving towards you - this will assist in keeping his/her attention on you. Run the lead through your hands as the dog comes to you so that you will be able to use it to assist in achieving the sit or avoiding your dog from moving past you. Remain standing upright rather than leaning over your dog. If your dog performed particularly well ie correct response without prompting and with an automatic sit, you may like to follow-up your praise with a tasty treat. NB. You should only commence this exercise after the STAY command has become very reliable under numerous distractions.
- With your dog on lead, give the release command, OKAY, to allow the dog to sniff around at the ground or another dog or some other distraction. Command the dog to COME. If he/she responds correctly, praise madly - have him/her sit in front and follow-up with a reward (tidbit or game). Release again to what the dog was previously enjoying. If your dog attempts to ignore the command, do not repeat the command, simply use your lead to prompt the dog into the correct response - you may also like to move backwards away from the distraction - have the dog sit in front - hold position for at least ten seconds - praise - release back to distraction. Repeat the exercise until the dog starts to respond without prompting. Vary the length of time between repetitions of the exercise.
- Try the come-fore exercise. While walking with your dog on lead, command COME and take two to three steps backwards, encouraging the dog to come and sit in front. Praise enthusiastically for correct responses and use the lead to assist where necessary. Reward where appropriate.
Once your dog is responding correctly, without prompting in all three of the above exercises and you are consistently observing the three training principles discussed earlier in this article, you are ready to progress from your 6ft training lead to a long lead of 5 to 10 metres. This can simply be some rope or cord purchased at the hardware shop. Apply the same principles to the first two exercises. When your dog is consistently responding to your command to COME, from a distance of ten metres and away from distractions such as other dogs or people, without any prompting, then you might consider trying the exercise completely off lead.
The first time you attempt the exercise off lead, use an enclosed area such as a friend's backyard or a tennis court and keep distractions to a minimum. Ensure the dog really wants the reward on offer. Allow the dog to explore the new environment and become somewhat bored with it before attempting the exercise. When your dog responds correctly, pay a highly valued reward because of the increased difficulty. User lesser rewards for easy recalls at home, without distractions. If the dog does not respond correctly, go back to on lead recalls - do not repeat the command over and over, hoping that the dog will respond soon. Remember, you would be teaching your dog that commands are optional when off lead.
The principles and methods that we have discussed are consistent with establishing a bond of respect and trust with your dog. If you are not interacting with your dog in a manner that gives him/her confidence in you, your dog may not have sufficient confidence to allow you to make decisions on his/her behalf and may feel the need to "look after number one". Being a social animal, it is natural for a dog to desire to work with other social animals to achieve what he/she wants. Take control of every situation so that your dog understands that individual pursuits are a waste of time and effort, but working with you, gets the world! Eg: your dog can only eat if you have given the release command; the dog must give calm behaviours to get to go for a walk (no pulling on the lead, jumping, etc); he needs you to give permission to enter or leave the house or car. Use the dogs' natural instincts to have him working with you instead of against you to get what he wants.
Ultimately, training of the Recall will be dependent on two principles:
- The dog’s motivation to want to respond to the command.
- The dog understanding that the command is not optional.
If the two were on a scale, motivation would be far higher! You have to work at that one.
Dogs are grand masters at working out how to get what they want! We need to be cleverer to ensure that the behaviours they use to successfully get their own way are the behaviours we desire.
All dogs can be trained to come when called reliably. Though, admittedly, certain breeds and some individuals are easier than others. The time and commitment you are prepared to devote and your precision and skill as a trainer will have a large effect on your success. Keep it happy and enjoy your dog!
Copyright Steve Austin/Vicki Bourke |
