Successfully recalling your dog is not just a dream

The last time you went for a walk with your dog, did you untie him so he could fully enjoy it?

And then, after a while, we had to go back. What happened when you called his name? Did he immediately stop his antics and run towards you at full speed? Did he stop at your feet, wagging his tail, happy to be back?

If so, congratulations! Your little protégé is one of the 5% of dogs with a good recall.

If not, don't panic! You are by no means alone when it comes to this inconvenience.

Basic order, as the main problem encountered by dog trainers, frequently comes to the forefront.

I faced this situation myself with my own little ones.

Léon, for example, moved towards me after several requests without much conviction. And if a bag of garbage filled with food scraps blocked his path, my words would be lost in the twists and turns of his loyalty.

Jenna came back 9 times out of 10, but she never braked in front of my feet, more like 2m further on.

Currently, and fortunately, they have both improved their responsiveness to recall. Of course, it didn't happen with a magic wand.

Providing opportunities for freedom to your companion during your walks is essential.

(Be careful, we do not detach a dog with behavioral problems. Particularly if it shows aggression towards its peers or humans. It will be advisable to consult a competent trainer in order to work on this problem before taking any risk of detach it and lose control.)

Your dog needs:

Run, jump, walk at your own pace . You should know that the walking pace of humans (4 to 5 km/h) is much slower than that of our canines (8 to 9 km/h). Being let loose allows them to cover more distance and engage in more physical activity.
Sniff and track . Smell is the most developed sense in dogs (1 million times more effective than that of their master). For excellent mental health, it is very important that the animal can exploit it to the fullest. It is also thanks to smells that this species communicates. It is therefore essential that she can smell and follow the tracks.
Have unhindered contact with fellow human beings .

A certain independence will have a real impact on your pet's mental and physical well-being.

In particular, if he pulls on the leash like a madman, there is a good chance that his need to explore will not be satisfied.

In the event that it destroys your interior in your absence, it is probably a dissatisfaction in energy expenditure.

If the slightest interaction with another dog stresses him, it is undoubtedly the tension concentrated on the leash which is to blame.

However, I grant you, it is very complicated to release your dog with complete peace of mind if the recall is not won.

3 common recall errors

1) You only call your little one when you need him to come back

Think about the situation. Most of the time, when do you ask your dog to come back to you?

When he's busy tracking down a lead? When he's about to devour some leftover sandwich? When he meets friends?

Eh yes ! Exclusively at times that give him pleasure. This is not surprising! He finally doesn't want to listen to you anymore.

2) If it doesn't come back, you iterate and repeat the callback command

If your dog doesn't respond to the first command, the reflex is to repeat it – believe me, I'm not blaming you, I know what it's about!

Let's imagine ourselves in Medor's shoes.

When he hears “Médor, heel!” », he will associate these words with the action he is currently carrying out. If he is sprinting after a smell, he will integrate “Medor at the foot” like sniffing whatever he wants.

Nothing like it to unlearn the recall order!

3) You call him, without being sure that he will be able to return

By wanting to do too much, you may skip the steps. This is unfortunately true for many of us. We tend to try to teach our dog to come back to us, outside, in a context where there are many distractions. We must already be assured of the possibility of the arrestee's return before encouraging him to reappear.

Ask yourself this simple question: “Am I willing to bet €100 that my dog will show up?” » If the answer is no, then you shouldn't insist.

But then, how can you call your dog back effectively anytime and anywhere?

Don't worry, there is a foolproof method to get a perfect recall.

Practice it at 95% for no particular reason and only apply it at 5% in case of emergency.

The main issue is the conditioning of a strong connection between the signal and the behavioral sequence of the recall . Your dog will learn that the specific warning of the recall promises him the opportunity for a reward of the highest value.

Work in such a way that your dog never fails, because every mistake made weakens the power of this bond.

This technique will only work if you only devote 10 minutes a day to recall work.

By choosing an instruction, you will cause a neurological shortcut in your dog's brain. This means that every time he hears you calling him, he will have the reflex to run to you.

Don't be skeptical, it's not too good to be true. It is above all scientific and completely playable.

If you really want to achieve this, you must follow a series of precise steps, taking your time and being careful not to fall into the recurring missteps mentioned above.