An instantaneous recall means getting your dog to immediately come to you when you call. It’s used when your pup may be in danger or, when off leash, to control your dog’s distance from you – not in ordinary situations. There are two other recalls you can use for situations where your dog’s safety is not involved.
The first is called a “Casual Recall.” For example, “Momma wants a kiss, please come see me.” Your dog may respond by coming to you for a kiss or by giving you the message, “Talk to the paw, cuz I’m busy chewing!”
The second ordinary recall is the “No Lie Recall,” a simple statement about what’s about to happen. For example, if you need to clean your dog’s ears, you don’t use your Instant Recall. You tell your dog, “Time to clean ears.” When he comes, you simply clean his ears and then offer a treat.
Choose a word for the Instant Recall, for example, “Come”, “Here,” or “Now” (If you’ve already tried to teach a recall, but have had limited success, don’t use the same word! Your dog already associates it with not having to come every time.)
Getting your dog to respond to the Instant Recall is easy if you follow these five rules.
1. Never use it for anything your dog won’t like
Don’t use your Instant Recall command when leaving the dog park. Great way to ruin a recall! You call your dog, who’s having a great time, put him on a leash, and make him leave his favorite playground. Next time, your dog will likely hesitate because you’ve taught him that coming isn’t always a good thing. A few repeats of this and you’ve got a dog who won’t come when called. (By the way, in an enclosed park, if you tell your dog “time to go” and he ignores you – simply leave. Get in your car or hide for a few minutes until your dog begins looking for you. It won’t take long before she comes with you when it’s time to go.)
2. Never use it if you don’t think you can make it happen
Say you want to practice your Instant Recall at the park. You plan to call your pup to you, reward, and then tell her to go play again. Would it work best to do it while she’s playing chase with six other dogs, or when there are just a few dogs roaming around casually sniffing stuff? Before you try it during a super fun game of chase, you had better practice it a hundred times during a quiet sniff!
Warning: Never give treats with other dogs crowding around, as a fight is likely to occur. Only use food when no other dogs are around. Better yet, be creative and use other activities your dog really loves as rewards. For instance, a game of tug, a thrown ball, or a good belly scratchin’.
3. If you make a mistake on that last rule, go save the recall.
Run up to your dog, get his attention and run back a few yards with your pup coming along. Use lots of encouraging happy talk to keep him focused on you.
4. Never repeat the command; say it only once and then make it happen
If you repeat the command three times before making it happen, your pup will learn “that her Instant Recall command is “Come, Come, Darn it COME!” Having a long recall cue is a recipe for disaster when a bus is bearing down on your dog. You can make it happen on the first call. For instance, running the other direction and/or using a happy stream of silly talk, like “PuppyPuppyPuppy! Come see Momma, Ooky Wookums!”)Or as in the previous step, run up to your dog and then run back a few yards.
5. Always give your dog a huge payoff for an Instant Recall
A great example of this was the time my dog, SuSu, ran out the front door because she saw neighbors passing by. For her safety, I used our instant recall. While leashing her up, she got several really special, seldom given bits of liverwurst (jackpot of treats), and then got what she really wanted – a visit with the neighbors (a special reward).
The most important rule for teaching your instant recall is to practice, practice,practice! Go through the routine a hundred times in quiet locations like the backyard and around the house. Up the ante by adding a few low-level distractions, like recalling while on leashed walks in a quiet neighborhood. Use a long leash to keep your dog safe while lengthening the Instant Recall distance at a park. Slowly add more distractions, novel places, etc.
Even after you think your dog is perfect, keep practicing on a regular basis and you’ll have a great Instant Recall.
Toni Lee Hage, CTC, CPDT – a graduate of the SF/SPCA Academy for Dog Trainers – is the owner/trainer of Fun Dawgs (www.fundawgs.com) and the manager/trainer at Bella & Daisy’s Kanine Kindergarten. She offers a variety of group classes and private sessions.
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