Labrador Training as a Way to Teach A Dog Better Recall
Ever experienced walking your dog in some park, only to punctuate your dog with shouting and bellowing because it is now hot on the trail of something and is not paying the least attention to you? Indeed, it is not enough knowing that the dog has no way, for example, to control its inclination to follow a scent. Being able to truly recall your dog at any time is a critical skill in Labrador training. Recall is the hallmark of a responsible dog handler-owner-trainer.
Aside from the so called “selective hearing,” there are many reasons why dogs do not approach readily when called:
a) Some owners tell their dogs to go away when the dog does approach, which confuses the dog all the more.
b) Some dogs are too busy pursuing their own fun, whether it is following a highly intriguing scent or going after other dogs or squirrels.
c) Owners sometimes create a misassociation between the “come” gesture and what the dog was exactly doing at that time.
Begin the first step to training recall by starting out in a controlled area such as a fenced-in garden or indoors, where distractions are limited. Keep using the same recall command, never sounding negative or annoyed. Try calling the dog's name through out the day, getting it to come to you and giving a treat or playing a game if the dog does. The point is that the dog sees that coming to you is fun!
When the dog is accustomed to coming to you when it is called, add the recall command and get it used to the sound.
Third, once the dog has got the hang of the recall command, try mixing in a few distractions. Keep the dog on a long lead and see if it will still come to you.
Third, when the dog has got the hand of the recall command through your Labrador training, drop by some park where it is secure to walk off-leash dogs. You may also want to visit this park together with another dog owner that is used to wide spaces. Recall both dogs, and reward the one that returns first.
Oct 28, 2009 | 0 | dog care tips
