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Top Tips for Getting Your Dog to Come Back to You 

Updated: Apr 15

Of all the different behaviours I teach, and all the different problems people come to me with, the most common issue, year after year is... recall.


It's the dream, right? To have a dog you can let off lead, allowing them to run free on beaches and out in the countryside, yet have them reliably come back to you when you call them, no matter what other things are going on.


I can understand why people have such an issue training recall, as it can be tough, and it is so easy to get it wrong! But it isn't impossible, and I've put together a few of my top tips to help you get started!


What Not To Do:


  1. Never ever EVER punish your dog for not coming back to you. I KNOW it’s frustrating that they took so long - or didn’t even come at all and you had to get get them. Maybe it was embarrassing or another owner yelled at you. But you telling your own dog off is a sure-fire way to ensure they won’t come back to you in the future 

  2. Don’t practise off lead unless you can guarantee it is safe. There are now plenty of secure dog fields around to practise in, or if you did want to practise somewhere different like the beach, use a long line! I know it’s tempting if they are doing well, but trust me, if you can guarantee a recall, it isn’t worth the risk. Too many dogs are lost, injured, or even killed because of this. 

  3. Don’t over-use it. If you are constantly calling your dog, you aren’t giving them chance to be a dog and do all the great stuff dogs do. Find that balance between getting the practice in, and not making it boring. 


What To Do:

  1. Use a high value reward… and lots of it! Now is not the time to be stingy with the rewards. Think about how difficult recall is for your dog. Think about all the things your dog would rather be doing instead of coming back to you. Chasing birds, sniffing new smells, following a trail that a rat left, or running after a squirrel. Your dog MUST be rewarded with something worthwhile, every single time, to guarantee good recalls in the future.

  2. Use a unique cue that you don’t use at other times. Definitely avoid using their name, as how much do you use this in day-to-day life? Rarely does it mean “come to me”, and sometimes it doesn’t even mean anything at all! (Eg: “aw, Buddy, you’re so cute”) 

  3. Build up slowly. You wouldn’t put a 6 year old in secondary school, because they haven’t learnt the basics yet. It’s the same for dogs. If your dog hasn’t started easy, how are they to learn the hard stuff? If your dog can’t come back to you in the garden, how are they to come back when they are running after another dog? 

Thinking you might want some further help? Don't worry!

I have tons of advice, tips, and training techniques that can be adapted for every individual dog, family, and situation. Feel free to book in a FREE discovery call at a time to suit you: https://calendly.com/muckypupsdogtraining/free-discovery-call


Or, if you want to get started right away, check this out: Rebellious to Remarkable Recall! | Mucky Pups (muckypups-dogtraining.com)

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