Ausshole Academy

TRAINING POST

THE COME OR RECALL

The come or recall is probably the very most important thing you will ever teach your dog.  This can save his life.  It is also one of the most difficult things to teach, especially when you have a squirrel reactive dog.  Dogs want to explore and dogs will chase, once the chase is on, its like the dog has no focus except on the chase, everything else goes out the window.   Until your dog has a good reliable RECALL, I suggest you do not attempt anything off leash, especially outside.  

Every time you ask your dog to come to you, you are asking them to stop whatever they are doing and return to you.  Sometimes what they are doing is way more interesting to them than you are.  You must find a way to make yourself the best thing in the world to them, above and beyond another dog, above and beyond another person, above and beyond that elusive squirrel or rabbit.  

There is no shame keeping your dog on leash all the time, there is no shame in having a dog that does not have a reliable recall, some dogs will never be able to have a reliable recall.  This is just a plain and simple fact.  This is nothing against you, nor anything against your dog.  The world is big, the world is huge, and there are so many many distractions in it.  So again if your dog does not have a steadfast recall, it behooves you to keep them on leash for their own protection.  

Puppy Leaks- 13 Steps to Improve a Recall

Preventive Vet-Teach an Emergency Recall

Victoria Stillwell-Recall (Come)

Guide Dog Org-Recall

The links above offer different perspectives on training the Recall.  As I stated above, there is no shame in not having a reliable recall.  There are many different reasons this may happen, a squirrel is more interesting than you, another dog is more interesting than you.  Some dogs will never have a reliable recall.  This is one of those aggravating things in owning a dog.  Its all part of it.  AGAIN NO TWO DOGS ARE THE SAME.   If you train and semi reliable recall and that's all you can get, be happy, and keep your dog on leash.  If you can train a 99 percent reliable recall, WOW, super, fantastic.  But do not beat yourself up if it doesn't happen.