Do you call your dog often and watch them completely ignore you? This can be quite frustrating for a dog parent. Sometimes they are either distracted or busy enjoying their freedom and ignoring the parent, which can make it a difficult and stressful experience for the dog owner.
That’s where recall training is important. This training helps keep them safe, gives them the freedom to explore, and also makes the dog parent feel confident.
Why is Recall Training Important forr Dogs
Dog Safety
Imagine that your dog is running wildly towards the busy road. If they are not trained to respond to your command, they can put themselves in danger of a serious accident. Thus, reliable recall command training is essential for the safety of the dogs. Good recall training allows the dog parent to walk and enjoy with confidence, knowing that the dog will return when being called.
Building Trust and Freedom
Dogs are loyal animals, and they have an innate tendency to return when called. With professional recall training, you can give your dog the opportunity to explore, socialise and exercise off lead. Freedom gives the dog mental and physical satisfaction and strengthens the bond between the dog and its owner.
Why do Dogs Struggle with the Recall Command?
Distractions Become Exciting
When a dog is allowed to go out of the house, there are a lot of distractions, like exciting smells and other people’s sights, which can make them react. These distractions become more rewarding for the dog, and the dog fails to adhere to the recall command.
Inconsistent Training
If you keep the recall command training for a long time, an inconsistency develops in the dog’s mind. Again, when you repeat a particular command very often, it doesn’t play as an important command in the mind of the dog
Negative Associations
Some dogs have a negative behavioural pattern that prevents them from responding to the recall command. According to them, calling back means the dog’s fun time is over. Hence, they associate recall command with going home or being put on a lead. Such dogs become very reluctant and do not respond to the command.
How can the Professional Trainers Help to Improve Recall Command?
Create Positive Recall Habits
Professional trainers use reward-based methods to teach the recall command to the dogs. They make it a cognitive habit in the dog that listening to the owner’s command will always be a worthwhile, positive experience. They create high-value rewards, toys, and engaging exercises to foster positive experiences for dogs.
Gradual Exposure to Distraction
Professional trainers start the training through controlled progression. They start with a low-level environment and gradually introduce real-world challenges for the dogs. The step-by-step approach in the training helps the dog to build their confidence and respond to the recall command.
Your dog will behave the way you train it to be. Get in touch with K9 Boot Camp. We have been serving clients in Rossendale with advanced dog training. I am a patient female dog trainer and behaviourist, and I am first-aid trained, CRB-checked, fully insured, and hold a certificate in dog law.