By Carolyn Menteith

Training our dogs to come back when we call is one of the most important things we will ever teach then. A good recall could quite simply save your dog’s life.

Teaching most dogs to come back when called is an easy process. I say most dogs, because there are some breeds that are notoriously difficult. These dogs generally fall within the hound group (or dogs who are bred specifically to run), and unless well-trained by experts, these should not be let off-lead in a public place (for their own safety and for the safety of the small mammal population).

So why is it owners go so very wrong when teaching a good recall?

It is simply that they don’t ‘speak dog’ – and forget that dogs don’t speak English. It is also because they are boring. The boring bit I will come back to later, let’s first deal with the communication problem. Generally people don’t actually teach the dog to come back in the first place. They just assume that when they call the dog’s name, he should automatically know that means ‘come here’. Why should he? He hears his name endless abstract times during the day – so how on earth is he meant to know that in a specific place and time, that word suddenly means ‘come here’? He doesn’t. If you have a really obliging dog, he might just come to see what you are shouting at, but he has no idea that what you are shouting has anything to do with him!

You need to teach a dog what you mean. Firstly, his name should always mean good things. Let him know that when you say his name it is worth paying attention. Practise in the house. Say your dog’s name – if he looks at you, say ‘good’ and throw him a treat. Throw it shorter and shorter distances each time so he has to come to you to get it. If he doesn’t look at you, don’t repeat the name, just don’t give him anything – he missed his chance. You want a dog who will look at you the moment you say his name, not after you have repeated it ten times! Being able to get your dog’s attention is the most important part of dog training. Dogs are like men – if they are not looking at you, they are not listening!

Then you can start teaching recall. Start in the house. Use a treat, hold it on the end of the dog’s nose to get his attention, say his name so he knows you are talking to him, and then keeping the treat on the nose, slowly walk backwards away from him saying your command word (“Here” or “Come”). When the dog follows, give him the treat. Then build up the distance you walk back before giving the treat. Move onto getting someone else to hold the dog while you walk back, call his name to get his attention and say “Come”. Always reward him when he gets to you. This can become a great family game, and you can eventually call the dog from room to room and even across the garden. Recall becomes a fun game.

Now you are ready to let your dog off lead in public – and this is where it can all go pear-shaped. Why? Because you are boring! Think about this from your dog’s perspective. You take him to the park and let him off lead. He runs off and has a great time playing with other dogs, sniffing or any number of fun doggy things. Then you call him back. Your dog is left with a choice. Either he comes back to you so you can put him on the lead, take him home and spoil all his fun, or he can ignore you and carry on having a whale of a time.

Hard choice?

Not even slightly. Compared to the great outdoors, your dog probably finds you really boring. The secret is simple - be more interesting. Take toys to throw for your dog, call him back often just to give him a treat and then let him go off and play again (recalls shouldn’t be an end to your dog’s fun). Hide behind trees. Run around for no good reason. Be more exciting for your dog than all the other things he may wander off and do if you give him the chance to go self employed. A walk is a chance for you and your dog to build your relationship and enjoy yourselves – it shouldn’t be a chore.

Learn from your dog how to have fun – and stop being so boring!