Training Exercises
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The Release
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Walking on Lead
Recall
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Wait
How to use Food
Typical rewards
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Leg weaving
RECALL PART 1
THE most important exercise of all. If your dog only learns one thing then it should be to come when called.Decide upon a word of command. If the word you are currently using has the opposite effect, then change it!
For complete reliability we will teach our dogs that 'come' means to sit in front of us. If they happen to be away from us, then once they have learnt the command they will have to come to us to do it!
Stage 1 |
To teach your dog the recall command, walk up to him with food treats
in your hand and say the word as he sits in front of you. Praise him
verbally as you give him a succession of treats ensuring that he
maintains his position. Then release him with an OK. Do this at every
opportunity. The more you practice the quicker he will learn.
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Stage 2 |
Call him to you from a short distance when he is not distracted
(have someone hold him whilst you walk away).
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Stage 3 |
Practise as a family. 2, 3 or 4 people. Stand fairly close together,
all armed with plenty of food treats and call the dog in turn,
gradually moving further apart. The person the dog is leaving
could also tell him to 'go to mum or etc' at the same time
which is also a useful command.
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Stage 4 |
Try calling him to you with your back to him, sitting or lying on
the floor, standing on a chair, and in as many different situations
as possible. Always reward a recall but save the high value rewards
for a really good performance in a difficult situation. Avoid the
temptation to reward a mediocre recall with anything more than
indifferent praise from you or the performance will not improve.
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Stage 5 |
With distractions. You must be in control of the distractions.
Have a helper try to distract your dog with some food treats
whilst you are calling him. If he goes to them he gets nothing
other than a sniff at their food. If he comes to you, you will
reward him, and your helper will rush over and give him one of
their food treats too!!
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RECALL PART 2
Toys and games |
Dogs love to have fun. Leaving them to play with their toys on their own will usually
result in a dog that chooses to find his own entertainment when you are out for a walk.
Give your dog free access to a suitable chew toy or two and save all the other toys
for interactive games with you. Then take the favourite toys and games to the park.
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Follow me |
Let your puppy off lead as young as possible in a safe environment. Constantly change direction
and let him learn to watch and follow you. Allow him to investigate his surroundings,
but wander off so that he then has to catch up.
DO NOT CALL YOUR DOG AT THIS STAGE or he will not bother to keep an eye on you,
he'll just hear you calling and know that you are keeping an eye on him.
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Stage 1 |
Whilst doing the 'follow me' exercise, wait until your dog is running towards you,
catching you up, and then turn around and call him in an enthusiastic, encouraging voice. Try to
get him to sit in front as in the formal recall and then reward him with a treat and a
game with a toy. Play for a short while and end the game, (you keep the toy) when he still wants more.
Give him a release word. 'OK' or 'Off you go' and continue with the 'follow me'.
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Stage 2 |
Now try calling him, not when he is running towards you but when he is stood
wondering what to do next. Again a good game as a reward.
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Stage 3 |
Call him over for a game if he is just passing the time and sniffing the ground but still
keeping an ear out in case you want to play again.
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Stage 4 &Upwards |
Stage 100 is getting your dog to come to you immediately when he is playing with other dogs
or chasing a squirrel. All the other stages inbetween need to be mastered successfully before
this will be achievable. A reliable recall needs to be built upon a good
foundation and training will always be ongoing.
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Notes
If you are in any doubt that your dog will stay with you then use a long line (10 - 20 metres) attached to your dog's collar before you let him off lead at the park. Do not hold on to the line, it should be trailing. Do not use it to make him come to you, just to curtail his freedom until he chooses to come or to keep him from getting into trouble.Try to insist on a sit in front for optimum control when you are calling your dog using the recall command.("Fido, Come"). For other times such as coming in from the garden or if you want him to catch you up whilst on a walk then make a distinction by using a different word or words such as "Come on in" "This way"
If your dog is off lead and not responding correctly to your recall command then you have not finished the recall training yet. This situation is not training, it is testing out your training (and failing!).
If you do find yourself in the position of not being able to get your dog back then try one of the following:
- Kneel on the ground and have a conversation with a blade of grass. When your dog comes over to see who you are talking to do not grab him, just take his collar calmly.
- Hide and wait for him to find you.
- Run like hell in the other direction.
- Borrow someone else's dog and feed him all your dog's treats.
- Take a good book to the park with you and wait until he returns to you.