How playing games when out and about with your dog can help with recall.

In last month's article we looked at how to get your dog to focus on you. This month we are going to talk about recall.

Let's face it - we all want great recall from our dogs. We like to think that at the sound of their name being called they will about turn and head back to us …… and for many dog owners that is indeed the case. However, some of you, like me, may have a hunting breed or a very confident dog who simply enjoys going off and exploring. This can be highly stressful, especially in the world we live in, where main roads never seem to be far from fields and parks.

We want our dogs to go off and run around but we also want them to be with us or at least in sight - so how we can we achieve both? Firstly, some common sense is involved……if you do have a dog that is likely to go off on their own then don't walk them in a place where they could get injured, risk getting onto a road or run off down an escarpment where you can't get them. Luckily, we have some great beaches around South Devon and these are usually good places to start. Secondly, work on creating an amazing bond with your dog so that they want to be with you.

Teaching your dog recall by playing games

Playing games with your dog will help to create this bond. No-one wants to be told what to do all the time and the same goes for our dogs, so we play games with them to keep their interest in us rather than the other dogs or distractions around. What sort of games do I mean?

A ball game or a game with a toy is always a good start. A good old-fashioned game of fetch or a game of tug with a toy really helps our dogs to focus on us. I give my dog a treat every time she brings the ball back to me and this keeps her focused on doing just that. It's not bribery, it's simply a reward for coming to me with the ball. But not all dogs are into ball games so you can use a toy and/or play the following game.

I suggest practicing this in your garden or in a safe fenced-in area to begin with and if your dog is likely to get distracted and run off then have them on a long 10m or 5m line initially.

The 'follow me' game

• Have two different sorts of treats with you – low value (some boring old kibble) and high value (a tasty bit of cheese or meat of some sort).

• Get your dog's attention and throw a low value treat away from you (not too far)

• Wait for your dog to go and find it and eat it

• Once they have eaten it, call them (or use your recall word)

• As they come to you start to run away from them so they are chasing you

• They will catch you more quickly than you can run so when they do….

• Give them the high value treat and lots of praise and fuss

• Do this a few times and then once your dog is used to going off to get the low value treat start to say Search as you throw the low value treat

• This gives your dog a cue to go and look for the treat

• Still run away with your high value treats once your dog has eaten the treat whilst calling their name or calling your recall word

You can progress this a little further once you have both got the hang of this

• As above throw a low value treat away from you and tell your dog to search (they should know this command now)

• Call them with name or recall word and start running away (or walking quickly) but dogs like things that move

• As they catch up to you throw another low value treat ahead of you so they run past you to get it

• As they find it and eat it, call them and start running off away from them again

• This time when they catch you give them the high value treat and lots of praise

Once your dog is used to playing this game you can use it to help with recall. Imagine the scenario, you are out for your walk in the park and your dog sees another dog (off lead) and you sense they are going to run over to play. It's important to catch them before they go so at the first indication, call your dog or use your recall word and start running away …….. they should follow you and then you can take their collar while you give them the high value treat and you have control. Get the focus on you, then start to play this game with them or play with them with their ball/toy.

Obviously this is not the only thing you need to do. Unfortunately getting good recall is more involved than that but this is a good start and a good game to start to play with your dog.

Most of all have fun! That's what your dog wants and if they can have fun with you then they don't need to go and have fun with someone else.

Liz Cox RVN, MRes

Registered Veterinary Nurse

Masters in Animal Behaviour and Welfare

Qualified scentwork trainer (Talking Dog's Scentwork)

Qualified puppy trainer (School of Canine Science)

www.thedognose.co.uk (owner and principal trainer)