Recall training tips

[Tandoorimixedgrill]

I have a 17 week lab and after some advise on recall training.

He’s doing very well on the whole but struggles with the temptation of other dogs or if tired. I tend to look out for other dogs and get him back to me before he notices. With dogs I know I’ve been more relaxed but this has shown that he’s not reliable yet.
We are using a whittle mostly (as I didn’t want to be shouting his name when he’s further from me) but also trying to use his name as we don’t always have the whistle to hand, which he’s definitely less responsive too.

Any tips would be much appreciated.

We've just come out the other side of recall training with our 19 month old (its been a very long process!). My advice is to invest in a biothane trailing line, best thing we ever bought. It trails behind them (or you can hold the end). If you see a dog ahead you can stand on the end, it gives you control of him whilst also giving him freedom.

Training training and more training BUT in areas of low distraction, distance to start with.

Do not only train recall out on walks and interesting places and expect it to work.

Blow whistle before his meals, or say his recall command before he is fed.

Play recall triange with the family in the garden, calling him between you.

Reinforce with toys the best food and loads of excitement ALWAYS at this age.

Do not let him fail, so if he has greeted another dog and there is no way he will recall , then go to him and get him BUT do not recall and make a note to have him on a long line or be more observant to prevent the meeting taking place.

Food circuits in the garden and then gradually move to the park if quiet (do not do if other dogs are around obviously)

Chase games where you call him and run away with a toy and he chases to find you.

Set your criteria high recall should be a mad dash back to you not a dawdle when he stops and mooches on the way back.

Liver cake is what did it for us. She was always canny with her being clingy but would chase a bike!

The second I made liver cake our world changed and now she comes back tonus and sits and waits for a treat when she fancies it. We make sure every time there is something like a bike/jogger she sits and waits til they go past. She is very ball/stick orientated too which was also sudden as initially she wasn't phased so can distract her with that! Once her ball comes out she doesn't see dogs even if they come up to her so we only use the ball on the way back from our walk as she doesn't get any interaction otherwise.

Yes, training training training.

A long training line is your secret weapon (NOT an extendable lead) get a very long one and let it trail.

Don't try to recall if you know there's little likelihood of him doing it (you just teach him to ignore you)
Every time he looks at you capitalise on it, call his name and say "come" then "yes, yes, yes" as he comes towards you - use a silly high pitched voice and sound like a happy idiot.

Learn not to care what you sound like 😉. From watching many dog training classes I would say women are better st this than men. sound like they're going to punish the dog, low gruff voices, the dog needs to hear Joy and REWARD (yes to liver cake - it's brilliant) even if it's taken him 20 mins to come.

Running away from the dog is often better than running after them - you want him to come to you.

Just as you think he's got it, and begin to relax on walks, he will become a teenager. (10 -13 months ish) and you will have to go back to basics. Stick with it, it is worth it. My youngest is just two - in the last 6-8weeks I've begun to have real confidence that I can get him back and on lead in most situations.

Catsrus makes a very good point about the length of time training a solid recall takes. I think if someone had explained that to me early on I would have found the teenage months far less stressful. It really does take a long time, its a long process.

Practice at home. Keep treats in your pocket and call him to you every now and then in the house and garden. Fuss and reward always works if you do it often enough.

Hide occasionally when out on walks, and call him. It helps to build the bond, I think (it worked on my lakeland terriers, who are notorious for being difficult buggers, so it's bound to work on your boy).

17 weeks is still very young, and it sounds like he's getting it. You just need to reinforce that as often as possible.

We're whistle training too and bought Total Recall by Pippa Mattinson after seeing lots of recommendations on here and it's been brilliant - we never thought we'd be able to let our dog off the lead (rescued as an teenager).