Training Tips: Working on Recall

We’ve all come across those people on the trail who have lost their dog (or kid) and have doubled back to see where they went. Trust me, I’ve been that girl and it’s not fun. Once I had to climb back up a really steep scramble after Chloe decided to stop and check out a nice smelling tree.

The number one way to prevent losing your dog on trail is of course keeping them on a leash, but in order to graduate to off leash hiking, recall is the most important skill you and your dog can work on.

Like any other skill you and your dog will work on, recall techniques depend a lot on the dog. Most dogs are more interested in other people, dogs and smells than they are their handler, so it’s important to be the most interesting thing in the world to your pup.

That’s easier said than done. Think about your dog. Are they food motivated? Or do they prefer attention? As with all training, it’s important to cater the reward to the dog.

Now that you’ve figured out how to get your dog to pay attention to you, it’s time to work in small steps to strengthen their recall. Start in a space their used to like a living room. Have your dog sit and stay, walk across the room and ask them to come, when they do, mark it and reward them. It seems simple, but building that association is fundamental.

Next move on to places with more and more distractions. The backyard, a neighborhood walk with your pup on a long line, finally working your way up to quieter trails.

Recall is something that you can always strengthen, especially as you gain more trust in your dog, it’s an easy command to make sure they’re focused on you. Since Chloe isn’t in formal training anymore, I don’t have a treat pouch on me all of the time, and I will sometimes forget treats on our hikes. So it’s nice to remind her that if she comes to check in, she’ll get rewarded, and not save the recall cues for negative experiences like calling her back from another dog or urging her to stop sniffing and keep walking.

Do you walk your dog off leash? If so, do they prefer to wander or do they stick to your side?