Recall is one of the most important and essential behaviours that you can teach your dog, but it's often dismissed. Qualified canine trainer Jack Fenton is reminding pet owners to prioritise training their dogs to come back to them - as it could save their life.
Jack told the Mirror : "For your dog to lead a happy and healthy life, they need to have a good recall cue. A recall cue is the word or sound you use to get your dog to return to you. With a large number of behaviours and tricks we can teach our dogs, we can sometimes neglect this all important behaviour."
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Jack recommends that all dog owners have an emergency recall cue which is used only in important situations.
He explained: "Every time you recall your dog using it during practice, you reward them with their favourite thing. This might be a tennis ball, some raw meat, squeezy cheese etc.
"The trick is not only to reward it heavily, but to keep it a secret from everyone else bar your family.
"That way, in the event that someone attempts to take your dog, you'll be able to get them back with your rocket fast recall."
Jack adds: "Always make sure you are either walking or jogging away from your dog when you call them. This will entice them to move towards you.
"In an emergency, breaking into faster movements and heading in the opposite direction could be the difference in a life and death situation."
So if a dog thief ever turns up at the park, you will be able to call your secret word and both start running away.
As well as preparing for emergencies, Jack advises getting your dog's day-to-day recall up to scratch. Here's his five top tips to ensure your dog doesn't go missing:
Reward delivery
Focus on ways you can make eating food into a game.
Throw the food for your dog to chase, scatter it on the floor for your dog to snuffle, chuck it for them to catch.
This will massively improve your recall because returning to you is now far more fun.
Toy play
Think about what your dog enjoys most - your bull breed may love a rip-roaringly good game of tug, whereas your Labrador might enjoy a retrieval toy being thrown for them to bring back.
Focus on the activity that makes your dog happy and train them to recall using toys.
Use their nose
Practice hiding toys and food in and around trees on bushes while on walks. Get one of your kids or partner to hide in the woods and send your dog in to find them.
Getting your dog to use their nose for you will make them far less likely to dash off after a squirrel or deer.
Management
A long line gives your dog a measure of off-lead freedom, but allows you more control of their overall behaviour.
You don't need to restrict your dog from interacting with every person, dog, scent or animal you meet on a walk.
But if you've got no way of stopping them, a long line is a fantastic training aid.
1-2-3 game
When you're out on your dog walk, you're going to slowly say, '1…2….3!' When you say three, you make your voice loud and exclaim it, and give your dog a treat.
We want your dog to anticipate that the build up to the three gets a reward.
If you practise this out on your dogs walks, they will eventually start returning to you as you begin your count up.
It's a great way to get their attention and another tool for your toolbox.
Are you a dog expert with important advice to share? Email nia.dalton@reachplc.com.
