Dog owners worldwide have the best intentions of training their puppies when they first bring them home. However, training sessions are often thrown out the window and long forgotten once other responsibilities kick in. Basic manners and dog recall response training fall down the list of priorities the longer pet parents push this off.
Whether your dog is darting after squirrels in Griffith Park or getting distracted at a beach off-leash area in Santa Monica, teaching reliable recall is one of the most essential safety skills for Los Angeles pet parents. Pawsitive K9 Solutions specializes in positive reinforcement-based training that helps your dog learn to come when called—even in high-distraction environments.
Choose the Right Cue for Better Recall
Whether you have owned your dog for a while or you just adopted your puppy, they have likely become desensitized to the word “come.” Oftentimes, misinformed owners tell their dogs to “come” to give the dog a negative consequence when they obey.
Using consistent, enthusiastic wording is key. A recall cue should be clear, unique, and never used in a negative tone. For example, instead of using “come” for both recall and discipline, choose a cue like “here!” or “let’s go!” and make it fun.
TIP: Your recall cue should be like your dog’s favorite song—exciting, rewarding, and instantly recognizable.
Start Recall Training at Home in Los Angeles
Begin your training indoors where distractions are minimal. Use a high-value reward like fresh chicken or your dog’s favorite toy and call your dog to you from short distances. Reinforce the behavior immediately with praise and a reward. Once your dog consistently responds inside, move the training to your backyard, then gradually to public spaces like local parks or dog-friendly spots. such as the Oberrieder Dog Park in Playa Vista! This luscious park has plenty of space for your pup to practice recall.
The Centinela Feed pet store in Venice, Los Angeles, is another excellent place to practice recall once your dog flexes more advanced skills! Remember, Los Angeles has clear laws that dogs should be on leashes in these public places. However, you can still practice by keeping your dog on a leash while they sniff bones and toys and then recalling to help them build recall skills around more tasty distractions.
Need help with where to start? Explore our professional dog training services to learn more about our private lessons and puppy day school programs.
Use the Scatter Recall Method for Faster Results
There are many strategies different trainers take to teach dogs how to recall reliably. One of the most effective happens to be the “scatter recall” method. To successfully begin this type of training, you’ll put a treat at your feet and wait for your puppy to come over and eat the treat. Then, you’ll move away from your dog and place another treat at your feet.
Your dog will come over, once again, to eat the treat. Continue the process and try to speed up how fast you move away from your dog and drop your next treat. Gradually, your dog will also speed up until they are running to you to get that next treat.
At this point, you can pause and wait for your dog to get all the way to you before you drop the next treat on the ground. Now, you can begin incorporating your chosen queue word (let’s say you chose “here”). Wait until your dog isn’t looking or is distracted and say “here.” As soon as they rush over, give them their treat and some extra pets.
They will begin to associate “here” with positive pets and treats. Every time they hear that word, they’ll have an ingrained response to turn away from any distractions and run straight to you. For a clear view of what it looks like to Scatter Recall train your dog, check out Pawsitive K9 Solutions’ Introduction to Recall-Scatter Recall video.
Maintain Dog Recall Response Training for Long-Term Success
Remember, a considerable part of dog training involves you training yourself. Break bad habits like punishing your dog after recalling and remain consistent in your training. Once a dog has mastered a trick, it needs daily practice to keep the skills fresh!
Here at Pawsitive K9 Solutions, we are dedicated to providing you with the best dog training advice. For more valuable information about dog training, check out our article about How to Communicate With Your Dog! In addition, we provide thorough and effective Los Angeles dog training services.
Contact Us when you are ready for a 90-minute consultation, and we can develop an action plan for you and your dog!
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