Make them WANT to come back to you!

I see this all the time when out walking my dog or client’s dogs, people with trouble getting their dogs to come back to them.

It’s a real shame to see owners shout aggressively at their dog’s and then act bewildered as to why their dog won’t return to them. Would you head to someone who was calling out to you aggressively? I know I wouldn’t!
Another thing I see is when the dog finally does return to his owner, he is punished for doing so because “he should have known better”, when, in fact, what’s just happened is the dog has been punished for coming back to his owner, making it less likely that he will come back to them next time they call!

One thing I do with my dog, and client’s dogs who I walk off lead, is give them a reason to come back! Find what that particular dog loves, and use that as a reward when they come back to you.
 For example I walk a yorkshire terrier who thrives on verbal praise, a German spitz who loves her treats, and a Jack Russell who loves her ball, so I use these things to my advantage. If they stay close by or come to me when I call them, they get the things that they love, making them want to come back to me.

A re-call is vital for all dog’s to have, as it’s matter of safety, so it really does worry me when I see dog’s not responding to their owner’s calls, because what would happen if the dog got out on the road?

If you are having trouble with your own dog’s re-call, just remember some key points, reward your dog for checking in with you on walks, reward them when they come back to your call, never punish a late re-call (just go back a step and practice on lead for safety), and always stay patient and calm.
Practice makes perfect, so just keep pairing your dog’s name with fun rewarding things!

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