Today, one of the biggest annoyances for dog owners is the fact that we regularly find ourselves confronted with loose dogs that have no recall and will run at us, even when we don’t want them to.
Your dog can be the nicest dog in the world, but we need to have a minimum of control when we decide to let our dogs run free because some people may not like dogs or may even be afraid of them, let alone human contact.
MY DOG IS NICE : HOW TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL RECALL WITH YOUR DOG
Concerning the contacts between dogs, it is also possible that some dogs simply do not appreciate other dogs for various reasons and it is necessary to respect it:
IllnessReactivity / AggressionFearIn training lessons TiredIn hot weather
There are many reasons why two dogs refuse to make contact with each other, and each one is unique. Consent in a meeting with a dog must be given in all situations and this implies knowing how to live outside.
And yes, even if your dog is very nice with his fellow dogs, the one opposite may not be. You must therefore be respectful of the choice of the owner in front of you who may ask you to reattach or retrieve your dog.
To give you an example that will surely speak to you more, one of my dogs, a Belgian Shepherd Groenendael, is reactive towards other dogs. This sensitivity to the sight of another congener is explained by the fact that she was darkened on several occasions by other “nice” dogs when she was a puppy. Indeed, these dogs were nice and their intentions were not bad because there was never any real aggression. But their arrival on my 3/4 months old puppy was too frontal and that frightened her at the time. At the time, she was screaming with fear and also urinating on herself.and as a teenager, the hormone surge came and she changed her behavior. She started to growl and bark at the sight of another dog, even from a distance. This had the effect (on multiple occasions) of seeing these famous dogs reattached by their owners who were impressed to see a medium sized black dog barking at theirs that was advancing right at us without asking our opinion.This is only a simple example but I hope it will speak to you so that you understand that all dogs do not necessarily get along and that it does not mean “bad dog”.
Now we will talk about the equipment to use when our recall is not yet perfect.
MY DOG IS NICE : HOW TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL RECALL WITH YOUR DOG
WHAT MATERIAL TO USE WITH YOUR DOG WHEN HE HAS NO RECALL OR A FRAGILE RECALL / BEING LEARNED ?
Whatever Titou’s age, if he doesn’t listen when you call him, you can use a 10 or 15 meter lanyard to guarantee your dog’s safety and the safety of future passers-by you might meet. The lanyard (which should ideally be attached to a harness and not to the collar in order to avoid whiplash if there is a jolt) should not be perceived as a failure.
The lanyard should also be non-slip and flat. Biothane is a good alternative because it is light and easy to clean even in bad weather and muddy conditions.
Using a treat pouch can be very practical. Simply to avoid dirtying the pockets of jackets or pants with wet and often smelly treats. Silicone makes it easy to clean if you use wet treats like knakis for example.
You can also choose natural and varied treats to avoid tiring your dog.
Most treats sold in supermarkets are made of cereals, sugar and with very little meat (therefore often of poor quality). Instead, choose treats with the most natural composition possible to respect your dog’s digestion and needs. You can choose natural and varied treats so as not to bore your dog, such as cheese, knaki, dried meat, etc. You can also invest in a dehydrator and make your own treats with chicken for example.
The treats will serve as your dog’s “salary” to pay him for the good behaviors he will produce.And yes, the dog cannot be paid with bank bills or a nice check. We must therefore use elements that the dog likes, that is to say: food, toys, go sniff a scent, etc. We will use treats for recall because it will allow your dog to be reinforced easily and quickly. And the higher your reinforcer will be, the more your dog will associate the recall with something positive (A piece of chicken = 50 euros versus a mealy dog cookie = 10 euros).
It’s up to you to find out what your dog likes best and get to work!
WHY DOESN’T MY DOG’S RECALL WORK?
Just like walking on a leash or sitting, or any other exercise, the first question to ask is why recall doesn’t work.
MY DOG IS NICE : HOW TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL RECALL WITH YOUR DOG
Has it been worked correctly by increasing the difficulty progressively? We are not going to ask for a recall from a dog in the middle of a game with 10 other dogs if it is the first work session.
Was he reattached each time he was recalled? Losing his freedom and being put on the leash every time he is called back is not necessarily a pleasant experience and it can slow down your dog’s desire to come back to you on subsequent occasions.
How was he rewarded when Titou had to come back? I see a lot of people who pet their dogs excessively by shaking their heads when they return to the recall and this can be badly perceived by the dog. Even if there is no bad intention, being hugged or petted is not always appreciated by the dog, especially outdoors. This is why we see many dogs stop 2 meters away from their human and sniff the ground to express their uneasiness at the idea of getting closer to their human.
What is the intonation of your voice when you call him back? If you call your dog back only when he does something stupid (which is not a mistake for him of course) like sniffing a scent for too long, eating a carcass on the ground, etc. and your voice is dry and unpleasant, it will not make Titou want to come back to you.
All these examples can be reasons for a recall that no longer works.
HOW TO TEACH YOUR DOG TO RECALL?
We’ll give you some tips on how to get your dog to connect with you outdoors and finally pay attention to you!
MY DOG IS NICE : HOW TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL RECALL WITH YOUR DOG
First of all, keep your dog on a lead rope to prevent him from validating himself again by leaving on the smell of game! The lead rope should not be perceived as an obstacle to his freedom. If you take a long enough length like 5 or 10 meters, your dog will be able to run and sniff without leaving at the slightest distraction. The idea is to keep your dog safe and not get annoyed if he tries to leave.
The main idea is to reward all of your dog’s natural behaviors. If Titou starts to move on a scent, let him do so, and wait for him to pay attention to you, and look at you: just when his eyes will land on you, reward him warmly with a voice and a treat.
Go back on your walk and if your dog turns towards you, looks at you or even returns naturally to your contact, reward each of these behaviors.
The goal of the game is to use and reward your dog’s natural behaviors. Indeed, the more a behavior is positively reinforced, the more it will be produced and proposed by the dog. You will end up with a dog that pays attention to you, as you train, regardless of the environment.
To work on the recall itself, we advise you not to use only the dog’s first name. Simply because we tend to say his name in an annoyed voice when he does something stupid at home. So use his nickname or a recall command like “come” to work on this element. In the early stages of the exercise, work from home in a neutral location that won’t be difficult for the dog. Reward each recall without exception for the first few times, and add distraction gradually. Begin to approach the recall in an easy place, more with the company of another known dog, then maybe 2, etc.
Also use the same recall command each time. Do not use “come” and then “heel”. Otherwise, your dog may not understand what you want him to do. It’s up to you to be logical in the way you talk and teach.
The most important element of recall work is self-control. Even if your dog takes a long time to come back, and even if you feel like wringing his neck because he takes a long time to come back, you breathe, you take it upon yourself, and you reward him! Each recall must be rewarded, without exception, during the first months of training. The goal is to make the dog want to come back and not the opposite.
You should also use rewards that your dog enjoys. Treats, toys, use of voice, etc… It’s up to you to adapt to the individual you have in front of you. If Titou doesn’t appreciate being petted, don’t pet him when he comes back, as this could poison your dog’s recall.
– You will also have to motivate your dog to come back: Turn around to create movement and encourage the dog to follow you, manage the intonation of your voice (Example: Yes, loulou, it’s good, bravo!), use a playful attitude by crouching, have a non-threatening attitude, use toys that your dog loves, etc. Be inventive with your dog!
Here is a video of Chloé Fesch explaining how to work on recall
