NEVER rules:

1. NEVER punish your dog if you call them and they come to you. That means if you find something they did wrong GO GET THEM WITHOUT saying their name!! If you call your dog to you and then punish them they will begin associating coming to you with punishment.

2. NEVER give a recall command more than once. If you give the command and the dog doesn't respond then GO GET THEM but do not punish (see #1) praise them that they are now next you you! They either are not ready for the amount of distance you've put between you before giving the command, you haven't trained using distractions or the dog doesn't really understand the command and this means you need to back up a step (or several steps). If you give the command multiple times the dog only learns that he/she doesn't HAVE to respond the first time!!

3. NEVER give a recall command if you aren't 100% sure you can reinforce it. If your dog responds 90% of the time on lead they are NOT ready to try off lead! You need 100% on lead with distractions and distance before you're ready to go off lead!

ALWAYS rules:
1. ALWAYS make baby steps! Start with the dog recognizing his/her name (reward), when that's 100% then begin recall command (on lead!) by stepping 1 step back, then two steps etc., when that is 100% then try on lead indoors with a long line, then maybe on lead with dog in another room where he/she can't see you, on lead in public, on lead with lots of different distractions etc. Then graduate to dragging a long lead, then dragging a short lead etc. GRADUALLY move toward off lead IN THE HOUSE , then off lead in a SMALL fenced in area, save the off lead in a large open space for when you're SURE your dog will come to you.

2. ALWAYS give LOTS of praise! With puppies I carry treats in my pocket so that I can call a puppy to me at any time and give them a treat........works wonders!

3. ALWAYS go back to retrain if you have EVER have a situation where the dog doesn't come when called.



Games:

1. Treat Throw: Toss a treat across the room for the dog to go get......as soon as they get it give the dog a recall command so that they come to you and give them another treat. Repeat. (start on lead before graduating to off lead)

2. Restrained Recall: Person holds dog's leash for you....you walk across the room and get the dog excited about you then call the dog.....as soon as you call the dog the person holding the dog's lead lets go so the dog can run to you. LOTS of praise. You can add in running backward to encourage the dog to come more quickly. Some people will even call the dog and as soon as they start coming they'll run from the dog and praise when they get there.....dogs LOVE this!

3. Hide & Seek: Have someone restrain the dog.....go in another room and hide. Call the dog to you and give TONS of treats when they find you! Start out simple and get more difficult as the dog learns what is expected.



Using these rules I've never had a dog I couldn't call off of anything. I can have an ACD in full-bore chase of a cat and they'll turn and run to me if I call.......in fact, a recall command is their FAVORITE thing because they learned that coming to me means GOOD THINGS!

"Oh, we are but soft and squishy bags of mortality rolling in a bin of sharp circumstance, leaking life until we collapse, flaccid, into our own despair." --"Fool" by Christopher Moore