The One With the Really Reliable Recall

Here you go, Mon, a sure-fire way to teach a rock-solid recall to your dog. The way my boss teaches recall is so awesome. It's easier if I show you, but I thought I'd just write it out in case anyone else might like to read it. Just remember, don't skip or hurry through steps. It takes a lot of repetitions at each step, but make it into a game and you'll love it.

First, make sure your dog can sit with a hand signal. Do that by taking some treats, holding them above Theo's nose until he drops into a sit without you saying the word. Practice this enough times that you can just hold your hand over his head like you have a treat and he sits.

Then, on a 6-foot leash, you can start practicing. Do not practice without a leash at first. You don't want your dog to learn that "come" is a word he can ignore. On leash, if he makes a mistake, you can pull him in. If he has been ignoring "come" before, change the word to "here" or something like that. He needs a new association.

I don't teach come from a sit-stay because if your dog is running down the street, he's not in a sit-stay. So throw a couple of treats to the end of the six-foot leash.

After he eats the treats, run backward a few steps, repeating Theo's name excitedly. When you stop, hold your hand above his nose so he drops in the automatic sit. Say COME or whatever your word is when he drops in the sit. Give him treats and tell him over and over how good he is. Pet him around his collar.

We teach the sit with it without saying the word sit because we want the dogs to learn that come means come and sit in front of me. It's not two different commands. Because come does you no good if your dog comes running to you and then goes flying past you. It also does no good if your dog won't let you touch their collar, so pet around the collar.

Be really excited when you're doing this. Use the best treats, even people food if you want, whatever is Theo's favorite. Use something different sometimes. Sometimes give several treats, sometimes just one. Make a big deal out of it. You want Theo to learn that come is the best thing that could ever happen to him. He might only get one treat, but he might also get four pieces of chicken. He never knows. That will keep him charging back to you. Always make it into a game.

We say come when he gets to you at first because he doesn't know the word right now and we want him to associate it with the final behavior. Once he gets the game and is coming reliably to his name, say come at the beginning instead of saying his name over and over. But always use his name first because if he does get away, what's going to be the first thing out of your mouth?

Remember only practice on-leash right now.

Start with practicing in the house and backyard. Then move to the front yard. Practice it in various areas on your walk. Practice you standing at your door and calling him in. Practice at the spot where he got away.

When he's really good at that, buy a 30-foot leash. You can get them on the internet or some pet stores. Start using that instead of the short leash. Start over at the beginning. Retrace your steps from not using come at first to practicing in different places throughout your neighborhood.

Make it into a game in your backyard. You, Chandler and David, if he wants, can spread out to different points of the yard and call him one at a time. When he gets to you, give a treat and praise, then the next person calls. It's also great exercise for the dogs. Practice with Maggie, too, and only reward the dog that gets there first. Adds motivation. Call the dogs to you when you're cooking (or unloading the fast food) in the kitchen. Give them a little bit when they get there.

In short, come is always this great, exciting thing.

When you really need it, you won't have a treat or anything with you. But you'll have practiced it so much, in so many contexts, that Theo won't know that. He'll come back instead of running down the street. Try it, if you have time. I think it will be really helpful for you.