Teaching The Recall Method

This exercise teaches the dog that he must come to you, on your command. Now make sure your use a different command than you normally do as the dog must come running up to you facing you and sit right in front of your belly. I like to use the work HERE as to come as a come is a general area to you and the here is right in your face to you. You will need a six foot leash to begin with and later you can go to a longer length of line. After you have established total control, you will be able to perform this exercise off lead. You can practice this move either in doors or out.

With the recall it must be as positive at possible. I will have treats, a favorite ball, (tennis for me) That they never get to play with but for a few minutes a day with me supervising and giving them the time to play with it. It is their one and true thing they love and never get enough of. And I never call them to me for any thing negative. I will always go to the dog and bring them to me. In a most pleasant manner. I also love to use long lines to make sure they will come to me at all times. But for the beginning work of a good recall I will do what is called a "Come Too". This is where your heeling with your dog, and all of a sudden you just back up. Not turning around but just backing all the while saying "HERE" "HERE" in a most up beat and pleasant voice. You may have to back up 2 feet or it will take up to 8 feet to back up while reeling your dog into you so he will end up right at your middle. I will have a belly bag or treat bag at my waist taking treats out and showing him as he comes into you, when he gets about 6 to eight inches from you. You will say in a very up beat voice "SIT". Now remember Come should be your general come here command while the "HERE" command is to come right at your middle and to sit. I have also used a tennis ball, lodged right under my chin to bring a dog in fast and quick in a happy manner. The whole point is to back up quick, and in a very happy manner that will make your dog want to follow you while your reeling him in fast with the leash, and tons of praise, and treats to encourage him to "HERE" "HERE every time. Once he is in place sitting right in front of you. Then you can finish him by either having him going behind your back to your left side, or to go to your left from the front to your left side. I also will walk threw my dog, as he goes to my left getting out of my way. This helps teach him to respect your space and to get out of your way. As with any Alpha who walks threw his pack. This exercise is a most happy and very up beat one with a very quick pace to encourage him to want to follow you. Once he has this done nicely then you can start using in in true recall fashion, and then in everyday practice.

Now for the true recall

Have the dog sit on you left side, attached to a six foot leash. Tell the dog to stay, walk away from the dog with your RIGHT FOOT. (This is to avoid confusing the dog by using left foot with heel and right foot with any form of staying. ) Now walk away from your dog, looking straight. It really helps to have a visual point to look at so as to not go crooked in your walking. Now at first only go to the end of your leash turn around facing your dog. DO NOT look him in the eyes as this will make him break the stay and come to you. I like to look over my dogs head, seeing but not seeing. Now while your standing in front of your dog, with either food or a ball. You can have the food either hanging from your mouth or at your belly use what works. Same with using a favorite toy. Let your dog see the reward, call out his name in a clear loud voice, then say HERE. At the same time snap the leash, then reeling it in as fast as you can as your dog comes to you. Make sure he is positioned right in front of you straight and looking up at you. As he is coming in you will want to tell him sit just as he comes to you. You can use your treats to go over his head to enforce this maneuver while taking a step toward him. You may take a few step back ward to get him to be in the right spot before he stops or is about to stop. He should be about 6 to 10 inches away from you. I will if I have too grab the sides of his face to reposition him to the correct spot. But only do this when he knows what the command is and the correct way to do it. Be encouraging to him as he comes to you, You want him to come in fast and sure. Now wait a few seconds, then praise the dog and give him treats and lots of good voice saying good here, good here! Also pet your dog gently to let him know he did good. Dog’s love to be petted and this will help bring him to you faster. You can length the time he is too wait before you call him to you as he gets better about complying with this command.

Now your going to want to finish your dog or have him to back to heel. You have several ways you can do this. You can have your dog go around to your right side and behind you to your left side. You will look your dog in eyes, saying his name, then say either finish , around or heel. You will grab his leash with your right hand and pull him towards your right side, stepping backward a few steps. As he reaches behind your back you will transverse the leash to your left hand behind your back to help bring him around. At the same time you will want to take a few step forward to help place your dog in the right position with his shoulder right at your knee. Wait a few seconds and tell him good around, good heel, what ever word you choose to use.

The other way you can have him do this is to have him go to heel from the left side, where as he is facing you, you tell him to finish or go to heel. You will then pull on the leash with your left hand to bring him along your left side. I will even take a few steps forward to help swing him around properly. You may also use treats over his head to show him the direction you want him to go. Now on a stubborn dog that does not fall apart, you may as you say the command step into him while you pull him to your left, to get him to move faster to your left side. As always wait a few seconds before you release your dog, saying what a good boy he is and what a good finish or go to heel he did! Praise and praise is really needed with this one for speed. So encourage your dog to move fast and promptly.

Another move you can do to induce speed in your dog, this helps with smaller dogs or if your really tall. Is to show the tennis ball to the dog as he is running up to you. As the dog comes into you on the recall just as he is about to reach you, throw the tennis ball under and threw your legs, behind you to get him to run up to you and under and threw your legs in a very fast and happy manner. Now if your dog is big and really tall and your short this will not help you at all and may cause injury to you! But with a pup or young dog this should not be a problem. And will teach him to run to you fast and hard on the recall. Once he has the speed and command down then you can have him run up to your middle while your bring the treat or tennis ball up to your face to show him where it is. And then you can have him sit just as he reaches you. Good luck and happy training!

MAY THE GOOD LORD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU SAFE LIKE A GSD.