Having a solid recall is a goal of many pet owners, and we often do many things that can actually be detrimental to our success. Here are a few tips to keep you on track:

1. Practice recall in mild, medium and heavily distracting areas, 100 times over, before going into the woods or a dog park and beginning to call your dogs name. They have to have a STRONG history of the cue "come" equaling good things for them, before they will choose you over freedom! 

2. When you call your dog to come, be commanding! Say it with a happy yet firm voice so that they are sure to hear you. Say the “come” cue one time. Repeating it will not make them listen any faster!

3. As soon as you call your dog to come, begin backing up while cheering for them to join you. You should be moving backwards and making noises until the  second they return to your feet. Absolutely do not give them the chance to choose something other than you!

4. Make it worthwhile, use HIGH value food rewards and avoid feeding meals before off leash play time. This can include Granville Island Pet Treatery’s healthy, baked training treats – bacon, banana, turkey or wild sockeye salmon.

https://www.tgipt.com/shop/dog-treats/training-treats

by Annika McDade of @canineconnectiontraining | http://canineconnectiontraining.ca/