Hamilton Dog Training for an Effective Recall

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The average pet owner spends far too little time on Hamilton dog training, let alone teaching their dogs a reliable recall. Here’s how to do this in four stages:

First Stage: Setting Up the “Come” Cue

  1. First, make sure that you set up a distraction free environment so that the dog will come to you. If they come to you on their own, wait until they are at a short distance from you, say their name and utter “come.”
  2. When the dog comes to you, create a fuss. In this manner, the dog will be able to learn coming to you is very good. Slowly you will lengthen the distance and begin using the word when they are coming to you from a larger distance.
  3. When they come to you, the dog should always be rewarded no matter what.
  4. The dog should also be motivated by being exciting, or waving a toy at them, among other things.

Second Stage: Setting Up a Cue via Play

  1. First, make sure that you play a Back and Forth with another person the dog is comfortable with. Again, make sure that you do the game in a quiet environment so that the dog focuses on you.
  2. Hold the dog back when the other person calls him. Do not release the dog until the person calls the pet by their name, and using the cue word “come” afterward.
  3. After mentioning the cue word, let go of the dog and them proceed to the person. The person should then give them a reward, such as food.
  4. When the dog gets the reward, have the other person hold them as you call them, and release as you mention their name followed by the cue word. When they come to you, give them a food reward.
  5. Repeat these exercises for your dog training in Leesburg VA, but only for a few times, so as not to tire your pet.

Third Stage: Vocal Cue and Hand Signal

  1. You can now make use of the cue word to call the dog, while adding a hand signal. Begin in a quiet environment. Walk away from the dog and call its name, followed by the cure word and a hand signal. Reward the dog when they come to you.
  2. Begin to increase the distance you call the person, and praise them when they comply. If they do not reply, return to the previous distance and repeat the process.
  3. Practice this only for a few minutes so that your pet is not bored.
  4. Once the dog knows the hand signal, try calling their name and utilize the hand signal without the vocal cue. You then will be able to use a combination of just the vocal cue, just the hand signal, and both together.
  5. Once you have mastered this, the dog will now know the cure word when you start calling them from rooms where they could not see you.

Fourth Stage: Vocal Cue with Hand Signal Outside

  1. Since the dog can now come to you in a distraction-free environment, you can now try doing the cues outside.
  2. Practice first in your yard, and then build it up gradually to a park environment and so forth.
  3. Finally, test it when the dog is doing a different activity. Wait for a silent moment in that activity, and then call the dog to you. Praise them once they come to you.

Congratulations, you’ve mastered the “recall!”

Practicing the recall takes patience and time. If you wish to expedite the process and learn some advanced recall tips, there are also Leesburg dog training services that can help you.