Labrador Training As A Method to Improve A Dog’s Recall

How many times have you gone walking in some park with your labrador, only to have such a seemingly fruitful experience end with you frantically running and shouting after your dog, which steadily grows smaller and smaller in the horizon? Indeed, it is not enough to know that the dog is unable to get a grip of the urge to follow a scent, or that it cannot keep its playful instincts down. Being able to recall your dog is a crucial element when it comes to Labrador training.

What could be the possible reasons why a dog refuses to “come”?

a) First of all, some dogs have already experienced approaching, only to be turned away or ignored. This is obviously confusing to the dog!

b) Some dogs are pursuing what totally taps into what they were born to go after: a squirrel, a totally absorbing odor, etc.

c) Owners can also end up creating a link between the “come” gesture and what the dog is exactly up to at that time.

Begin the first step to training recall by starting out in a controlled area such as a fenced-in garden or indoors, where distractions are limited. Keep using the same recall command, never sounding negative or annoyed. Try calling the dog’s name through out the day, getting it to come to you and giving a treat or playing a game if the dog does. The point is that the dog sees that coming to you is fun!

When the dog is accustomed to coming to you when it is called, add the recall command and get it used to the sound.

Third, once the dog has got the hang of the recall command, try mixing in a few distractions. Keep the dog on a long lead and see if it will still come to you.

Third, when the dog has got the hand of the recall command through your Labrador training, drop by some park where it is secure to walk off-leash dogs. You may also want to visit this park together with another dog owner that is used to wide spaces. Recall both dogs, and reward the one that returns first.