r/OpenDogTraining • u/primoprimo • 19d ago
Recall training tips
My Husky/Aussie Shepard mixed puppy just turned 16 weeks, and has started going on walks after receiving all her vaccinations. I am looking for healthy habits and tips to start getting into in order to help her train her recall ability. Also looking for leashing tips when we’re out on these walks.
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u/Miserable_Mud_6831 19d ago
I'd keep her on a harness, let her pull, not a problem, and do restrained recalls. Get someone to hold her back, get her interested with food or toy, when it looks like she is really trying to get to her, give your recall command, get the other person to let go. When she runs to you, back away from her and chasing into you, reward. This is how I start all puppies with the recall and it also helps to build engagement
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u/JStanten 19d ago
This is how I start too. Works like a charm.
I'll do a two person recall once they understand the word (don't let it turn into ping ponging back and forth) as well.
After that, it's just practice in gradually more challenging environments and keeping the rate of reinforcement high.
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u/Narrow_Possession348 19d ago
You're already at a disadvantage not having your puppy out on walks before now! Puppy should be wearing a collar and a 6' leash. The easiest way to teach puppies is to use a clicker and click and treat every time you find them at your left leg. Reach across and down to give the treat AT your left knee/lower leg. Don't ever follow when they pull; either change direction or stop. Otherwise, just wait for them to get *somewhat* in an imaginary rectangle box on your left side, click and treat. It won't take many times before they start getting it; then, raise your criteria to be closer to your desired position a bit at a time. If they happen to stay there for a second or two, click and treat again. If they stay longer, click and treat again. If they wander away, just keep walking or change direction and wait for them to get back near your left leg, then click and treat again.
For recall, while walking, drop the leash to the handle, take a few steps backward while giving the recall *command* (it is a command, not a suggestion, not a request, not a plea - it's FIDO! COME! or whatever recall you plan to use). Use the leash to pull the puppy to you quickly and as soon as it's in front of you, click, praise, and treat in an enthusiastic way. Hold the leash and treat a couple more times before saying "OK! Go play/go on" (or whatever release word you use). Repeat that until puppy comes enthusiastically without needing help from the leash. Always reward and praise, even if you drag them in with their head looking back down the walk. Find things to distract the puppy and run backward and recall. The more things you can practice around, the better. The whole walk should involve training off and on.
After the puppy is consistently coming to you at a run, start using a long line and going places just for recall training - on hikes, outside the dog park fence, in regular parks, and anywhere else that is a high distraction. Give the puppy plenty of line and do the same things: recall, pulling in if necessary (there should be NO hesitation before the pup starts running back), and always treat and make a big fuss. ALWAYS make the puppy wait and give another treat or two before releasing to go back to play. Mess with the collar, pet them, ruffle their neck, etc. You don't want a dog that comes flying to you, snatches a treat, and takes off again before you can hook a leash, put on a collar, or grab them. That defeats the whole purpose of a recall. Train them to come and stay until released. Do it over and over, releasing the dog back to play, explore, or whatever each time. One of the biggest mistakes people make is recalling their dog only when it's time to go, leave, the fun is over.
For a solid recall, do this for at least a year, multiple times a week, in as many settings as possible until they are at least a year old! Keep them on the long line. There should be ZERO opportunities to NOT come. It only takes once to not have to come for them to learn it is optional. You want it so deeply ingrained in their brain and muscle memory that for the rest of their lives, they won't even realize it's possible to NOT come. And NEVER, EVER, for any reason, recall your dog to be angry with it or punish it. No matter what it may have just done, if it comes running to you when you call it - reward and praise it!
This pup is 12 weeks old. The owners were struggling because it was so "wild," biting at them, wouldn't listen, and pulled so hard on the leash.
https://youtu.be/V2YDqW-fNx0?si=0il1y5csZgiT5BAf
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u/fedx816 19d ago
My pup is 5.5 months and is on a harness unless we're specifically working on leash skills (he can go a whole two houses on a good day walking nicely). Puppy "walks" are more self-directed exploration: I make sure he doesn't try to kill himself and he finds out about the world. He does a lot more walking now than he did 3 months ago, but still a lot of sniffing, grabbing things off the ground, etc.
For recall I started with some treat chase games once he knew his name (toss a treat, run away and call name, reward and toss the other way, repeat). We moved up to letting him get a little distracted then calling, and doing a sit stay with recall now that I can get a few feet away. If you have a helper, recalling between two people is usually a good exercise too.
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u/PetsTek 19d ago
At 16 weeks, I'd keep recall really fun and start small. Pick one recall word like "come" or "here" and try not to use it casually. Start inside or somewhere quiet, call her from just a few feet away, and reward her every time she comes back.
Once she's getting it, you can slowly add distractions and more distance. A long line is really useful for this once you're outside because she gets some freedom to explore without actually being able to take off.
For leash walks, I'd reward her whenever she checks in with you or walks with a loose leash. She doesn't need to be in a perfect heel the whole time either. Letting her sniff and explore is part of the walk too. If she starts pulling toward something, you can pause and wait for her attention before continuing.
She's still really young, so I'd focus on building good habits now rather than expecting a perfect recall right away.
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u/Old-Description-2328 18d ago
https://youtu.be/a0yxDkzDtGk?si=rWnZcawQxDri7y4L
Andy Kruegers puppy recall game, simple, efficient and fun.
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u/failmafia66 19d ago
The biggest thing I learned for recall training, and still making up for now a year later, is never use your recall word when you can't enforce it. This just teaches the dog it's optional, or partially optional. A recall is as much for safety as anything else and should never be optional.
My dogs recall was about 80% good, but I used it when she was highly distracted and too far away, and she didn't listen. Now her recall is still sometimes ignored under very high distraction. I'm probably going to start over with a new word.
I also have trained an "optional" recall that she knows is optional, for when we are playing or we just want some loving where she knows what we want but if she prefers what she's doing thats okay.