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A dog that won't come back to you when you call
his name is not
only annoying, he's a liability, too. So for safety's sake, he needs
to be obedient to recall as and when you want him.
Reward incentive
Initially, the reward should be of high value,
such as a really tasty treat or a prized toy, Lots of praise is also
beneficial - an
enthusiastic and rewarding welcome from you will encourage him to
recall.
Conditioned rewards
As your dog becomes conditioned to return to you
on command,
praise will probably be sufficient. You can, however, give
occasional high-value rewards to maintain instant response.
Teaching Recall
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To begin, walk forward with
your dog on a long leash and at heel as usual. Then
allow the lead to go slack and move backwards. Call your dog's name and command
the word 'come' at
the same time. Offer a food treat or toy to
elicit his fast response.
-
As your dog reaches you,
command
'sit'. When he responds, give him treat or play a
game with a toy and praise him.
-
If he respond immediately
every time you practice this exercise, try drop the
lead on the ground within easy reach distance, in case you
need to grab it, to see his reaction. When
you are happy that he will come back to you instantly
on voice command, try to exercise off-leash in a secure
area, and gradually increasing the distance between you.
-
Finish on a success. If the dog
recalls the first time, end the lesson there. You
must
leave him with a positive association. lf you have
problem in teaching this obedience, consult a
professional trainer. It is important that your dog
comes back instantly on command when you need him
to.
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