Q: We have a fabulous 8-month-old dog that is fitting into our family really well. We started obedience classes early and, for the most part, we have no issues. However, we would like our dog to consistently come when called
Q: We have a fabulous 8-month-old dog that is fitting into our family really well. We started obedience classes early and, for the most part, we have no issues. However, we would like our dog to consistently come when called. At times, he obeys. But if he is off leash, he darts just out of reach. How can we get him to be more reliable? A: Young dogs often follow owners around like lost puppies. Then, as they mature, they progress through a rebellious phase. Welcome to your dog's adolescence.
If it makes you feel better, your dog is normal. No magical "desire to please" gene has been discovered in dogs. Who wouldn't rather play than obey? But coming when called is a very important skill for pets to have, so you should not turn a blind eye to the matter.
In obedience class, families usually learn the basic steps of teaching a good recall. It involves rewarding the dog when it complies. This can be done with toys, play or a special treat.
Most families also learn to avoid accidentally punishing the dog when it comes. For example, routinely calling a dog for disliked activities such as nail clippings can quickly lead to a reluctant response. Better to use the command "nail time" rather than "come." It preserves the positive association that the word "come" should have.
Finally, classes teach owners to avoid playing chase games when the dog refuses to come. Chasing potentially teaches the animal that darting leads to a fun game of "catch me if you can."
These simple steps will achieve a reasonably sound recall for many dogs. But there is a trick if you want to move beyond rudimentary skills to something special.
Good trainers break tasks into a series of steps based on the degree of difficulty. They move on to the next step only when the animal has truly mastered the one it is on. Since owners are the ones teaching the dog, they should learn and follow this training approach.
Failing to understand this process can lead to unnecessary errors. Families progress too quickly through exercises and give too much freedom too soon. They expect too much and they expect it too soon.
It's not unlike learning to drive. Society does not provide teenagers with the keys to a new Ferrari on their 16th birthday. Instead, initial learning is followed by testing. Successful completion leads to practise of defensive driving skills. When students demonstrate it's safe to let them drive, they move on to graduated licensing.
A similar protocol should be followed when teaching a dog to come when called. Beginner basics are first taught and tested. When the animal is ready to move on, it needs to practise those skills in many situations with a variety of distractions.
Initially, this should be done with the dog on leash. If it cannot come reliably under these conditions, it needs more practice. Only when the dog has completed this level can it progress to a longer leash. Off leash recalls should only be attempted when the dog has proven it in its longer leash performance that it is ready to move on. Choose safe and secure locations that do not impose on others.
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