Trainer Reveals Mistakes She Wishes People Would Stop Making When Teaching Dogs To Recall

A trainer shares the mistakes many people make when teaching dogs to recall, and it's really good advice.

On September 24, 2024, The Good Dog Yorktown (@thegooddogyorktown) shared a video on teaching your dog to recall and the common mistakes that are best to kick to the curb now. Here's what you should know.

A dog trainer named Katie Eaton from Yorktown, Virginia shared an educational video for dog parents who might be struggling to teach their dog how to recall.

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"Is this what 'come' looks like with your dog?" the text on the video asks. In the clip, we see several tactics some dog parents might be using and an explanation for why it's not the best practice.

Be Strategic About When You Train Off-Leash

Katie's first point in the video's caption touches on recall practice and off-leash.

"Stop practicing recall off leash when your dog has known to blow you off in the past," she shares.

"If what you’re doing isn’t making your recall exponentially better, then you need to change it up."

Another point the trainer says dog parents need to realize when recall training centers around rewards.

"Stop calling your dog to you and giving them nothing or at most a pat on the head or on the opposite end of the spectrum," she shares. "Stop shaking a treat bag or waving around food to call your dog- that’s not a command, that’s a bribe."

"You have to give them 0% chance to ignore you when you call them," the video reads. "You must start practicing on-leash to stop them from ignoring your command."

Recall Training Should Come With a Reward

Another point the trainer says dog parents need to realize when recall training centers around rewards.

"Stop calling your dog to you and giving them nothing or at most a pat on the head or on the opposite end of the spectrum," she shares. "Stop shaking a treat bag or waving around food to call your dog- that’s not a command, that’s a bribe."

Instead, Katie says that when you say the command "come" your dog should want to "drop everything" and "fly to you." And they'll do that with a treat.

When they hear "come" and run over, "bring out the jackpots (an amazing treat that they only get for come, a game of chasing treats on the ground or chasing you, a game of tug or flirt pole chasing, etc.)."

"The anticipation of the reward is the most rewarding part for your dog" because "that’s when the most “happy” chemicals release in their body." And this is why rewards are key.

"So build up that anticipation by telling them come and only presenting that reward when they make it to you!"