Episode #143 Recall Mastery: Strengthening Your Connection with Your Pup

Ever wondered how to build a strong relationship with your puppy and perfect off-leash recalls? In this episode, I share my experience with a client's new puppy, and we explore the importance of fostering good check-ins from our furry friends. We'll learn how to practice getting your pup to willingly follow you without leash pressure, as well as rewarding them when they catch up to you. Plus, discover how to start putting the recall on cue with multiple syllables and a happy tone.

But how do we reward our puppies for good behavior? In this episode, we'll dive into the significance of understanding your dog and creating a strong bond based on positivity and trust. Find out how to vary the rewards to keep your pup entertained and motivated, and why it's essential not to overdo training exercises. We'll also discuss practicing recalls using a long line for adolescent puppies or older dogs you're just getting to know. So if you have any questions about puppy training, don't hesitate to reach out for help!

Chapters

• 0:00 Off-Leash Recalls and Fostering Check-Ins
• 7:45 Dog Training Rewards and Recall

Transcript

Amy: 0:00

This is the Puppy Training Podcast, episode 143, off leash recalls and fostering a good check-in. This podcast is designed to help you on your journey of becoming best friends through love and learning, as you train your own dog from home, and I'm here to help you every step of the way. This is the Puppy Training Podcast and I'm your host, amy Jensen. Hello everybody, how is your week going? We are on summer vacation from school. currently. Anyone else out there on summer vacation? I have to remind my kids that we are on holiday from school, not from life. That doesn't hit with any of you. I have three teenagers at home, so summers look a little differently than they used to. but I love my teenagers, absolutely love them. They're so fun And I love their friends. I love when they come over. So hopefully you're enjoying your summer. If your kids are out of school, it's always a good time right. Lots to do, lots to think about, and with dogs and kids, we need to make sure we have structure and that we're keeping everyone safe, but also helping everyone to have fun and enjoy each other. So good things. Do you have a teenage dog? Speaking of teenagers, people tend to fear the adolescent phase of a dog's life. but I like to tell you it doesn't have to be scary, it can be fun, i promise, just like having human teenagers, it can be fun. The hard part for me is adapting to a new phase, so going from puppy phase to teenage phase. but once I do that and it becomes the new normal, having a teenager is awesome. They have longer attention spans, they know the basics, they're energetic and love to learn. Sure, they test boundaries and they're more distracted by things in their environment. But even with that, take time to observe them being so curious and you'll be fascinated at what you learn about them. This leads me to today's topic off leash recalls and fostering a good check-in. This is something that we all dream of. right, we call our dog they come. This all stems you guys from having a good relationship with your dog.

Amy: 2:06

Just this past week, a client and friend brought home a new puppy. She brought it over to my home to visit and say hello. I know I'm super lucky. I get those kinds of things quite often. It makes my day.

Amy: 2:16

So this sweet puppy was on a leash but didn't really have any leash skills because they were so young And the well-meaning child was helping the puppy walk to my backyard. Immediately you could see the resistance by this puppy as she did not want to be told what to do or forced to walk in a certain direction. These are all natural, normal, common behaviors for a new puppy or new dog who has yet to learn leash walking skills. So very normal. but you could see in this puppy the tendency to just want to resist. So I said you know what, let's try something else. Let's just try to take this puppy off leash and let's all start walking towards my backyard. I bet this puppy will follow us.

Amy: 2:58

Now the thing about young puppies, if you guys know already, is that they do not like to be alone. That's why, when we teach crate training, this can be somewhat of a challenge and the reason why we keep the crate close to us in the beginning. Sure, this puppy may explore for a second when they're off leash, but shortly they will wonder where we are and hurry to catch up. So we all started walking to my backyard and, sure enough, this little eight-week-old puppy came running along behind us. No leash, just the desire to be close.

Amy: 3:23

So if you are getting a puppy soon or have one currently, take advantage of this stage of life where they want to be with you, to practice getting them to follow you. Now, obviously, this is most safely done in a fenced backyard, right? We don't want this puppy to wander off into a road or a street. So be smart and be safe. But try to focus on getting your puppy to willingly follow you on their own. Let them do it on their own. Don't require them to come along with you because there's this leash pressure there. Just take the leash off. practice getting your puppy just to follow, because that desire to be close to you is real. Now reward them when they catch up to you.

Amy: 4:01

So I like to start walking away again as soon as they come to me. right, they come in, they check in, i pay them a reward and then I just start walking away In my backyard. I like to hide behind a tree or a patio piece of patio furniture. Then when the puppy finds me, i reward them and I go hide again. This starts to create the feeling of hey, don't miss out on what Amy's doing. She's unpredictable. This is super fun for puppies. They love this game and I love it because I can't be frustrated. I didn't actually ask my dog to do anything. Therefore, if they don't do anything. guess what? I'm not upset. When they do something, i reward them and they learn doing something equals good things. Soon we have this really beautiful pattern of Amy hides, puppy finds, amy puppy gets rewarded. The puppy is learning to check in frequently and all on their own. Rewards always come for it and they know that there's a strong pattern of that there for them.

Amy: 4:51

This evolves to recall practice. Start putting the recall on cue. I like to use puppy, puppy come. I find that multiple syllables and a happy tone make it more friendly and inviting. My puppy will be more likely to want to come to me because it sounds friendly. Now remember to reward them for coming all the way to you. Sometimes I'll just take a couple steps backward and keep moving as they come to me to make sure they make it all the way to me and they don't stop short. Once you reward them, then walk away. So that's another key point.

Amy: 5:19

When my puppy recalls to me, i do not want to immediately leash them or stop the fun of exploring, especially outside. Feed them a reward, hold their collar as you do so and then release it and let them go back to sniffing or playing or whatever it was that they were doing. I do this 10 times for every one time that I do stop the fun. We want a recall to be a check-in go play, not a time to be done cue. Does that make sense? Now I guarantee your dog will want to stop playing. the time to be done game right away.

Amy: 5:49

Okay, yes, sometimes we need to get our dogs, yes, we want them to answer to every recall. But training it this way, where nine times out of 10, they get to go right back to play, really helps them want to recall to you. Also, try not to overdo. a good thing. I find that two to three reps of any exercise is a good number. Then move on to something else. Mix it up. Keep your dog guessing what cue you will say or practice next. This builds driving them to want to keep playing or training with you because you are fun and unpredictable. Notice, i said playing right. After all, that's what training is. We are having fun with our dogs. If you turn into a drill sergeant, your dog may start resisting training exercises. No one likes to be bossed around, including your dog. We want them to enjoy being with us. Listen, yes, but have fun while doing it. They see the benefit and value in doing things. we ask because we provide things they love and enjoy along the way.

Amy: 6:47

Recall practice is something simple and fast. you can practice daily. If you have an adolescent puppy or older dog you are just getting to know then practice recalls using a long line. This is a 10 to 30 foot lightweight leash that your dog can drag around When you ask for a recall or a check-in. if needed, you can step on that line or hold it to prevent your dog from running away. Sometimes you get that look at you like, hmm, should I come, should I not come? And then they dart away. This long line will prevent that darting away. Then I just wait patiently for them to check in with me instead. With that long line they can't go far and pretty soon they realize the best option is to check in with me After all, nine times out of 10, they get to go right back to what they were doing in the first place And your dog knows that because you've practiced it. So be patient. It takes time to let them know that and understand that, but that's what we're going for Now once your dog recalls regularly in your yard and once your puppy is fully vaccinated. that's important. using the long line at a park is an excellent way to practice at the next level.

Amy: 7:45

Bring a long line squeaky toy, frisbee or ball with you to give your dog fun, exciting rewards once they check in. Getting in may mean the ball gets tossed or the frisbee gets thrown, or the toy gets tugged. You get the idea. Switch it up if needed. In all of this it's important obviously to know your dog. What do they like, what do they dislike, what excites them, what motivates them, what interests them Right. Use that knowledge to build a strong relationship built on positivity and trust. These are key to a good recall. All right, that's it for today, you guys. Baxter has his cousin Chura over and it's time to go play. So have a great week and happy training. If you have a question about anything you heard on this podcast or any other puppy training question, visit my site, baxterandbella. com to contact me.