Hi Friends,
Our Walker Vaughan here, lets take a minute to help our dog improve his/her recall. To do so we will need to be paying attention to how we use our body.
1. Make sure you are facing the direction you want your dog to move in. Don't face your dog or walk towards him when asking him to come. This sends a mixed message as to the direction you want him to go. He will get confused and often wait for you to finish your approach.
2. Say "come" fast and repeatedly in a your high doggy voice (I know you have one). I like to say "cup" instead of "come". It's easier to say loudly and repeatedly (especially in the high doggy voice). Repeated claps, clicks, clicks and smooches are helpful too. Do your best not to boom out a loud authoritative "COME". Single syllable commands are better for stopping action. Like "DOWN" or "OFF" or "SIT". Think about sled dogs, to increase action: "mush, mush, mush, mush" or horses, "hyah, hyah, hyah, hyah". To stop action: "Woah", or "Woah Nelly!" (provided of course her name is indeed Nelly)
3. Make it an easy decision for them. Run, skip, or jump in the direction you want your dog to go. This works well with dogs who are learning to play fetch and have trouble returning the ball. Instead of chasing after them, set the rules to a new game where they chase you, and you've got the moves to make a good show of it.
Learning is fun, just ask my friend Nelly here.
-- V.W.
