In this blog, Shona, Coast and Country Canines Project Lead will answer some key questions about recall and what to expect from the Total Recall Challenge.
Whether you’re counting down the days to join us for Total Recall next month, or this is your very first time hearing about our exciting new challenge, you’re in the right place. Maybe you’ve hit a plateau with your recall training, or you’re just starting out – whatever stage you’re at, we’re thrilled to have you here.
What exactly is recall?
“Put simply, recall is when you call your dog and they come back to you! It’s about being able to get your dog close alongside you, even if they’re off lead. To start with, it’s best to keep things simple. It’s an exciting world out there and your dog won’t always understand why you want them to come back. So, making your training easy and fun, having clear cues (or signals) and not asking for extras like a ‘sit’ at the end is ideal.”
Why is recall important?
“It’s not just about obedience. While we want our dogs to listen to us when we need them to, recall is about safety – your dog’s safety and everyone else’s. Our dogs might not realise something is dangerous, like a road or cows in a field, but we know they would be safer by us. We have to be aware of their environment, and they have to understand that when we call they need to come back.
It’s also about being responsible. Our dog might be friendly and want to play with everyone, but there are lots of situations where that might not be appropriate, so we need to call them away. Everyone deserves to use and enjoy outside spaces, so making sure our dogs can have fun while also being under control is a big part of being a responsible dog owner.”
Why is being able to recall our dogs good for wildlife?
“As considerate dog owners, we have a responsibility to look after wildlife and our natural spaces as well. Just like other countryside users, wildlife deserves to eat, rest and live in peace, so as much fun as our dogs might have chasing them, we need to prevent that from happening. Chasing alone can drastically affect an animal’s chance of survival so it’s important to be aware of even if your dog has no chance of catching anything.
Sometimes, this can be as simple as staying away from sensitive habitats or keeping an eye out for wild animals, but if we miss them and our dog starts to chase, we want to be able to call them away effectively. That is quite a lofty goal even for dog trainers! Some of us still keep our dogs on lead at certain times of year if we go somewhere we know wildlife is likely to be, just to be safe. But it is possible to perfect your recall to the point that even a high prey drive dog can be recalled away from a chase. It takes some careful training and lots of practise, but we have all the steps to get you started.
If you have a dog with a high prey drive, Simone Mueller is a fantastic dog trainer with plenty of resources and books to help you get your recall on the right track.”
What sort of training will Total Recall involve?
“We have carefully created a roadmap to recall which gives you easy step by step instructions to progress you through the training. Our Communications Officer, Alice, is an accredited member of the Professional Association of Canine Trainers, and I am a qualified Animal Behaviourist, so you can be sure that our guide is using the most up to date, effective training methods.
The guide focuses on activities that you can do with your dog that will help build recall skills, and we have included troubleshooting and advanced tips to help you every step of the way.”
Where do I get started?
“If the Total Recall challenge sounds like it might be for you and your dog, then there are a few ways to join in. You can follow along on our website, where you will find a series of activities with all the information and video demonstrations that you need.
We will also be posting on social media, so follow us on Instagram or Facebook, especially if you find reminders helpful. You can also come along to one of our upcoming events to grab a printed version of our roadmap to recall if you would prefer a hard copy (we’ll be advertising dates and locations on our events page shortly). We will also be able to answer some questions and help point you in the right direction if you’re having any issues.
As far as getting you and your dog ready, we have a checklist on our Total Recall information page. Lastly, we would love to see any pictures or videos of your dogs taking part in the challenge, so please do tag us on social media!”
Head over to our Total Recall information page to discover everything you need to know about the challenge – and learn how to set your dog up for the best possible start.
