Take a quiet moment in the day when there aren’t many distractions around. Offer your dog a variety of different toys, food treats and games. What do they get the most excited about?

Thinking about your dog’s breed specific needs can be really helpful when you’re working out what rewards will work best for them. We have two sighthounds on the Coast and Country Canines team, so we incorporate chasing into their recall rewards – for example, chucking a treat for them to chase along the ground rather than popping it straight in their mouth.

If you have a gun dog, a toy for them to carry around, or a searching game that gets them using their nose could be a fantastic reward. Do a little research and find out what is likely to pique your dog’s interest and bring them the most joy.

Troubleshooting

If your dog isn’t interested in the rewards that you’re offering, broaden your selection. What other foods/games/toys can you try? Think outside the box. What does your dog love doing? Chasing? Wrestle play? Can you incorporate this into your reward?

Be prepared to repeat this process, especially when you change training location, if your dog seems to lose interest. Some dogs maintain their preference but others enjoy a change up, novelty itself can be rewarding for some dogs, while others prefer a predictable reward.

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Choose a recall word, sound or hand signal (we’ll call this a ‘cue’). If more than one person will be recalling your dog, a whistle may be best as it sounds the same whoever uses it. We advise not using your dog’s name as they hear this all the time – their recall cue should be something unique that they will only hear when you’re training or practicing recall.

If using a word, try to use something simple and distinctive, that other people should be able to replicate easily, and that you’re comfortable shouting out in public! A hand signal should be clearly visible, even at a distance and again distinctive and comfortable for you to perform repeatedly.

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In a quiet environment, use your recall cue, then reward your dog straight away. We are not looking for any behaviours – don’t wait for your dog to sit, or make eye contact, or anything else. We just want the dog to understand that their recall cue = amazing things coming from you!

Do 15 reps of saying your cue and following up with a reward, then have a break. Be nice and prompt with your reward delivery so your dog receives the reward as soon as they hear their recall cue – if using as treat or toy you probably want to have them ready in your hand to help with this. Repeat the exercise at different times of day over several days.

Troubleshooting

If you find that your dog is getting distracted, make sure that you’re keeping sessions short and sweet, and ensure your dog has lots of breaks. Is your training environment calm, quiet and familiar? If your dog is antsy, check that their needs have been met. Are they comfortable? Do they need the toilet? More sleep? Exercise?

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