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Dog Recall Training Advice
Dogs do not see that well from a distance. They focus on movement more than anything, and may seem to be deaf when you try and call them back to you. Recall training can be quite hard to master. Waving your arms about,then kneeling down, patting your thigh and clapping your hands helps to get the dogs attention. Keep calling the dog back frequently, rewarding, and then letting them go again. If a dog only associates being called back with having to go back on the lead or ending the walk, they may not be that keen on coming back !
Using a Dog Whistle for Recall Training
Start by using the whistle at mealtimes, so that the dog associates the sound of the whistle with food. Then you introduce the command "come" (or whatever word you want to use for recall), followed by the whistle. Two short bursts followed by a long whistle works well. When training outdoors, reinforce the food association by rewarding with a tasty treat when the dog comes to you. If the dog prefers to play with a toy, then do that instead.
Dog whistle training video with Victoria Stillwell
Some dog whistles have different tones, and the tone changes depending on how soft or hard you blow. Working dogs are trained to understand each tone for a different command. If a whistle is just to be used for recall, it is best if the tone is always the same. The Pro Trialler 212 whistle has a consistent tone, no matter how hard the whistle is blown, providing consistency and making recall training easier. Wear the whistle around your neck on a lanyard for ease of use.
Keeping Your Dogs Attention on You
If your dog ignores you and appears to be in a world of his own when out on a walk, then you need to interact with him more. The idea is to make things more interesting for them so that they have more fun being with you than running off across the field by themselves. Most dogs have a prey instinct and have an irresistible urge to chase small furry moving objects such as squirrels and rabbits. Tie a furry toy on a string to the end of a long stick and move it about to get the dog's attention. A cane pole from a garden centre would be ideal for this. If the toy has parts that flop around, like a tail or legs, that will make it more life like for the dog.
