When Punishment Can Backfire

One of the worst things people do when they are trying to train a dog for recalls is to punish a dog who hasn’t come right away. Think about it. Your dog takes off up the street. You call her. She doesn’t hear you. Or maybe she does hear you, but she’s having too much fun to come to you.

Finally, you manage to catch up to her and get your hand on her collar. If you punish her now, you’ll only teach her one thing: that letting you catch her results in bad things.

So, no matter how frustrated you are, no matter how embarrassing it is to be seen running after your dog, no matter how upset or angry you feel, you must always, always make your dog glad when she is finally back near you again.

Don’t Take Risks

Experienced trainers know better than to risk their dogs’ lives on their recalls. They know that, no matter how well a dog is trained, things can go wrong. So if you are outdoors with your dog in a situation that is dangerous-where he might be hit by a car, for example, or be lost or injured - keep him on a leash.

Manage Your Expectations

Don’t expect your dog to have a solid recall overnight. Mastering this behavior takes time. Plan to measure your dog’s progress over months, even years. That way you’ll avoid getting frustrated and will be able to focus on your dog’s successes.