REINFORCING RECALLS

    SOMETIMES IT’S DIFFICULT FOR A DOG TO BREAK AWAY FROM PLAYING WITH PALS OR EXPLORING INTERESTING SCENTS BECAUSE SHE DOESN’T WANT TO LOSE THAT FUN. YOU CAN SOLVE THIS BY TEACHING YOUR DOG THAT COMING AWAY FROM OTHER FUN WHEN CALLED HOLDS A DOUBLE REWARD.

     WHEN YOUR DOG IS INVOLVED IN SOME MILDLY INTERESTING ACTIVITY GO NEAR HER, CALL “COME” AND HOLD OUT A TREAT. LET HER EAT IT. THEN STEP BACK. SAY “GO PLAY” AND ENCOURAGE HER TO RETURN TO HER FUN.

    CALL HER SEVERAL TIMES EVERY DAY, JUST TO GIVE HER A TREAT AND SEND HER BACK TO PLAY. GRADUALLY CALL FROM FATHER AWAY, AND ALWAYS REWARD WITH A YUMMY TREAT OR FAVORITE TOY, THEN RELEASE HER TO “GO PLAY” AGAIN. DO THIS SEVERAL TIMES, THEN STOP. (IF YOU CALL TOO OFTEN, SHE MAY GET ANNOYED OR BORED AND QUIT RESPONDING.)

    DON’T GET IMPATIENT OR LOOSE YOUR TEMPER WITH HER IF SHE DOESN’T COME RIGHT AWAY. THE WORST THING YOU CAN DO IS GET AFTER HER OR GIVE HER A NEGATIVE CORRECTION WHEN YOU DO FINALLY GET HER TO COME TO YOU. SHE WILL NO LONGER WANT TO COME TO YOU IF SHE GETS INTO TROUBLE WHEN SHE DOES FINALLY COME. KEEP WITH THE TREAT OR TOY TRICK AND IT MAY TAKE SOME TIME AT FIRST, BUT SHE’LL CATCH ON QUICKLY AND WANT TO COME FASTER EACH TIME.

    SOON YOU DOG WILL AMAZE YOU WITH HOW QUICKLY SHE COMES WHEN CALLED NO MATTER WHAT ELSE SHE MIGHT BE DOING.