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Correcting 'Letting Go' Dog Behavior: Effective Trainin

19. December 2024
However, I also understand that finding a "sanctuary" in this concrete jungle—a vast meadow, a park

However, I also understand that finding a "sanctuary" in this concrete jungle—a vast meadow, a park filled with wagging tails and playful dogs—allows our furry companions to run free and reconnect with nature. Every owner's heart races at the thought of letting go of the leash.

Letting go of the leash is harder than holding on! Unrestricted freedom can lead to recklessness.

If your dog has poor obedience, a low recall rate, and tends to get overly excited, I advise you to keep the leash tight. Train your pup at home first, and then gradually introduce more freedom.

What is the secret to making your dog come running at your call? There's a lot of science to it!

Understanding the Mind of a Dog

Many owners become frustrated when their dogs don't come when called, thinking, "I've raised you from a pup, spent a fortune on premium dog food, toys, and treats... and you won't even come when I call! I'm so angry!"

This mindset is as unrealistic as parents paying for their child's education and expecting them to automatically excel in college.

To solve the problem of a dog not coming when called, you need to understand the dog's psychology and address the issue accordingly.

When you're running after your dog, frustrated and angry, what's going through its mind?

The dog might be thinking: "I'm having so much fun exploring all these scents, and I haven't checked out that corner yet! Hey, why are you shouting and looking so angry? It's dangerous; I should stay away from you!"

The more frustrated and angry you get, the less likely your dog will come to you, and eventually, you might end up chasing it for several blocks. If you lose control, you might end up physically harming your own dog (I've been there, done that).

Then, your dog will form a logical connection: coming to you means getting punished or scolded.

As a result, your dog will be even less likely to come to you, and might even avoid your approach.

The Call of Love

Do you want your dog to sprint back to you at the sound of your voice? Do you want to be able to summon your dog with a snap of your fingers in front of friends? Then, let's think about when your dog would be eager to run to you.

Your dog dashes over when it hears the rustle of a plastic bag, knowing there's a treat waiting.

It twirls around you excitedly when you start to change clothes and pick up the leash, because it knows playtime is just around the corner.

Your dog wants to come to you because it knows something enjoyable is about to happen.

That's the nature of dogs: they always anticipate and are ready to rush towards things that bring them joy, without unnecessary worries, living in the moment.

Understanding this makes the recall training process less mysterious. It's all about making sure your dog knows that following you will lead to treats and fun, and reinforcing this with rewards.

At first, you can use a longer leash (3 to 8 meters) to allow your dog some freedom, and then randomly call it back. Encourage and entice it with treats; if it doesn't come, pull the leash. When it does come, make sure to reward it promptly.

Playing games like "fetch" can also strengthen your dog's recall ability (it's especially effective for retrieving breeds).

Some Tips

Many people enjoy letting their dogs run free on wide meadows, which can lead to a lack of discipline. The dog might think it's fine to play independently, so why should it come when called?

Dogs are scentoriented animals; scents are their strongest signal. When they are absorbed in the various scents around them, calling them won't work. It's like trying to teach a student who's deeply engrossed in playing video games.

Continuously calling your dog's name at this point is not only ineffective but can also make it increasingly ignore your recall commands. Over time, your dog might simply ignore your calls.

So, how do we get a dog distracted by scents to come back? We use scents to break their focus, like using a delicious treat to redirect their attention. Once they notice you, call them back, and this will reinforce the importance of the recall command.

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