How can you make yourself super attractive to your dog?
How can you make yourself super attractive to your dog (and not in the I’m pretty kind of way)? What if you could call your dog and he or she is there by your side, despite any distractions?
We love to see our dogs having a wonderful time with other dogs, nose down bum up, tail wagging, on a scent that is invisible to the human nose! As dog owners, we love to see them run and bound and just be free!
But…
Ohh there’s always a but, we want them to be sharp on the recall, to disengage immediately from whatever it is he or she is into and to come back on command, which is not always that easy!
Most owners do not want their dogs on the lead all the time. I think we would have all seen those canine gods who walk down a busy town center with their dog at their heels no further than 2 paces in front or behind with no man-made piece of tethering equipment in sight. We all look at them in awe, admiration, and amazement, I know I do!
So, what do they have that you don’t?
Well, they have mastered the art that they are so much more attractive to the dog than anything else, that their dog feels safe by their side, that their dog is in-distractable!
Below are some Top Tips to Help You be Sexier than anything Else (in a dog’s eyes), hopefully, this will give you some guidance on improving the recall and in turn the relationship with your dog, as there is nothing more frustrating than calling your dog umpteen times and them totally ignoring you, it could also save your dog’s life!
Ten Top tips to help your dog to think you are the most desirable thing on this planet!
Let’s aim to make that squirrel running up the tree so bland compared to you, that that fox poo they have just wandered past is not for rolling in as being by your side is waayyy better than the beautiful sweet-smelling aroma of fox poo, that the dog passing you by who appears to want to savage your dog is completely ignored!
Every dog has its unique thing that they love that they will do almost anything for, food, balls/toys, even commands (games), stimulation, love, and attention! It’s up to you to work out what that is!
- Always practice at home in a safe familiar environment, with no distractions. Start by recalling your dog on a lead or training line! Work out what it is your dog loves is it a squeaky ball, a treat, a tug toy, or simple praise?
- Use clicker training, positive reinforcement, and rewards! Clicker training is so powerful and used in conjunction with a physical reward, the dog will learn to associate the sound of the clicker with a positive outcome. Find out more by clicking here
- Increase the distance slowly between you and your dog and always release! When your dog returns to you after being called via name, whistle, or any other command that they prick their ears up to, ensure that after they are praised you release your dog and allow them to go back to what they were doing.
- Ball throwing and retrieving is always a good exercise but not all dogs are the retrieving type! If they are an avid fetcher when they do retrieve the object always praise and reward them and release! Do not continually throw the ball when working on the recall but use the ball as a tool for your dog to return to you on command.
- When a dog comes to you even if it takes half an hour do not chastise them. Reward them so they learn being with you is far better than being away, you are their happy place. You are rewarding the current behavior, the now behavior not the what was behavior!
- Using clear commands, “come”, “heel”, and “here” being clear & concise is key, using a whistle can be beneficial as it is a sound that is only used for recall and the sound waves can travel further distances!
- Once mastered at home go to a quiet external location and keep your dog on the training line or lead, extending the distance as their recall improves. Always release and do not overuse the commands, whistle or your dog’s name, your dog will simply switch off if you use their name without an outcome!
- Try off the lead when and where there are no distractions. Only venture to this step once you are comfortable and know that they will return to you when called.
- Go to a place where there are distractions go back to the lead and training line, and start the process all over again!
- Once you know your dog has all eyes on you and that you are sexier than the poodle on the other side of the park, or the squirrel up the tree, or the ducks in the pond it’s time to let them off and practice the recall! You & your dog may not get it right every time but when your dog does praise him, positive reinforcement is the most powerful tool you have! Ignore the bad behavior praise the good!
