Help!  My dog won't come back to me when I call!

One of the most important skills for your dog to have when they are off leash is returning to you when you call them, especially around potentially life-threatening distractions like chasing a cat across a busy road, approaching a fearful dog or heading towards rubbish and food scraps left on the ground. Read on for some tips on helping ensure you have a strong and reliable recall every time!

1. Gradually Increase Distractions

Start practicing in a place free of distractions, like your lounge room, then gradually move to more distracting environments as your dog starts to learn to come back to you (the back yard, then the front yard, then a quiet park, then at a park with dogs at a distance)

2. Ask Only Once

Only say the verbal cue for the recall ('Come', 'Here', etc.) once. Start by pairing it when your dog is moving towards you then add it before your dog come backs to you. Be careful not to repeat it when your dog isn't coming back to you - this is called 'learned irrelevance' and it will dilute your verbal cue!

3. Reward Every Time

Ensure you reward your dog every time they come back to you when you call, even if they take a long time! Always reward them with something they love - a high value treat, a favourite toy and verbal praise. Never punish them for coming back to you, or they won't want to come back to you next time and you will undo your hard work!

4. Keep It Fun!

Turn your recall practice into a game - the more fun your dog is having with you, the better your dog will learn! If your dog is losing interest, try a different and more motivating reward or take a break and try again later

5. Set Your Dog Up For Success

If your dog isn't coming back to you, the environment is too distracting - make it easier and practice more!

6. Use A Long Line

Each time you move to a new environment, start with a shorter line then gradually increase the length of the line as your dog learns the skill. Don't use a long line if there are other dogs around as they can get caught up and panic

7. encourage your dog

When you call your dog and they orient towards you, praise them to let them know they are on the right track and encourage them to come towards you. Open your arms, crouch down, get excited and look inviting!

8. Your Body Language Is Important

It seems counter-intuitive, but if you want your dog to come towards you, when you have their attention run away from them - this will act like a magnet! (Unless it's an emergency!)

9. positive associations

Only call your dog back to you to do something fun as you want your dog to have a positive association with coming back to you. Don’t call your dog to do something they don’t like to do (i.e. having a bath, getting their nails clipped, etc.)

10. Go at your dog's pace

Don't expect too much too soon, practice loads and soon you'll be confident that your dog will always come back to you when you call!
 

 
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We had been to previous dog training classes elsewhere with our older dog and found that it didn’t quite deliver on what we hoped - especially given our older dog’s needs. When we adopted George we did more research on puppy training and wanted someone who specialised more in this area. We are so glad we picked Kelly and her team! We booked the drop-in puppy sessions - she has a 5 for 4 deal, and found George has benefited so much, we even booked a 6th class, which would then lead us into the silver training, which will also be run by Kelly - this is how pleased we are with Kelly and her team! We wanted to ensure George was well socialised, meaning he learns how to interact appropriately with other dogs and also that he builds a stronger bond with us - thank you Kelly for helping us achieve this! George was reactive (barking) at other dogs when we arrived and immediately Kelly approached and gave us instructions/advice on how to help manage this behaviour. Within a few minutes he was responding really well to the advice Kelly gave us. We noticed each session, an improvement in his reactivity, he now greets dogs very politely and doesn’t react negatively in any way. We highly recommend these classes for socialisation and picking up the basics you need to know - wait/stay, eye contact, on and off lead meet and greet, settling - all of which we think are vital building blocks to our dog being an awesome and very good boy! The bonus about these puppy classes is that it’s not only Kelly but a team of people, where Kelly is able to specifically assist with any of you and your dogs needs, providing her professional advice. Kelly and her team of trainers are approachable and all make the effort to get to know you and your puppy. The thing we loved most is that you learn more about how to understand and read your dog better, picking up on their needs and what’s best for them. If you want to learn how to read dog body language, and have plenty of opportunities ensure you understand/learn how to socialise your dog than we highly recommend Kelly and team!

“We tried a traditional puppy class at first but was disappointed with the lack of socialisation. We switched to Waggle Tails and the difference was COLOSSAL. My puppy experienced quality puppy plays in a safe environment and together with Kelly’s online training modules for the hoomans, has moulded her into a confident and happy puppy who is now smashing it out at our local dog park. We travelled from Safety Bay to Osborne Park (55km) to attend these classes because the benefits of investing in the right training is everything and Kelly’s model was the best I could find. I have no enrolled in the online Ultimate Dog Programme for further training. Honestly people, Kelly’s amazing! Her doggo knowledge is next level.” (Louise Power, Perth, WA)

“The Ultimate Dog programme was very thorough and provided us with a lot of useful and interesting information, training tools and resources that we can keep referring back to. I am now more aware of what Windy’s behaviours mean, how to manage them for his benefit (and mine!), how to enrich his days and how to assist him to be a calmer, more well mannered dog. I’d highly recommend the Ultimate Dog Programme to other dog owners.” (Elissa Mehegan, Perth, WA)

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“Not only did the Ultimate Dog Programme calm my very excitable Staffy Cross, Elissa - it also helped me immensely in understanding her. I cannot recommend Kelly enough.” (Carole Dougans, Perth, WA)

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“I have no hesitation in recommending Kelly as a highly skilled trainer. What Kelly has been able to achieve with Jake (and me!) has been nothing short of miraculous. Jake came to me as a rescue dog - a loving but boisterous chap. Kelly taught me how to handle Jake and has given me a much better understanding of dogs in general. Jake and I have a become a great team, he is wonderful companion and I feel confident with him.” (Ann Morrison, Christchurch, NZ)

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“Having met Kelly was a true blessing for me, my classes, my private training and my work with my own dogs. Kelly’s educated clarity on training topics has brought my understanding of training to a new level which I am incredibly grateful for.” (Lisa Sturm, Sit Happens, Christchurch, NZ)

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“I had the pleasure of working with Kelly when she volunteered at the shelter where I am an Animal Care Specialist and Behavior Tech. She is extremely reliable and helped many of our dogs learn not just manners, but tools of which to rehab dogs with behavior problems. She was a key factor in multiple dogs finding their forever homes through our program. I recommend her services to anyone and everyone! She is not only an amazing trainer, but an amazing person.’’ (Atalie Michelle Walding, Friends for Life Animal Rescue and Adoption Organisation, Texas, USA)

“Kelly is absolutely amazing! After our first Ultimate Dog Programme session we have already started to see huge improvements with our girl. Kelly teaches you to reward with positive reinforcement and be kind and caring at all times when training your dog and proves there is no need to be dominant or forceful towards your dog. She also provides a heap of resources that are super useful, plus her sessions are a great place to meet other dogs/dog owners.” (Lucy Cole, Perth, WA)

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“Kelly is an amazing trainer, with huge amounts of knowledge. She also places an emphasis on a gentle, kind, scientifically based approach to training, which is evidenced by her continuing education. I have watched Kelly in action many times and I have always been impressed by her calm, gentle approach and true affinity with dogs and puppies.” (Julie Best, Best for Pets, Christchurch, NZ)