Targeted Indoor Training
1. Stand about two to three meters away from the dog and call its name first to get its attention. When it looks up, turn slightly sideways, bend down, look back at it, and clap rhythmically to encourage it to come.
2. As soon as the dog comes to you, reward it immediately.
3. Repeat these steps until the dog can quickly come over whenever it hears its name. Then move on to the next stage.
Indoor Real-Life Practice
1. Practice recall when the dog is not paying attention, such as when it is lying on the floor, playing with its toy, or staying in another room.
2. Once the dog can quickly respond to the recall command at any time indoors, move on to the next stage.
Outdoor Recall Training
1. Choose a quiet outdoor place for practice so the dog is less distracted.
2. Unclip the leash and let the dog move around for a few minutes, then call it back. Reward it and let it go free again.
3. Repeat these steps until the dog can respond quickly to your recall command in a quiet outdoor setting at any time.
Tips:
1. During a walk, you can occasionally loosen the leash and let the dog move freely for a few minutes. Then recall it, put the leash back on, and continue walking. After a while, repeat the cycle of freedom, recall, and walking.
2. If two people are available, they can stand several meters apart in a safe area. One person recalls the dog, rewards it, and then the other person recalls it. Repeating this teaches the dog to run back and forth between the two people.
Outdoor Real-Life Practice
1. In an ordinary outdoor setting with people and other dogs around, let the dog move freely and then recall it when it is not expecting it. Reward the dog, then allow it to move freely again.
2. Repeat the sequence of recall, reward, and free movement three or four times. On the last recall, put the leash back on, reward the dog, and take it home.
3. At the beginning of training, do not recall the dog when it is at its most excited. Recall it when it is already becoming a little tired.
4. After each recall, let the dog rest for a few seconds before allowing free movement again. Vary the length of the pause and gradually make it longer.
5. If the owner gives the recall command and the dog does not respond right away, but continues sniffing, urinating, or playing as if it did not hear, do not keep repeating the command. Instead, turn around and walk firmly and slowly in the opposite direction. Dogs hear far better than humans; the issue is usually not hearing but selective attention.
Once the dog catches up, reward it according to the speed of its response. A slow response may earn verbal praise, a faster one an ordinary food reward, and a very fast one a high-value treat. Over time, the dog will come back faster and faster.