VIP Advice
VIP Advice
How To Train Your Dog To Recall To Name
2 Minute Read
By Dr. Karie Johnson | Training | July 2019
How To Train Your Dog To Recall To Name
2 Minute Read
By Dr. Karie Johnson | Training | July 2019
By Dr. Karie Johnson | July 2019
TEACHING THE RECALL COMMAND USING YOUR PET’S NAME
Your pet’s name is a cue. When you say their name, you are looking for them to complete a specific behavior. This behavior is for them to look at you. You want to get their attention.
Once you have their attention, you can give more instructions like “Come” or “Stay.” Most likely, your pet will come to you with their name when using this technique.
Looking at you can be a great behavior to ask when you want to redirect them away from an undesirable behavior like running after a squirrel or going for food on the ground.
Avoid using their name to punish them. Always reward your pet for looking at you when you say their name so they know something good happens when their name is called.
TRAINING STEPS TO TEACH YOUR DOG RECALL TO NAME:
Create a low distraction area.
Say your pet’s name in an inviting tone of voice.
Immediately follow with a click/treat. At first, your pet doesn’t have to do anything to get the click/treat – it’s only based on you saying their name.
Your pet should begin to look at you when you say their name. Once this starts, switch to clicking/treating at the first movement of their head toward you when you say their name.
Give the treat under their nose so they have to look down to eat it. This resets them so they have to look back to you when you say their name.
ADVANCED TRAINING STEPS:
When they begin looking at you each time you say their name, start delivering the treat to the right or the left.
Begin to only click/treat when you get eye contact.
Begin to reset the behavior by tossing the treat farther away.
Move this exercise to more distracting locations, different rooms, outside on a walk, etc.
If your pet doesn’t respond to their name the first time, wait 3 seconds before trying again. If your pet still doesn’t respond after trying again, lower the distractions.
When you move to a new location or increase distractions, lower your criteria for clicks/treats.
With multiple people, take turns calling the pet’s name. When they look at that person, they should click/treat in front of themselves. This ensures the next person can call them away from a distraction. Call them as soon as they finish the last treat. Gradually move farther apart and add more distractions.
Keep your training time to 5-10 minutes and stop if you or your pet get frustrated. Training time should be fun for everyone!
Author: Dr. Karie Johnson, Co-Founder of VIP Vet Visit
Dr Karie is a companion animal & equine veterinarian in the Chicagoland area. Her desire to strengthen the human-animal bond while providing enhanced preventative care led her to start VIP Vet Visit – an at-home veterinary care option that provides less stress, more convenience and better care.
TEACHING THE RECALL COMMAND USING YOUR PET’S NAME
Your pet’s name is a cue. When you say their name, you are looking for them to complete a specific behavior. This behavior is for them to look at you. You want to get their attention.
Once you have their attention, you can give more instructions like “Come” or “Stay.” Most likely, your pet will come to you with their name when using this technique.
Looking at you can be a great behavior to ask when you want to redirect them away from an undesirable behavior like running after a squirrel or going for food on the ground.
Avoid using their name to punish them. Always reward your pet for looking at you when you say their name so they know something good happens when their name is called.
TRAINING STEPS TO TEACH YOUR DOG RECALL TO NAME:
Create a low distraction area.
Say your pet’s name in an inviting tone of voice.
Immediately follow with a click/treat. At first, your pet doesn’t have to do anything to get the click/treat – it’s only based on you saying their name.
Your pet should begin to look at you when you say their name. Once this starts, switch to clicking/treating at the first movement of their head toward you when you say their name.
Give the treat under their nose so they have to look down to eat it. This resets them so they have to look back to you when you say their name.
ADVANCED TRAINING STEPS:
When they begin looking at you each time you say their name, start delivering the treat to the right or the left.
Begin to only click/treat when you get eye contact.
Begin to reset the behavior by tossing the treat farther away.
Move this exercise to more distracting locations, different rooms, outside on a walk, etc.
If your pet doesn’t respond to their name the first time, wait 3 seconds before trying again. If your pet still doesn’t respond after trying again, lower the distractions.
When you move to a new location or increase distractions, lower your criteria for clicks/treats.
With multiple people, take turns calling the pet’s name. When they look at that person, they should click/treat in front of themselves. This ensures the next person can call them away from a distraction. Call them as soon as they finish the last treat. Gradually move farther apart and add more distractions.
Keep your training time to 5-10 minutes and stop if you or your pet get frustrated. Training time should be fun for everyone!
Author: Dr. Karie Johnson, Co-Founder of VIP Vet Visit
Dr Karie is a companion animal & equine veterinarian in the Chicagoland area. Her desire to strengthen the human-animal bond while providing enhanced preventative care led her to start VIP Vet Visit – an at-home veterinary care option that provides less stress, more convenience and better care.
