There are few things more irritating than a dog that won’t come when he is called, yet this is a very common problem that people create themselves. A seven or eight week old puppy wants nothing more than to be next to you. Over the next few weeks there is lots of potential for this to go badly wrong. Happily there is equal scope for strengthening the bond between you and creating the beginnings of a lifetime of co-operation from your dog. It is within every puppy owner’s capabilities to condition a recall response from a very early age, provided that a few rules are followed.
1. Never call your puppy unless he is already coming towards you
2. Do not chase your puppy
3. Do not test your puppy
You may feel that not calling a puppy until he is already on his way towards you is hardly a recall. It isn’t. At this young age, we are not looking for 'obedience' in a small puppy, we are 'conditioning' him to believe that running towards you is the best thing ever, and to associate this with the sound of your recall command. Eventually, the sound of the recall command will be ingrained and his response on hearing your recall will be to run towards you. At this stage, you are laying the foundations for future training.
• Laying Foundations
You can start this exercise as soon as your puppy has settled into his new home. Put your puppy down in a large and preferably enclosed space where he safe, and where there are no other dogs. Other people and children may be present but they must understand the three golden rules. Your yard or garden or (vaccinations permitting) a safe field or meadow are all good areas to carry out this conditioning.
When your pup takes his attention from you and starts investigating a plant or stone or an interesting smell - run away from him. Keep glancing over your shoulder. In a moment or two he will look up and see you disappearing. He will run after you. Turn to face him and get down low, and call your puppy’s name. ‘Here Max’ (or whatever his name may be.) If he hesitates, stop calling, avert your face (remember that to a dog, a stare or direct look can be threatening) get right down on the ground and let him give you a good licking. Repeat the recall command softly as he climbs over you. Take care not to trip over him, or tread on him - new puppies often get right under your feet. Repeat this several times a day. Don’t run far - just a few feet or yards, you are not trying to scare him, or exhaust him, just to trigger his natural instinct to chase you. You are conditioning him to associate the recall (Here Max) with the act of running towards you. He will make this association in time. Do not be tempted to test him.
• No Testing
If you test your puppy by calling his name when he is not coming towards you, and he does not come, you will damage all your good work by teaching the pup that it is possible for the recall command to be ignored. This early play learning should not include any testing, it is about conditioning only. Remember you are laying the foundations for a perfect recall. Meanwhile if you need your pup to come to you, attract his attention with a hand clap, and make off in the opposite direction. He will soon come running after you.
• Involving Children
Children can be very good at this game. Most want to play with puppies, and if you teach them to get the pup to chase after them, instead of the other way around, this will build up excellent habits in your dog (and children!). Tell them that they must take it in turns and that just before the puppy reaches them they must give the recall command – ‘Here Max’ then fall to the ground and let the pup jump all over them. Children especially like the part where they let the puppy 'catch' them. If you don’t have children, now is your chance for a second childhood. Get your pup running after you, let him think he has caught you and let him give you a good licking.
Many puppies also love being chased but never ever let children or anyone else chase your puppy. He will quickly learn how what he should never be allowed to learn - that he can run faster than you.
After a few weeks of this game, you can exchange the verbal recall ‘Here Max’ for the recall whistle of pip-pip-pip-pip. Again only use it when your pup is already on his way to you. You are building some great pathways in his brain. The pathways say recall whistle = fast running towards handler. This is perfect conditioning and worth many, many lessons later on. For the first few months of his young life, make sure that every recall signal ever given is inextricably linked in your puppy’s mind with the pleasure of running towards you and arriving happily at your side.