Teaching a Reliable Recall

Recall is the one command that can save a dog's life on an Indian street. It is also the most commonly ruined by well-meaning owners.

Never punish a dog that comes

If you call a dog and then scold it, bath it or end the walk, you have taught it that coming is a bad bet. Whatever it did before, reward the return.

Build value first

Say the word, then immediately give something excellent, at home, with no distraction. Twenty repetitions a day for a week before you ever use it for real.

Add distance and distraction separately

Increase one at a time. If the dog fails twice, you have gone too fast — go back a step.

Use a long line outdoors

A 10-metre line lets you practise safely without the dog learning it can ignore you when free.