Recall training

[RachelPreston]

We have an 18 month old labradoodle and recently signed up for your online classes. We've been reviewing some of the training basics. Our dog, Max, can do the "recall " when we practice with him inside or outside with high value treats. Our problem is that he knows when we are practicing training vs when we just want to get him to 'come" to get back in the house. We let him play in our fenced in yard most afternoons.. but I can never get him to 'come" when I want to get him inside. Even if I use a treat he refuses to come in the door - he knows that playtime in the yard is over and he won't come inside. If I go out to try and get him he wants me to run around and chase him like it's a game. Any suggestions? Thanks so much! 

[Adrienne]

Hi there,

Welcome to the forums!

One important rule for a good recall is to never use it to call the dog when something unpleasant (from the dog's perspective) follows. If your dog loves being outdoors and dreads being inside, we then need to find other ways to get him to come inside that doesn't involve calling him so to not "poison our cue" and let our recall lose its potency. So how can we get him inside without calling him? Here are a few ideas: 

-Leave your recall at the door. If you call your dog to come inside and he doesn't listen or plays hard to catch, stop calling him and poisoning the cue. Instead, try to do other things that will attract your dog inside and that your dog looks forward to do. For example, walk inside and go straight to the kitchen to unwrap a piece of cheese for him and place it in a Kong. Run inside if your dog loves chasing you and then let him have a toy he goes crazy for and that you only give some times. Get a flirt pole and entice him to chase it inside. Take your dog outside when it's close to meal time so when you come back inside you immediately start preparing his meal. Make sure though to let these activities last a bit so your dog won't go into thinking that these events are just another trap to get him inside. Use the recall only once your dog has learned that great things happen inside and he looks forward to it. 

-Don't stick by the doorway. The door way will remind him of going back outside and he'll be asking out soon. Instead take him to a central room where he can temporarily forget all about the outdoors with all its enticing sights and smells. Again, keep him entertained and stimulated.

-Take advantage of the warmer weather. Play with your dog outside for a bit when it's warm. He'll soon feel hot and he will be thirsty. Then entice him to chase you indoors where you have the AC running and a nice bowl full of fresh water for him. You can also add a few ice cubes or give him some frozen treats (like a frozen Kong or doggy ice pops, there are many recipes online) so to let him have some more fun. 

-Put going inside on cue and make it a fun, happy event. When you are out with your dog, say something like "let's go inside!" in a happy, enthusiastic tone of voice, let your dog chase you inside and then let a rainfall of treats fall to the ground as you close the door.

-Make sure to provide your dog with fun indoor activities (brain games, fun training sessions) so that your dog finds the indoors more rewarding and looks forward to it. At the same time, make sure to use safe ways to remove any outdoor critters from the yard which often is a reason why some dogs become so obsessed with wanting to spend time outside. 

-Let your dog spend enough time outdoors so that he gets to explore and satisfy his curiosity. Wait for him to get bored/tired/satiated. Only then entice him inside. 

-Evaluate what your dog likes the most of being outdoors but also critically evaluate what he might not like about being indoors. Perhaps some adjustments may need to be made. For example,  if he gets bored indoors, add more mental stimulation. If young children in the home overwhelm him, make sure he has a quiet place to retreat.  If there are scary noises, buffer them with a TV or radio on. If it's too hot, turn on the A/C more. If your dog loves chasing rabbits, provide him with a flirt pole to chase around at home. If he loves  sniffing, hide some of his kibble around the home (look up the treasure hunt game). 

I hope this helps!

Let me know how it goes, 

Best,

Adrienne

[RachelPreston]

These are all great ideas! Thanks so much for your response. This was very helpful to understand how he has associated "come" with a negative activity. 

[Adrienne]

You are very welcome!

Keep me posted on how things go,

Happy training!

Adrienne