Ever experienced walking your dog in some park, only to punctuate your dog with shouting and bellowing because it is now hot on the trail of something and is not paying the least attention to you? Indeed, it is not enough knowing that the dog has no way, for example, to control its inclination to follow a scent. Being able to truly recall your dog at any time is a critical skill in Labrador training. Recall is the hallmark of a responsible dog handler-owner-trainer.

Aside from the so called “selective hearing,” there are many reasons why dogs do not approach readily when called:

a) Some owners tell their dogs to go away when the dog does approach, which confuses the dog all the more.

b) Some dogs are too busy pursuing their own fun, whether it is following a highly intriguing scent or going after other dogs or squirrels.

c) Owners sometimes create a misassociation between the “come” gesture and what the dog was exactly doing at that time.

If you want a simple and plain way to training your dog in recall, the training needs to happen in an area that has limited distractions. Remember to never vary how you use the recall command (same tone, exact same words). Then try calling the dog’s name all day, getting it to come to you and giving it a treat or playing its favorite game if it approaches. The whole point of it is that the dog needs to see that coming to you is fun and rewarding.

When the dog is accustomed to coming to you when it is called, add the recall command and get it used to the sound.

Next, when the dog already has gotten used to the recall command, try mixing in a few distractions. Maintain the dog on a long lead to see how well it can come to you.

Third, when the dog has got the hand of the recall command through your Labrador training, drop by some park where it is secure to walk off-leash dogs. You may also want to visit this park together with another dog owner that is used to wide spaces. Recall both dogs, and reward the one that returns first.