How to Clicker Train a Recall

A dog that will come when his owner calls is a safe dog. Clicker training a solid recall is easy to do. Be sure your dog has been introduced to clickers and understands that the click means "yes". Dogs are just like us bi peds, they learn new things best in a situation that has minimal noises and other distractions.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Clicker
• Treats
• Leash
• Clicker Savvy Dog
• Training Area

1. Begin the first training session with your dog on a leash or in an area where he may not just wander away from you. This may be a room indoors, or you may try using a tether outdoors. The main thing is to keep the dog within a few feet of you and to have a minimum of other interesting things available to him. Have your clicker and treats in your hand.
   Extend your other hand out about six inches in front of your dog's nose. When your dog touches your hand with his nose, click and toss a treat near him. Repeat ten times, then take a break for a few minutes. Repeat this step, only gradually add six inches of distance between your dog's nose and your hand. Click and treat each time he touches your extended hand.
2. Once your dog will target your hand from six feet away, you may add the word "come". Your dog should be on his leash. The process should go "Rover, Come!" then, extend your hand. Click and treat as soon as he targets your hand. Once your dog is reliably coming to you on his leash indoors, you should practice this recall exercise when you are out on walks. When you practice this recall exercise outdoors, you may need to begin with your dog next to you again and gradually work you way up to six feet of distance between you.
3. If your dog is coming to you and targeting your hand 9 out of ten times when you call him in a distracting environment on his 6 foot lead, he may be ready to practice this exercise on a 15 foot longline. This step is done the same way as the previous one, only you begin to add distance between you and your dog. "Rover, Come!" If your dog ignores you at 12 feet away, you will know that you need to shorten the distance between you or decrease the distraction level of the environment.
4. Hand targeting may become boring, so here are a few other things to try to strengthen your dog's recall.
   
   Moving Attention- walk about and praise your dog for following you, hand feed some of his kibble as he walks along with you.
   
   Hand feed your dog- half of your dog’s food should come from your hand.
   
   Run away from your dog- if your dog seems to be ignoring you, call his name cheerfully and run away from him

Tips & Warnings

• Use happy tones to call your dog, nobody wants to come to a drill sargeant
• Do not call your dog to you for unpleasant experiences
• Call your dog throughout the day for an ear scratch, a cookie, or to give her a new toy.