We have all been in that position, when during a nice walk with our dog, we are descended upon an out of control off lead dog intent on disturbing your peace. Only to hear those immortal words ‘It’s OK he only wants to say hello!’ Which roughly translated means, ‘Oh crap I can’t recall my dog, oh well, that one over there with its owner will hold him up for a bit while I walk over and get him’
If you so much as mention, that if they can’t call their dog back then it should not be off lead, you are subjected to all sorts of comments ranging from ‘F*&% off’ to, ‘at least my dog has a bit of freedom to exercise’ All of these comments just attempts to hide the fact that their recall outside in the real world is non-existent.

What went wrong?

It’s probable that they set off on the wrong foot in the early days of getting their canine bundle of joy home, over use of the dogs name, using a recall word when the dog is doing anything but coming back to them, or simply haven’t got a clue on the best way to get a good solid recall from the start.
If you can’t get your dog to come to you when called in the home then you don’t stand a hope of getting them to come back to you when off lead out on a walk.

So how do we put it right?

Well, in short if your dog is not 100% reliable when its off lead, don’t let it off lead! You have now reduced the possibility of recall not happening by 100%. But, the chances are you will now have to teach the dog to walk on a loose lead, because let’s face it, one of the reasons its off lead anyway is probably because it pulls like a steam train and you haven’t managed to get that under control!

So, we are going to have to go back a bit, to start ensuring that the recall becomes a learned behaviour. Now this is not going to happen overnight, and if your dog has been like it for a few months or a few years even, you will have your work cut out. We have to start at the beginning and make it happen over short distances, then as the dog is more compliant we can increase the distance further. All the while the dog is on a lead to begin with and then a long line. The dog CAN’T FAIL now, and success breeds success.

Here are Breckland Dog Training we can get you on the road to recall success within an hour! Yes there will be plenty of homework for you to do going forward, but that homework will ensure in time that your dog comes when it’s called every time !

This recall success programme is £95.00 and comes with pretty much everything you need (bar your dog’s favourite reward) A very small sum when you compare it to the potential fines of your dog being out of control*

To book your place on our recall success programme simply email steve@brecklanddogtraining.co.uk or give us a call on 01760 441890

*Under section 3 of the Dangerous Dogs Act an owner, or a person in charge of a dog, commits an offence if the dog causes reasonable apprehension to a person that they will be injured, whether or not they actually are injured. Unlike most offences in English law no criminal intent or recklessness is required for liability to arise and a person can therefore be guilty of an offence even if their dog was on a lead and had never behaved in such a way before. Where no injury is caused the case may only be dealt with in the magistrates’ court and the maximum penalty is 6 months imprisonment and/or a fine of £5,000. The court has the power to order the dog be destroyed or kept under control and they may specify the measures for control (eg keeping the dog on a lead in public). The court can also disqualify you from keeping dogs and can also order compensation to be paid to the victim.

For further information visit http://wheldonlaw.co.uk/dog-law-solicitors/dogs-dangerously-out-of-control/