Practicing The "Recall" or "Come" Command

After completing the pre-requisite Family Pack Leadership Exercise, any area is good to complete training to install this conditioned reflex. This may be done on lead anywhere, off lead in a fenced area, or inside the house, provided there are no hiding places that your dog may get into or under...Let's not defeat ourselves by attempting to do something prematurely, that is, not properly installing the command prior to attempting it in a more difficult situation, or a command we know he is going to resist, without having done all of the basics, prior to attempting to tempt fate!

If you know your dog has never come to you after he has gone under the couch to hide, don't try calling him out from under there, or even in that room, because you know that as soon as you call him, he's going to try to escape to the security of where you can't get him, until you have accomplished the preliminaries, and you know he is properly conditioned in at least four other places.

Let's say we're dealing with a real sharp dog, one that knows just how to manipulate each of the family, one against the other, each in turn. You know the kind I'm talking about, the one whose just "so cute", he takes advantage of any opportunity to get his way, usually ending with a fight between family members. Got one like that? Just because we're gentle and humane, does not mean you can't be vindictive. Get ready to burst his bubble!
Divide yourselves into two groups, equally divided between those whom he favors. Each group will have one can, and one person responsible for operating the manipulation of the sound cues.

Of course, the person in command will change, as each individual takes their turn. Remember, it is not necessary to have the person responsible for issuing the command also responsible for creating the sounds, unless they are proficient at this technique. Using the 20-ft. lead, space yourselves 20-ft. apart.

Observe carefully to determine which group should issue the "recall" or "come" command, based upon whomever he is least attentive towards. Issue the requests to come as previously described. In the event we need to pursue this command to its fourth request, the second group will create the sound on the fourth occasion, and one and all, moving together will continue towards the group issuing the command and lead the dog as a group toward the individual issuing the command, until completed upon being petted. Spend a few moments socializing among yourselves, as a subterfuge, and then drift apart to repeat this exercise as necessary.

This will have the effect of putting your dog at the bottom of the ladder of the pecking order of importance, and everyone else above, which will take away his sense of being a "peer" or "equal" in importance, to any member of your family. Once again, as always, successfully repeat this exercise at least four times with each individual, and do so in four different places. If these exercises are done properly, it should feel like you've got a new dog at home, and he'll feel better fast, knowing that everyone in his family is an appropriate leader. .