There’s a lot of puppy love in our community at the moment, with many people welcoming a new pup into their family. Several years ago, I wrote about a game that will help preserve your recall cue with your puppy, and this seems like a great time to post it here on my blog.
Even though the title is “kids and puppies” it counts for everyone who spends time with your puppy, adult dog, rescue dog or “new to you” dog as well! Visit my blog on “How Do I Train My Dog To Come When Called?” for more on training a great recall.
Kids and Puppies … A GAME to Preserve Your Dog’s Recall Cue
I want to share what I feel is an important tip for exposing puppies to children. Not having kids of my own, I can only imagine the electric atmosphere when bringing a new puppy into a household filled with children. However, the reality is that living with children can be like living with a dog training saboteur!
Over exuberant children can tend to wreak havoc on your dog’s recall training. Kids (or anyone :-)) repeating a puppy’s name over and over can be the first step to your new puppy learning to ignore his recall. You don’t want the puppy to cause a strain on your relationship with your children or family members, nor do you want your children to counter your training efforts with your puppy.
This game can be the solution to your dilemma. First, teach your kids a generic recall word or phrase, something like “here pup-pup”. Explain to the entire household (spouse included) that this is their everyday recall phrase unless they are holding a special “recall-key”. Anyone (yourself included) wanting to use the puppy’s name must hold the special “recall-key”. This recall key can be a piece of cheese or just a piece of kibble.
You can keep a stash of treats in a handy location where everyone (except the puppy) can easily grab one. The “key” allows the user to call the puppy’s name only once. Once the puppy eats the “key” (i.e. treat), it is time to reload before they can use the puppy’s name again.
Without a key, you cannot call the puppy by name, you must use “pup-pup” to recall the puppy. After a month or so you can change the word from the puppy’s name to the special recall word you choose.
Set a good example by following this guideline yourself and you will not only be including your entire family in your puppy’s training program, but you will ensure your dog grows up to have a great recall!
If you’ve been using a recall word and your dog has learned to ignore it, I would strongly encourage you to change that cue. Look at something like “near me” or another quick catchy phrase that your dog is going to learn to respond to.
Rescue dog Tater who has had guest appearances here on my blog, has been recalling to “crackers”! Your recall word has got to be special, you want a head whip turn back to you when you call your dog… a recall can be life saving!
Do you have a special recall word for your dog? Let me know in the comments what it is, or what you are thinking of using.
Today I am grateful for being home and spending time outside; even if that has involved some muddy dogs.
I use my dog’s nickname. One of her many nicknames. Her name is Annie, I use Mavis. I just changed it about a week ago. I was hoping to use Annie, but the word has definitely been poisoned. My husband and i have been playing in the house. I have him hold her leash. Maybe I can get him to do the recall.
My recall word is tome ( “to me “ as a single word … toomee
Great post and a helpful reminder. We got our goldendoodle, Maggie, from Southern Sunset Poodles and Doodles last year and they had taught the litter to come when called saying pup,pup,pup,pup quickly in a high pitched voiced. It worked like a charm. They may have some videos on their website, showing the puppies running back when called. I always enjoy watching the litter of puppies running back to you when called. There so cute!
Recall not very reliable, awfully even in the house she will disobey and I have to get her over to and want her to go
I save my dog’s name for instant successful recall ( 99.9 % success)and after reading this, feel like I should have a backup word. Isn’t it more important to use an exciting tone and high pitch when using whatever word may be? If that is true, I’m thinking of using “emergency “ in a fun tone. Any thoughts? I truly almost had a tragedy yesterday when my pup scooted out my back door which unexpectedly came open when my husband arrived home and remotely from inside his car opened the garage door ( air pressure issue?) and I forgot all plans for recall! Luckily, my pup after darting into garage ended up on our driveway and when I came towards him slowly, I gently said to him “come over here “, he came to me with a worried face, and I grabbed his collar! Thank you Susan for the Collar grab game!!! Does the word “emergency “ sound memorable ? I just want the recall word to come to me in an instant if need be? Other suggestions are welcome! TIA!
My Special recall cue for my Greyhound is “Hieeerzo!” (Dutch for “Here here”), in a very dinstinct high pitched tune. We ONLY use this special cue when we’re about to throw a frozen meatball or frozen chicken neck for him. He has a whiplash reaction to this no matter what and comes sprinting like his life depends on it. We also have a hand-touch cue “Tag!” after which he gets a ‘regular’ treat. We only use this when he’s closeby, not too distracted and enthused to work with us. In any other case we use the ’emergency recall’. We practise the emergency recall about 2 – 3 times everyday and rarely had to use it in an actual emergency. He did recall after spotting a rabbit, a cat and a deer on a walk (he has a very high preydrive). We recalled the moment we noticed what was happening (catching him as early as possible in the predation sequence) and he came running back automatically. With the rabbit he ran back to us purely automatically and halfway seemed to think “Wait I just saw a rabbit” and turned back around. We panicked, ran away from him, called him again and immideately praised and threw the reward the moment he looked back at us. This luckily made him to finish his recall. So the recall isn’t perfect, but I’m very happy with how far we’ve come. We rarely come across wildlife, so it’s very difficult to train/proof around them on a long line because we simply can’t find any wildlife. And seeing deer/rabbits behind a fence are a world of difference to spotting those in the wild.
I picked a new word for my rescue dog as a recall word and went with: Hopscotch! From the movie Corpse Bride; it was the word she said when she wanted to end the spell and return back to the land of the dead. It will never get used accidentally and it’s fun for me.
Receiving these email snippets is like going home again. So Grateful Tremendous support. and wonderful blog links full of British writing.
Thank you Susan Garrett Dogs that team and our amazing community. Abundances of Appreciation and Joy always.
A loud fingers on tongue whistle. My whippets know if they hear this sound there is a special treat waiting, something they rarely get. It‘s pretty reliable unless there is a squirrel dancing right in front of them. I chose it because it can be heard from quite some distance and it is a unusual sound.
I have used my dogs names but now I notice my older dog comes when I call the younger dog so I’m not sure whether to reward her for that? I think she just knows if I am recalling the new puppy I will have high value treats . However I feel mean if I don’t give the older dog anything as she is already not happy with the competition for my affection!
I have the same issue lol, and my older dog is getting a bit porky with all the extra treats!
Well, back in July, when I first joined Recallers and read Bonus Assignment 1 & 2, where you suggested I choose a new cue for my recall cue, I thought Whaaaat?
Change can be hard, especially when my other dog, who I’ve had a long time consistently responds to come! 2 days later I came up with a new cue and trained both dogs recalling to this new word. Not even a week later, I had both dogs playing in an enclosure and used the new cue, diddley, thinking it was just aother training session, I was not expecting much because thistjis was the first time I tried it out when both dogs were with me. To my surprise and utter amazement both dogs turned their heads immediately towards me and came flying to my side! At that moment I realized the value of having a video camera set up beforehand. Sadly I did not do so, but its a moment in time I will never forget. My apartment is what is sometimes referred to as a walk through or gunshot apartment. I just love doing this in the house when the weather is bad. Thank you, Susan!
That’s so awesome, Rosalyn! Thank you for sharing ❤️
Our recall word has morphed from come
A loud (often frustrated) come here
to a happy excited Kiaaaa ( the end sounds of comehere)
I use ATTENTION. All my dogs immediately stop sniffing dead things or playing and race to be first back to me. They get their reward in the order they arrive. It is amazing/terrifying to watch 5 full sized Ridgebacks skidding to a stop inches before your knees!!!
I tried playing outside, and the first two times, it was like my dog Chaga said OK, if this is what you want to do, I can give you a bit of my time. Feedback: I am just not fun enough, and working on that. Then came the almighty squirrel, and I lost him. I did not call him. I walked away, and soon after, he came for me. I will try the yahooowha when I leave next time if I get dumped for a squirrel again. 🙂 All and all, since I started recallers, I have noticed a change in both Chaga and myself. I noticed Chaga wants to be understood and is so affectionate. In refraining from using the word, No made me aware of how I overused the word.
I am going to try “Here” because I have never used tha
t to call my dog.
I use come for a normal everyday recall and so far it works really well, but I’m also training an emergency recall inspired by the Really Reliable Recall method. When I have something absolutely delightful (often leftovers), I say ‘NowNowNow’. I haven’t used it out in the real world yet but I think it will work. He also comes when my husband (not a dog trainer) calls our big dog to give him something, so I also have the other dog’s name as a recall if I need it!
we use Aqui
I use “Aventi”
My dogs were outside barking at my neighbor. I opened the door and said TREATS and they all came running!