Puppies will naturally follow you around, so when they are little, get into the practice of letting them follow you around the garden. Everytime they make eyecontact, reward it with a treat and use your recall command even though they may not have done anything but look at you.

This progresses until you can use the recall command and they associate it with food, however, don't call when they are majorily distracted, or have something better to do, don't set yourself up for failure. Sometimes just have a game with them and let them go off and sniff.

By the time they have had their second jabs and can go out, your puppy should know that being next to you is a good place to be, i.e. it gets treats from you for nothing and when you call you also have a treat, or maybe a play. So take them to a reletively safe area and do exactly what you do at home. (take extra special treats with you).

Whilst your puppy is off the lead, play games, run away so they chase you, kneel down on the floor and have a fuss. Put the lead on for a little bit and take it off again.

If you do these things, you should never have a problem with your dog running off, your dog will want to stay with you.

If however, your dog has never had the freedom of sniffing and running freely off lead, the time you do, they will think all their christmases have come at once and your chances for success are already limited.

If this is the case, practice recall getting an association with a command, or a whistle in the home, then the garden, then enclosed space, then on flexi or long line, until you don't have to use the line to enforce the return. Once this is established you can let your dog off the lead.

Make sure you have extra nice treats, the toy you have focused them in with you and it is better if this is in an area they are not so familiar with, as they are more likely to stay nearer to you.

Let them see the treats before you let them off, let them have a short time off playing before calling, call too soon and they will not have got their sniffs and pees and stuff done with, so will be less likely to come. Don't call if distracted.

When you do call, make yourself so interesting, have your treat or your toy, be enthusiastic, wave your arms if you have to, once they are on their way, use a positive, if they stop or turn away, don't say a word, but as their head moves up or even towards you, use your recall again.

Once your dog has come back, praise with joy and relief!!! Have a play and let them go off again.

A good idea is to take their collar gently when they come back and treat as you are holding the collar, this then makes it easier when you want to clip the lead on as a lot of dogs become wise to their lead going on and jump away from you.

Other things to try if your dog has slow recall is to run away, hide behind trees! (keep an eye on him though), anything that reduces his confidence! Kneel down on the floor, fuss another dog!!!

On a walk you should call your dog back two or three times and let them go again.
Never put them on the lead at the same place everytime.
Never tell your dog off for coming back, however long it has taken.
Don't call when your dog is likely to ignore you.
Don't keep using their name on a walk, or your recall command if you don't want them to come, they will switch off. Too many people keep on at their dogs all the time, save it for when you need it!
If you want to let your dog know where you are going, or for them to see where you are, but don't want them to actually come right back, use another command such as 'this way', which they will look up at and just 'clock' where you are.
Be confident, if you are feeling in control and confident, your dog will follow your lead.

Most dogs will not run away at speed, unless they are truely fearful, or have stong chase. If they are fearful you need to work on what the triggers are.

If they have strong chase, try playing more chase, retreiving games and channelling their need to chase.

At some point you have to try it and see, so get the basics first and you will be fine.

Kate

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