Teaching your dog to come back every time you call is really important. If your dog has a good recall, they can have much more freedom than a dog who doesn’t come when called.
We’ve already talked about ditching the bowl and feeding your dog their meals in different ways. This game, the to and fro game, is a great mealtime game. Your dog gets her food – and learns a great recall, too.
Teaching a reliable recall is easy, especially if you play this game regularly.
Today’s Training Tip is: The To and Fro Game
– Start with your pooch on lead. Split her meal between however many human “players” there are
– Move apart around 6-10 feet. In turn, call her name ONCE (in a light, happy voice)
– Praise her well AS SHE COMES to you, then fuss and give 2-3 bits of kibble
– Then the next person calls, and so on
– If she does not respond to your call, go to her, pick up the lead, encourage her to follow you, praise and fuss (but no food) then take her back to where she was and call again
– Repeat until the “meal” is eaten.
You can play this game if you are on your own, too. To play on your own, call her as above, but instead of giving her the food from your hand, drop 2-3 pieces on the ground to give you time to move away while she eats it, then call her again from your new position.
Start inside the house, then take it out in the garden. Add the cue ”come” after her name once she understands the game. Gradually increase the distance you call her from.
You can add hiding round corners or behind furniture (or trees and bushes outside) to make it more difficult once she gets the hang of the game.
It’s a really fun game, too!
Keep training
Carol