How Labrador Retriever Training Can Help In Improving A Dog’s Recall
Among the most important commands that owner and dog need to review time and again is “come.” Few and far in between are the labrador retriever owners that were spared of the day when their lab just gave them a blank look as an answer to a clear and firm “Come,” and kept on walking the other way.
But out of justice to the breed, it is possible also that they are growing into their individualistic, passing phase. But nothing beats being on top of the situation of course! Owners that want to deal with a lack of a sense of recall can try leashing the dog on a 50 foot rope, giving the dog the chance to roam. If you want to teach the dog to come, call for it, and give a few tugs to “reel” it in if it does not. Nevertheless, have treats and a reward at ready when the dog gets to you.
The next labrador retriever training tip is less physical than the first, and only a whistle is needed as an upfront and no-fancy frills way to instilling recall in a dog. In this tip, an “error” to work on is the cheapening of verbal recall, since it cannot be helped that it is used too much, and not enforced well and also inconsistently used, too.
To teach a dog to respond, a dog will often just need to hear a whistle blast, then a treat. A labrador retriever will usually need only two or three repetitions of these to let the lesson sink in. Keep the dog coming to you by making random, unpredictable and mixing up the rewards and treats you give, i.e. a favorite treat now, a belly rub next time, a kibble after this, etc.
Another labrador retriever training tip to try out is to have the dog stay some good distance between you and the another person. You and Person B will take turns calling the dog and giving it treats each time it comes to you. This way the dog links the recall command with pleasant and good stuff.
And before we end, try playing hide and seek with the dog when you are in some park or garden stroll. At times, the dog’s single-minded exploring and trail-blazing will end if you hide and call from behind a tree. Watch it zoom back to you!
