TREATS NOT ZAPS
A Recall That Works Without a Remote
Be the best thing in the park. It’s easier than it sounds, and nobody has to get zapped.
Your dumb questions
My dog comes back eventually. Like, in 20 minutes. Does that count?
It counts as a start. Reward the return anyway. The RSPCA warns that telling a dog off for coming back slowly makes them less likely to come next time.
Can I get a 100% reliable recall?
The RSPCA’s advice is honest: a 100% reliable recall is unrealistic. Aim high, keep a long line on in risky places, and only let your dog off-leash in secure, traffic-free areas.
Why does my dog come in the kitchen but not at the park?
Because the kitchen is boring and the park is full of squirrels. Dogs Trust recommends building up distance and distraction gradually, not all at once.
Isn’t an e-collar faster for recall?
A 2020 study of 63 dogs with poor recall found the reward-based group responded to ‘Come’ better after a single command, and faster, than the e-collar group.
The receipts
- Recall Training - Come Back When Called · Dogs Trust
- How can I teach my dog recall (to come when called)? · RSPCA Australia Knowledgebase
- Recall Command · San Francisco SPCA
- Efficacy of Dog Training With and Without Remote Electronic Collars vs. a Focus on Positive Reinforcement · Frontiers in Veterinary Science (China, Mills and Cooper), 2020
- Position Statement on Humane Dog Training · American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, 2021
- Position Statement on the Use of Dominance Theory in Behavior Modification of Animals · American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior
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