Your Pets Daily - Dog training

Dog behaviour expert reveals six top tips to ace recall training

Tom Stone — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 07:00:00 +0000

Dog training and behaviour expert Nick Jones MA has revealed how pet owners can ace the recall, enabling owners to let their dogs off the lead safely.

Nick has shared six tips to help owners teach their dogs how to recall and to give the owners the confidence they need to work towards letting their dogs off the lead.

With over two thousand dog behaviour cases behind him and over 20 years of experience, Nick recently partnered with ACME Whistles to educate dog owners on training their dogs and tackling any behaviour issues.

Freedom of Information figures from Police in the UK reported a 34 percent rise in incidents of out-of-control dogs causing injury between 2018 and 2022.

Ensuring a dog has a good recall is one of the most important obedience exercises owners can teach, keeping them and others safe from potentially dangerous situations.

Teaching a dog to recall well takes time and lots of practice, but dogs should be able to master a reliable recall within three to six months depending on age and existing training levels.

Tips to ace the recall training include introducing appropriate rewards so that they associate returning to the owner with a positive outcome and training the dog from an early age to come to the call of its owner.

Nick said: "While dogs enjoy a run off lead, I generally advise owners to keep them on the lead until they have mastered the recall.

"Owners should also use a whistle and valuable awards to ensure the dog has a reliable recall, especially with the rise in UK dog-related incidents involving dogs not fully under control.

"Owners and dogs should be able to demonstrate basic commands and a good level of basic obedience before it is allowed to be off lead and loose.

"This helps to keep the dog and others around them safe and under control at all times."

"With consistency and practice, dogs soon get used to the recall basics and owners can let them off the lead without anxiety in due course."

"When training, there is a range of best practices, including using a whistle for a consistent signal and pitch to cut through noisy environments, to avoid punitive training methods, using a long lead to maintain control, whilst using rewards that you know your dog is motivated for."

Six hacks to ace the recall training:

1. Reward:

Coming back to the owners should be a positive experience for the dog, so they must be rewarded with high-value treats, praise, or toys for a short spell whenever they correctly respond. This will ensure they associate the recall with positive outcomes and that the owner reinforces the behaviour positively and consistently.

2. Train young:

Ideally, owners should start recall training when the dog is a puppy because it is easier to establish good habits early on and helps the pup develop strong and reliable skills throughout their life. However, a dog of any age can be guided into a better recall with time and patience, so don't let age put you off.

3. Use a whistle:

Using a dog whistle for dog recall provides a consistent, emotion-free signal that carries further than your voice and cuts through distractions, especially in noisy environments or when the dog is at a distance. Owners should make sure the dog associates the sound of the whistle with rewards for the best outcome. Finding your dog's motivators can help you reward your dog's return effectively.

4. Use a long lead

While training your dog to recall, use a long lead (30-50 ft for most) in open spaces to give it freedom and the feeling of being off the short lead. Not only will this let the owner maintain control, but it is also the safest and most effective way to practice recall training before letting your dog off the lead completely, whilst trust and confidence is being built between the dog and owner.

5. Consistency

Consistency with practice and between the dog's main handlers will help the dog learn more quickly and understand the commands faster, building reliable habits and stopping unwanted behaviours in the process.

6. Avoid punishments

Avoid punishing your dog during recall training as it creates negative associations with returning to the owner and the exercise, so they should not be punished if they take a little longer to return or hesitate, simply use the line to calmly enforce your recalling efforts as you bring the dog back to you. Reward every recall to reinforce the idea that returning is a safe and prudent choice every time.

Tug-E-Nuff launches new interactive dog toy

LS93 — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 08:48:48 +0000

Tug-E-Nuff has expanded its range of interactive dog toys with the launch of a new Faux Fur Pocket Bungee Squeaker.

The Faux Fur Pocket Bungee Squeaker is available in three colourways, and features a shock absorbing bungee handle to eliminate jarring, a puncture-proof squeaker and an ultra durable soft faux bite area.

The new toy is also pocket-sized for taking out and about, and using for on-the-spot interactive play.

Tug-E-Nuff’s Managing Director Danny Nelis-Rouse commented: “This supreme squeaky dog toy ticks all the boxes for play-shy dogs, excitable dogs, and dogs who need some help finding their focus and ignoring distractions.

“Like all Tug-E-Nuff toys, it’s made to last and help build the bond between a dog and their owner - whether it’s used for hiding, retrieving, training or, best of all, playing. We’re looking forward to seeing this toy in action and can’t wait to hear what consumers think of it.”

The Faux Fur Pocket Bungee Squeaker has an RRP starting at £20.95 and is available to buy online at tug-e-nuff.com.

Study Reveals Badly Behaved Dogs Are SMARTER? Dog Expert Weighs In On How To Train Brits Pesky Pooches

Katie Court — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 12:00:00 +0000

We are a nation of dog lovers, and with a staggering 10 million dogs residing in the UK (that’s 34% of households) it’s no wonder we are all barking mad. But a study conducted by Katriina Tiira, from the University of Helsinki, analysed 1,000 dogs and has revealed that the badly behaved dogs are often the smartest. Whilst many dog owners may have their head in their hands, Kennel Store are here to help.

Google Trends shows a 5,000% increase in searches for ‘crate training, puppy training’ and a 450% increase in searches for ‘dog training near me’, showing that dog owners country wide are looking to help their pups to be on their best behaviour.

Dog experts Kennel Store have commented on the study, and advised Brits on how they can help their troublesome pets with crate training.

“Mischievous puppies are a new burst of energy to our household, and they are so much fun. With studies suggesting naughty puppies are more intelligent, it’s important that dog owners feel in control of their pets.

Dogs often misbehave due to a multitude of reasons, but lack of routine and boredom can be just a couple of the reasons for bad behaviour. It’s extremely important to start training dogs as early as possible and introduce a stable routine. Crate training is a great way to create a sense of stability and discipline, to allow your dog structure and prevent events of bad behaviour.

Introducing Your Dog To Crate Training

The first thing you’ll want to do when crate training your dog is the introduction. Start slow and let your dog get comfortable with it first. Your dog needs to think of the crate as a safe and happy place, so first impressions are crucial at this beginning stage.

Feed Your Dog In The Crate

It’s a good idea to try to associate the experience with something positive – and what’s more positive for a dog than food!

Start by giving your dog its meal inside their crate. If your dog is still somewhat nervous, you can place its meal towards the entrance of the crate. This positive association will make your dog feel at ease.

Once your dog has comfortably entered the crate and is eating, close the door until they are finished. The first few times you do this, open the door as soon as they have finished and with each meal leave the crate door closed for a few minutes later. Leave your dog in the crate for about 10 minutes or so after eating.

You may find that your dog is beginning to whine to be let out. If this is the case, you may have increased the length of time too quickly, so next time, try leaving them in the crate for a shorter period. It’s essential that when they are used to this routine that you don’t let them out when they begin whining.

Extend The Time Your Dog Spends In The Crate

Once your dog is comfortable in its crate, and there is no sign of fear or anxiety, you can begin to slowly extend how long they stay in there. While you are at home to supervise, start by encouraging your dog to enter the crate, and once they have done this you can praise them, give them a treat and then close the door.

To ensure crate training success, always leave your dog with a chew toy or something to play with. Once your dog can remain calm and relaxed for 30 minutes or more, it will now be time to try keeping them in the crate overnight and when you leave your house.

Safety Tips For Crate Training Your Dog

When leaving your dog in its crate, take off all chains and training collars. If left on, this could become very dangerous for your dog. If you must leave a collar on, choose a safer ‘break-away’ type collar.

Puppies that are six months or younger should not be left in a crate for more than three or four hours at any given time. When pups are this young, they cannot control their bladders and bowels for that period. The same also goes for more mature dogs that are being house trained.

Never tease your dog in its crate and never let children push their fingers through the panels.

Avoid leaving your dog in its crate for long periods. Every dog needs to get exercise and human interaction, so if they are not receiving this, they may become depressed or anxious.

Never ever leave your dog in its crate in a hot room, in direct sunlight both inside and outside, or in a car on a sunny day.”

Your Pets Daily - Dog training

Dog behaviour expert reveals six top tips to ace recall training

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Tug-E-Nuff launches new interactive dog toy

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Study Reveals Badly Behaved Dogs Are SMARTER? Dog Expert Weighs In On How To Train Brits Pesky Pooches

Introducing Your Dog To Crate Training

Feed Your Dog In The Crate

Extend The Time Your Dog Spends In The Crate

Safety Tips For Crate Training Your Dog

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