Training a dog is a real challenge that requires a lot of patience from the owners. With this in mind, a trainer revealed how to make the process easier.
On his TikTok profile, trainer Sam Hoke began by explaining that, if you’ve trained your dog to come to you when called, but he generally ignores you or runs away from you, there’s a way to improve this situation.
“Recall” training is very important for any dog. If you’re at a dog park, for example, and decide to let your dog off the leash, he needs to know he should come back to you when called.
This can prevent him from getting too close to other people who might not appreciate his company, returning to the sidewalk if he walks into the street, and even avoiding being attacked by other dogs.
In the video, Sam explained that the key to effective training is positive reinforcement, meaning always have a treat to offer. “Stop calling your dog when you have nothing to offer,” Sam said.
“Think about it like this: if your friend messages you every day and nine out of ten times it’s to complain, how long before you stop responding? The same goes for your dog, so stop sending complaining messages to your dog. When you call him, it should be worth it.”
“This creates a positive association with coming when called,” Sam explained, adding that training should also be done in places where the behavior will be put into practice: “I’m creating the habit in places that matter, like the park.”
The trainer continued by saying it’s also important to train your dog when he’s distracted. Using his Labrador Mo as an example, he said: “When Mo isn’t paying attention, Lia or I call him, but notice how we don’t move toward him.”
“We move backward, stimulating his natural prey drive, making him want to come to us. And when he reaches us, boom, we reward him,” Sam said in the video.
He also explained that when Mo reaches him, they make sure to touch his collar before giving him a treat to show that touching his collar doesn’t mean they are leaving.
@dogtrainerofficial Does your dog ignore you when you call? Here’s how to change that for good! 🐾 Teaching Mo to come when called is all about making it worth his while. Why would your dog come if it just means the fun ends? Instead, call them over, reward them, and let them go right back to what they love. Make coming to you the best part of their day! Watch how we also move backwards when calling Mo—it kicks in his natural prey drive, making him WANT to come over! 🏃♂️🐕 #DogTrainingTips #RecallTraining #ComeWhenCalled #DogTrainer #PositiveReinforcement #MowgliTheDog #DogRecall #TrainingFailsToWins #DogTraining101 #DogsOfInstagram #DogTrainerLife ♬ original sound – Sam Hoke | Dog Trainer
Photo and video: Unsplash and TikTok @dogtrainerofficial. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
