Owning a pet is a journey filled with challenges and rewards. Watching your furry friend master simple commands like sitting or lying down creates an unbreakable bond and a deep sense of satisfaction.
However, getting a dog to reliably return when called is often one of the trickiest commands to teach. Fortunately, dog training expert Sam Hoke has shared a game-changing tip via a TikTok video that could make this task much easier for pet owners everywhere, Mirror reports.
In the short video, the owner of a Labrador named Mo, said: “Have you ever called your dog and they completely ignored you or ran away? There’s a cure for that.”
At first, he stated the obvious, advising to “stop calling your dog when you have nothing to offer. Think about it like this, if your friends text you every day and nine out of ten it’s to complain, how long until you stop responding?”
Highlighting the importance of valuing a dog’s time and building trust, Sam Hoke revealed his secret to mastering the recall command. His advice? Occasionally call your dog over, not just when you need them, but also to reward them with a treat or a bit of praise.
Sam continued: “This builds a positive association with coming when called. I’m building up the habit in places that matter, like the park.”
While the clever technique can yield impressive results, it’s not foolproof and requires consistent practice to be effective. According to Sam, the ideal moment to practice is when your dog is naturally distracted, as this helps reinforce their focus and responsiveness in real-world situations.
In a demonstration, he explained: “When Mo isn’t paying attention, either Lia or I call him over but watch how we don’t move towards him. We move backwards, triggering his natural instinct to chase. And when he comes to us, boom, we reward him.”
Concluding the video, Sam highlighted the importance of creating a bond between the two.
He shared: “So be the friend your dog wants to come to, the one who calls them over for treats and fun. Not the one who’s always dragging them out of the park and complaining.”
The dog training expert emphasized the importance of repetition in building good habits. For Mo, this involves having his collar gently touched before being rewarded with a treat, reinforcing the behavior through consistent practice.
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