Does your dog come most of the way, then stop just out of reach? Or turn it into a game of keep away the second you reach for their collar?
What you'll learn in this edition: how to put the "yes" you loaded last time to work, and start building a come when you call your dog actually wants to do.
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The puppy who just stared
A dog who won't come all the way back is a dog you can't let off leash at the beach, or catch when someone leaves the gate open.
When Azuki, my Shiba Inu, was a puppy, I'd call him across the yard and he would just... stare at me.
I had nothing on me that he wanted, and he knew it.
Perfect.
Coming back has to be worth it. And it has to feel good. Last issue we loaded "yes." This week we put it to work.
Full speed, zero hesitation. That's the goal.
Training and playing with 3 dogs takes real energy. I used to be running on empty by 2pm, until I realized I was the one member of the team nobody was looking after.
One Daily Ritual. Clinically Studied Results.
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Your dog comes... mostly
Your dog heads your way, then parks 3 feet in front of you. You reach for the collar, they bounce back, and now it's keep away.
From your dog's pov, this makes sense. If the treat always lands out in front of you, your dog learns the pay spot is out there. So that's where they stop.
And the last 3 feet? That's where a hand comes in for the collar, the leash clips on, and the fun ends. Hanging back is the smart move.
Start at the bottom
Teaching your dog anything happens in 3 phases: teaching, proofing, and correcting.
Teaching is the biggest piece, and it's the part we all rush. Proofing is practicing somewhere else or with more distractions. Correcting comes once your dog truly knows the job. And you'll move back and forth, one layer at a time; a rough day at the park can send you from proofing right back to teaching.
Today is the bottom layer: the beginnings of a reliable recall.
Two habits that quietly shrink a recall
Paying at arm's length. Your dog stops where the treat usually lands.
A flat "yes." If it sounds like you're reading a grocery list, your dog can hear it. Coming back should be a party every time.
The fix: make your body the place where the good stuff happens.
Dogs love to chase something moving away from them (prey drive!). So when you say "yes," turn yourself into the thing worth chasing. Run backwards!
You'll notice "come" is missing from this whole game, along with every other cue. That's on purpose.
This week is only about building the desire: running back to you becomes the best game in the yard. The cue comes later.
One thing to try this week 👇🏻
Grab 10 pieces of food from the top of your dog's price list.
Toss one a few feet away from you. Wait until your dog finishes eating.
The moment your dog looks back at you, say "YES!" like you mean it, and run backwards. No "come" yet.
When your dog catches you, feed right against your body, hand at your belly button (or at your knee for a small dog).
Repeat. 5 to 10 reps, twice a day. Kitchen first, then the yard.
Wherever you pay your dog is where your dog will stop.
Good dog of the week 🐶
Casper and Lotus feeling proud that they hiked to the top!
How adorable are they?
Want your dog here? Reply with a photo, their name, and one line about what makes them a good dog.
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That's all for today folks! 🫶🏻
Let's go train some Good Dogs 🐶
P.S. Join the waitlist for the Home Manners course where you’ll learn the foundations of a raising a well-mannered dog (and a cool title!).