When calling their dog to come, I often see them giving their dog access single treat when their dog gets to them. Then I also see their dog do a drive by – taking the treat and running away again. In training your dog to recall, it is important that you teach your dog, ‘the party happens WHEN you get to me as quick as you can’. And you keep the party going for at least 10 seconds. This is why I came up with the 10 Second Rule For Teaching Your Dog Recall (and engagement).
What is my 10 Second Rule?
It is spending AT LEAST 10 seconds delivering treats (to your dog’s mouth, or by using fun ways to use treats) or doing another activity your dog values. It could be that you call your dog to come, and then cue your dog to do another awesome behavior (your dog gets to decide what is awesome).
By giving your dog at least 10 seconds of fun, your reinforcement for coming when called and engaging with you has become A LOT more valuable to your dog, thus, increasing the likelihood and strength of your dog doing that more in the future. Your dog needs to be able to predict that something really amazing is going to happen when he engages with you.
Applying this in a dog training lesson.
I recently taught my client my 10 Second Rule for teaching her miniature dachshund puppy, Luna, to come when called. Initially, Kate gave her puppy a single treat, and when she did, I could see her little girl saying to herself,
“That is all you got?”
Luna spoke by taking the treat and leaving to explore.
But next time, Kate used the ‘10 SECOND RULE’, and Luna came running as fast as her little legs could go.
And guess what Luna did this time?
She stayed focused on her human mom!
Guess what happened the next time Kate called Luna, and the time after that?
You better believe Luna was all about running and staying with her mom – EVEN THOUGH a leaf blew by!
