Games to help recall
I use a couple of games, both with really really good treats (hot dogs, cheese, chicken) to help make the recall a really positive thing, and fun.
If you can shanghai another family member, you can play yo-yo. One person holds the dog and the other moves 10 feet away and recalls the dog. Treat, treat, treat, happy dance, what a good boy. First person then calls the dog back. Treat, treat, treat, happy dance, what a good boy. Repeat, getting further and further apart. Stop when you are still getting good recalls.
The other is the home-and-away game. You need visible chunks of something yummy. Call the dog to you, when he comes tell him good boy and then throw the treat, with the command 'away', in a sweeping arm motion so he can see where it lands. Then run away, and repeat. I do come, away right, come away left (also good for teaching right and left if you plan to do agility), come and sit in front of me for a treat. It's a game, the dog should enjoy it, making the come command part of the game.
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