Use a Leash to Control the Variables
The most important thing to remember is that every time your dog takes off and has a good time he is putting money in his bank account for not coming back. Don't allow an untrained dog off leash in an unsafe area or an area where he will be difficult to catch. A dog that has an unreliable recall is a danger to himself. He doesn't have good judgment and may run into the street, get lost, or eat something harmful. If you love your dog, use a leash in unfenced areas so that you do not give your dog the opportunity to run away.
Keeping your dog on leash gives him the ability to be right more often and allows you to reinforce those choices, making it likely he will choose you again and again. When you eventually get to the point where you are not using a leash anymore, it will be easy to get rid of it and still have the same level of behavior. Since you have used the leash to teach him to come by limiting his options rather than yanking on it, you have made it more likely that he will choose you over distractions.
When you use a leash to teach your dog to come, you are using it to limit his options. The fewer options he has, the more likely he is to be right and choose coming to you over running away to please himself.
Puppies aged nine to twelve weeks are usually too unsure of themselves to wander far if you let them off leash. If your confident puppy strays too far, play hide and seek with him by hiding behind a tree and calling “puppy, puppy” in a high pitched voice. Most puppies can't resist this and will come looking for you, giving you an opportunity to reward this behavior.
Make the Rewards Worth the Effort
Your dog needs you to use the best possible rewards if he's going to choose coming to you over pursuing a distraction. Remember that a squirrel, cat, child, or another dog is a thrill to chase, bark at, or sniff around. If your dog chooses to be with you over the distraction, make sure you have the best treats, toys, or games as the reward. You will mark your dog's behavior of turning in your direction with a click and follow it with a treat, a game, or an opportunity to interact with the distraction (but only after checking in with you first).
Using rewards in this way is not a bribe; you are simply requiring that your dog check in with you before he gets what he wants. For dogs that learn this game, it almost completely eliminates the desire to run away. Using rewards in this way means you control the dog's access to what he wants and you pay up when he checks in with you.
The best way to use a nonfood reward is to limit the time you interact with the dog after the click to a few seconds if it's a game, or use the real-life reward at the end of the session as a way to reinforce to the dog that coming to you is just the most terrific thing ever.
Ideas for Rewards
Making the rewards variable and exciting will enhance your dog's performance and make the process of teaching your dog to come all the more fun. Here are some things to keep in mind when you are considering different types of rewards in your training program:
Food rewards can include cheese, liver, chicken, beef jerky, tortellini, hot dogs, roast beef, and steak.
Toy rewards can include stuffed animals, balls, tug toys, and Frisbees.
Game rewards such as fetch, tug, and Frisbee can help a high-energy dog stay focused on you and redirect the energy that would have been used to chase the distraction.
Real-life rewards include the opportunity to chase the distraction (a ball, a squirrel, a leaf), to say hello to the person or other dog, to play with the group of dogs off leash, to swim in the pond, to plow through the snow, or to roll in the smell.
