This is actually the person who was trying to call their dog. The body language says it all. They’ve given up…they now realize that their attempts to recall their dog are futile. A dangerous situation.
If you are like many k9 guardians, the answer to the question…”does your dog come when called,” would be a resounding…NO. And if you know that your dog doesn’t come when called and is not reliable off-leash and you keep them on leash, good on you. Thank you.
Sadly most guardians who choose to take their dog’s off leash where they should not be off leash, have no recall abilities.
Recall - to call back; summon to return:
A recall, is calling your dog and having them return to you. This morning we were at the beach enjoying the beautiful weather. We were walking down the paths when we looked over a particularly beautiful spot; when I saw a person with their dog off leash on the beach. The dog was a very large one and I was glad that I hadn’t happened upon them on the beach after watching their interaction (or lack there of) for a bit.
I wanted to see if this person’s dog was going to come when called…and the answer was NO. The dog had absolutely no intention of coming and I could tell by the person’s body language that they knew this fact as well. The person was bending down, jumping around, calling, turning and running away in hopes that the dog was going to follow them. The dog never came back and I’m assuming the guardian had to go and retrieve their dog somehow. This is an accident waiting to happen.
Training, training, training is the only way to get a solid recall. Long line training is the safest way to work with a dog, to practice, practice, practice. And if there is any doubt once so ever, don’t unleash, EVER. So many dogs are let off their leash when their guardian knows full well that they are not coming when called. We’ve run into people before who told us when we shouted, “call your dog.” They replied “he won’t come,” yet they have their dog off leash.
Whether or not a dog is friendly makes absolutely no difference. You see when a dog is off leash and will not come when called; they have a good chance of running up to a dog who is on leash. I’ve been on the receiving end of a loose dog many times. We’ve had aggressive dogs run up on us, friendly dogs run up on us and everything in between.
If your dog is friendly and has an unreliable recall…and I mean not reliable under distractions of other people, dogs etc.; they can run up to a dog who is dangerously aggressively and be attacked, receiving injury or worse. And you know who’s fault it is? Yours.
So many things can happen when you unhook a dog with no recall training.
Annoy people who don’t have dogs with them.
Approach someone who is afraid of dogs.
Annoy other people who have leashed dogs.
Cause a dog fight.
Be attacked by an on leash aggressive dog.
Cause injury to other people and/or other dogs.
I could go on and on with a list of things that can happen. And it’s not just others that you risk being injured; you and your own dog can be injured seriously by taking a leash off.
Ask yourself these questions.
Is there anyone, and I mean anyone in the vicinity?
Does your dog have a solid recall?
Is the area you are unleashing your dog, safe?
Does your dog have a solid recall?
How about a solid recall under distractions?
Does your dog have a solid recall?
Do you have a clear view if someone should come into the area?
Does your dog have a solid recall?
Let’s be honest, most people do not have a solid recall with their dog. That is the truth. It takes a lot of work and a lot of time and knowledge to get a solid recall. Everyone should do it, it could save your dog’s life someday.
But it takes consistency, repetition, dedication and respect for others. Ahhhhh, respect. Your dog, your training…no one else asked to have your dog running off leash. Keep them on leash until the time when you have a solid recall, you are somewhere safe and there is NO ONE around to annoy.