I’d like you to think about your play/recall before the community conversation. What you find hard, why recall is an issue for you These are my workshop handouts that I use Please read it and get your questions ready for the group discussion at 2pm Your dog doesn’t have a recall problem. Your dog might have a life problem. There. I said it. We expect dogs to drop everything they’re doing, turn on a sixpence and sprint back to us because we’ve shouted “COME!” And when they don’t? They’re “stubborn.” “Disobedient.” “Too distracted.” “High prey drive.” Really? Or have they simply found something that meets a need you haven’t? Because here’s the bit people often miss: Recall isn’t just about training a word. It’s about giving your dog a reason to WANT to come back. Look at the prey sequence: Orient → eye → stalk → chase → grab → bite → dissect → consume. No, your pet dog doesn’t need to be a working dog for pieces of this sequence to show up. Watch them. What makes them come alive? Searching? Watching movement? Chasing? Grabbing? Tugging? Carrying? Shredding? Finding? THAT is information. Your dog is telling you what they enjoy. And instead of constantly stopping those behaviours, we can find safe, appropriate ways to give them an outlet. A dog who never gets to chase may find their own chase. A dog who never gets to sniff may become obsessed with every smell outside. A dog who never gets to use their mouth may find something else to chew. A dog who never gets to make choices may become very good at making their own. Then we stand in the middle of all that and shout: “COME BACK!” Why? Because we said so? Maybe it’s time to stop asking: “How do I make my dog come back?” And start asking: “What does my dog need from life?” Meet the needs. Build the relationship. Give them appropriate outlets. Play with them. Let them sniff. Let them explore. Let them use their incredible noses. Let them chase appropriate things. Let them tug. Let them search. Let them be dogs. And then something very different starts to happen.

If we do have any questions please list them here and I will answer later

Answers Of course! 🐾 Here are the answers: 1. B — It may be feeling stressed or uncomfortable. 2. C — A trusting relationship and connection. 3. B — It helps them gather information about their environment. 4. C — They may be feeling worried or overwhelmed. 5. C — Breaking the behaviour into manageable steps and rewarding success. 6. B — Building trust, communication and engagement so your dog wants to work with you.

You are the winner- 🥇 Well done Judy You know your dogs well Thanks for joining in Judy x