The dogs got out this week.
I had only let them out for a potty break into our fenced in back yard. But it had been windy and the gate came open and I didn’t notice. It was a rainy Sunday morning, so Justin and I were still drinking our coffee in our PJs. I was listening for a bark that they were ready to come back in when Justin looked up and said “umm…there’s Sammy.” She was standing on the front porch. Uh oh.
We let her in and Justin went to check the backyard while I checked the front sidewalk for Dan. He was nowhere to be seen. I was standing in my slippers on our front sidewalk whistling for him and a man was walking by across the street. “Are you looking for a black and white dog?”. he asked. “YES!”. “Oh he is down the street, he just walked by me a minute ago, oh look here he comes.”
I ran across the street to him and looked down the sidewalk. Here comes Dan! He was running to me faster than I have ever seen him go (and he’s fast!). We went inside and he got a very special treat. And now our gate is bungee corded shut in addition to the latch.
This is the importance of a really, really good recall (“come”). Because mistakes happen. And Dan wanted to take himself to the park, but because of our practice, he wanted to come to me more.
Do you have a great recall story? Share it below. And check back soon for a series on teaching and practicing your recall.
What’s a blog post without a picture? Dan and Sam, posing for a photo.