🐰 Be the Prey, not the Predator!

Are you a predator stalking your dog? Or the prey your dog wants to chase?

When people practice recall or engage their dogs in play, they often face the dog and move in toward them. Cues are typically reduced to a single word like “come” or the dog’s name, with the tone becoming more forceful if there’s no immediate response.

Let’s clear something up right away: a reliable recall doesn’t happen just because you said so. Really. 😊

Your dog doesn't come when called because you’re the boss or the alpha. A reliable recall is built through play. And while play looks a little different for every dog, one thing stays the same—play is the key to a reliable recall.

Both recall and in personal play, it is important to use body language that makes sense to your dog. Invite our dogs to chase us - to bite the toy in our hand, or to chase and catch/consume the treat we toss. This is prey drive.

All dogs, even pups who would never hurt an actual bunny, have some sort of prey drive. Some direct this onto toys, others like food, and some just love playing with their favourite humans.

Reliable recalls are built by channeling your dog's prey drive into playing with you!

Similarly, when engaging in personal play, INVITE your dog to chase you, to wrestle with you, or even to jump on you, if that is how you want to play.

Play with your dog like they are a small child

"You're so strong!"

"You're so fast!"

"OMG you caught me!"

If you’re working with a tough, confident dog, you can absolutely turn up the intensity once they’re engaged—but no matter the breed (yes, even the bully breeds), it’s essential to let them win most of the time.

Play is designed to fit each dog—fun enough to light them up, challenging enough to keep them engaged, and rewarding enough to keep them coming back for more.

Recall should mean one thing to your dog: the fun has started, and you’re where it’s at! You’re the amusement park they can’t wait to run toward.

Want to hear more about play and how to be the rabbit your dog wants? Check out the latest podcast episode.

🎧 Listen

👉 Want help making sense of it all? Explore my free resources below, or send me a message to learn more about how we can work together.

Cheers,
Christina

P.s. Looking for a fun way to train your dog to heel past distractions or triggers? Check out my upcoming heeling class: ✨ Strut Your Stuff: Heeling Foundations ✨