Recall And Finish
Before moving ahead with the recall exercise, you should condition your dog to respond to the "come" command in the following way: while heeling your dog suddenly take several steps backward. Do this quickly while saying, "Prince, come!" If your dog doesn't respond immediately, give a tug on his leash so that he follows you.
Take in the slack as the dog approaches and as he nears you say, "Prince, sit!" Use the needed commands and tugs on the leash to position the dog so that he is facing you from two to three feet away. Then tell him to "stay" and walk around the back to his right side in the same manner as in the return from the "sit- stay" position.
Now that your dog has an idea of what is expected when you command him to "come," let's move on to the actual recall exercise. Heel your dog, stop and put him into the sit position. Then command him to "stay," giving the proper hand signal, and walk forward (starting on your right foot) until you are at the end of the leash. Then turn and face your dog.
Now command him, "Prince, come!" Say it in a manner that will make the dog want to do your bidding, (as if you have a prime T- bone in your pocket). Use sharp jerks of the leash, (if necessary) to urge your dog forward quickly but re-peat the command every time you use the leash.
Gather up the slack in the leash as the dog approaches. As he reaches a position two or three feet away, command him to "sit," using the leash to position him so that he faces you squarely. If he is out of position, step backward, command "come" again and sit him down so that he is in position. Return to your dog as in the sit-stay exercise.
The "finish" is the final part of the re-call exercise. Up to this point we have avoided describing it to give you a chance to get your dog familiar with the "come" and "recall" portions of the lesson. The "finish" is used to bring your dog to the "sit" position at your left side from the "sit" position facing you.
There are two methods of doing this. One is to take a short hold on the leash with your right hand, and say, "Prince, heel!" As you give the command, jerk the leash to bring the dog to your right side and then behind you. When the dog is to your rear transfer the lead from your right to left hand. Then say, "Prince, heel!" and bring the dog around your back and into heel position.
An alternate method is to take the leash in the left hand before the exercise starts then say, "Prince, heel!" and jerk the leash so your dog will approach your left side. As he does, repeat the "heel" command and use the leash to guide the dog so that he turns into the proper heel position. Your dog should sit down automatically. If he doesn't, use the leash or a push on the hindquarters to make him sit.
The recall and finish are the last of the commands we will cover. Practice them and then we will talk about working the dog without a leash or "free," as it is referred to by "doggy" folks. Before attempting to work your dog "off leash," make certain that he has all of the moves we have covered to date down "pat." That means. . . plenty of practice for Prince before starting the final lesson with concentration on those moves he has not mastered.
