Travis is finally learning the three Rs of recall.

Reliable recall is one of the most important things that you can train. Dogs need the freedom to run, play and sniff. Research shows that dogs are more relaxed when their lead is longer, but that being off lead is best of all.

That said, there are many challenges to overcome before your dog can be safe off lead, not least, other people and dogs. Usually, I would start recall training with very young puppies but Travis, as ever, bucked the trend.

Attempting basic recall exercises just resulted in an over-excited puppy and me getting bitten. As Travis got older, it got worse – he jumped even higher and bit even harder. I just had to focus on calming, sniff walks and other forms of stimulation and wait it out, whilst letting him off lead at play dates in secure gardens.

So, at eight months old, we can finally begin the exercises that I usually do at eight weeks! Every dog is different all right. It doesn’t matter how many clients and dogs I work with on recall, I always find it nerve-racking when a dog is first off lead. Whilst it’s a carefully managed risk – even using a small enclosed area that has been checked to ensure that it is secure and at first, with help to watch gates, the risk is nevertheless there. After a couple of sessions with a long-suffering friend and a colleague, I finally plucked up the courage to go solo.

The sheer joy of watching my puppy gambol on the grass was fortunately matched by pretty good – and fast – recall. Training something this important with a puppy in early adolescence is not ideal. The first session somewhere unfamiliar can often result in a dog that pays a lot of attention to the handler who can then be lulled into a false sense of security. The second time, the dog is likely to be more confident and the recall less reliable. With an adolescent dog that is pushing boundaries and practising “no” it is particularly hairy. I have come to recognise the sideways glance from Travis (equivalent of a human teenager tutting and rolling eyes). He is currently coming back “around” me rather than “to” me but I’m prepared to take that. There is plenty of time to refine it for when we compete in obedience tests.

We had a particularly good day when Travis deigned to go back to a more formal recall but I know that we may also go backwards. Every day is different.

Travis hasn’t yet learned all of the Three Rs of Recall but meanwhile, at least I’m not getting bitten and, so far, he’s been no trouble to catch.

Next week: King Kong – Safely Occupied

If you need help with training recall or coping with adolescence, you can book a Reliable Recall Workshop or Teenage Tearaways Course.