The Foundation for Safe and Enjoyable Hiking

When hiking with your dogs, mastering a few essential commands is critical to ensuring their safety and your peace of mind. Commands like recall and leave it provide control and prevent potentially dangerous situations, allowing you to focus on enjoying the adventure. Here’s how to teach these foundational commands effectively.

Recall: Ensuring Your Dogs Return When Called

A reliable recall is one of the most important skills your dogs can have on the trail. It ensures that, even when distracted by wildlife, interesting scents, or other hikers, they’ll come back to you promptly when called.

1. Start Indoors or in a Fenced Area: Begin in a distraction-free environment where your dog feels comfortable. Call your dog using a cheerful, enthusiastic tone, saying their name followed by a command like “Come!” (e.g., “Zoey, come!”).

2. When your dog comes to you, immediately reward them with treats, praise, or a favorite toy to create a positive association.

3. Practice With Increased Distance: Gradually increase the distance between you and your dog during practice sessions. Use a long training leash in open areas to give them more freedom while maintaining control.

4. Introduce Distractions Slowly: Once your dog reliably responds to recall indoors, move to outdoor environments with mild distractions. Practice calling them away from interesting smells or objects, rewarding them generously when they obey.

5. Make It Fun: Turn recall into a game by calling your dog while running away or hiding. Dogs love chasing and finding you, which reinforces the behavior.

6. Consistency Is Key: Always reward your dog for coming when called, even if they’re slower to respond or took a detour. Consistency ensures they associate coming to you with positive outcomes.

Leave It: Preventing Your Dogs From Picking Up Unsafe Items

The leave it command is invaluable for keeping your dogs from eating or interacting with harmful objects, such as toxic plants, sharp debris, or discarded food.

1. Start With a Treat in Your Hand: Hold a treat in your closed fist and let your dog sniff or paw at it. As soon as they stop trying to get it, say “Leave it” and reward them with a different treat from your other hand. Repeat this exercise until they reliably stop engaging with the treat when you say “Leave it.”

2. Progress to Placed Items: Place a treat on the ground and cover it with your hand. Say “Leave it” when your dog shows interest. Reward them with a separate treat if they look away or back at you. Gradually increase the level of difficulty by leaving the treat uncovered or using more enticing items.

3.  Add Movement and Real-Life Scenarios: Practice with moving objects, such as a rolling toy or a dropped piece of food. Say “Leave it” as your dog notices the object, rewarding them for compliance. Introduce outdoor distractions like sticks, trash, or food scraps to simulate trail scenarios.

4. Pair With Eye Contact: Encourage your dog to make eye contact with you after hearing “Leave it.” This reinforces their focus on you rather than the object.

5. Stay Calm and Consistent: Use a firm but calm tone when giving the command. Consistency in training helps your dog understand that “Leave it” always means to disengage.

Why These Commands Are Vital for Hiking

• Recall Keeps Your Dog Safe: Whether they’re chasing a squirrel or wandering toward a dangerous area, a strong recall can prevent accidents and bring your dog back to you immediately.

• Leave It Protects Their Health: From toxic mushrooms to harmful insects, the trail is full of hazards. The leave it command ensures they avoid these risks.

By practicing these commands regularly, your dogs will develop the discipline and focus needed for safe and enjoyable hikes. With reliable recall and a solid leave it, you’ll feel confident tackling any trail, knowing your pack is under control and ready for adventure!