Rule #1 is mandatory when the dog is learning. Once the dog has learned, there’s absolutely no reason it can’t enjoy a life leash-free. One of the biggest mistakes people make is giving a dog too much freedom before the dog understands that commands aren’t suggestions, but are actually requirements. I see a lot of folks that think they can address the behavior ‘later’ or only ever try to reinforce it when they need it. The recall is one of those commands that you start in early infancy and reinforce throughout the dogs life. There is no reason a dog can’t learn to shift drives and cooperate. Teaching the dog to respond even during exposure to competing interests takes time, and a review of the basic tenets of cooperation. Don’t call the dog to punish it doesn’t just mean correcting for a past transgression, it also means that there should be something reinforcing each and every time the dog comes to you willingly. A word of praise, a scratch under the ear, a treat or access to a game will keep him sharp and willing. Too many times folks call their dogs to them, leash them up, crate them, do things to them the dogs don’t enjoy…

If for every one time I do something my dog doesn’t like, like taking it away from play, or other enjoyable activity, I am going to repeat the recall 20 times where there are no demands whatsoever; a release back to play, a reinforcement of some kind, or just a short communal period where we just practice being together.