It’s been wonderful working with clients outdoors in the autumn sunshine lately — but there’s one thing that keeps interrupting our training sessions: puppies and young dogs that are off lead before they have a solid recall. ☀️🐾

It might seem harmless, or even like “good socialisation”, to let your pup run over to say hello to every dog in the park. But if your recall isn’t rock solid, you’re setting them — and others — up for problems.

I’ve seen it a lot with clients recently, and it’s happened to my own dogs too.

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When Good Intentions Go Wrong

🐶 My older Cocker, Nicky, who isn’t great with other dogs, was rushed by two energetic French Bulldogs who got right up in his face while their owner tried (unsuccessfully) to call them back.

🐕 On another walk, a young Cockapoo repeatedly bothered Meg, my Border Collie, until she started air snapping to get it to back off. The owner was on the other side of the park, unable to recall their dog.

None of these dogs were “bad” — they were just untrained, over-exuberant, and off lead when they weren’t ready.

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Three Things Every Puppy Owner Should Remember ✨

🐾 Recall is a safety skill, not a trick.
It means your dog comes back to you every single time you call — even when there are distractions around.

🐾 Socialisation isn’t about greeting every dog.
It’s about learning calm tolerance and good manners around others. A well-socialised dog is dog-neutral — comfortable walking past other dogs without pulling, fixating, or feeling the need to interact. It’s one of the most valuable life skills you can teach.

🐾 Respect other dogs’ space.
Never let your dog approach one that’s in training, on lead, or showing signs of discomfort.

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Why It Matters

Letting your puppy off lead before they’re ready doesn’t just risk a bad interaction — it can knock another dog’s confidence or even spark a fight. ⚠️

Instead, start recall training on a long line, keep a safe distance, and reward like crazy when your pup chooses you over distractions. 💛

That early investment pays off in safety, control, and peace of mind — for both you and your dog.

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🎥 Want Help Getting Started?

Here’s an excellent video guide on how to use a long line for recall training 👇
👉 Watch on YouTube