American Foxhound

Bringing a new dog home from a shelter or rescue is an incredibly rewarding experience. You are giving a deserving animal a second chance at a happy life. As you both settle in, you will discover your new dog’s unique personality, along with their voice. Dog barking is a normal form of communication, but a barking dog who does not settle can quickly become stressful for both of you. Learning how to stop excessive dog barking early on will help create a calmer home environment.

Teaching your dog to come when he is called is the most important lesson you can impart to him. A dog that responds immediately and consistently when you call him can enjoy freedoms that other dogs cannot. Such a dog can play in the dog run, hike with you in leash-free parks, and keep out of trouble in most any situation. Even if you never plan to have your dog off his leash, things happen. Collars break, leashes slip, gates or doors are inadvertently left open. When an accident happens, having a reliable “recall” on your dog could very well save his life. While this article can’t cover all the different exercises that contribute to a solid recall, I’ve outlined a couple of fundamental ones.