*GUEST POST

Eleven years ago, I got out of my car to look at a chihuahua I was thinking about rescuing. The dog was a 9-month-old Chihuahua female, who was being rehomed because of a behavioral issue that almost killed her.

The issue was frequent escaping, and then refusing to be caught once she was out the door. This fun game for her was a nerve-wracking experience for the owners who ultimately decided they couldn’t keep her.

Recall issues are a common problem with rescue dogs. If you are trying to figure out how to fix recall in a rescue dog, here are a few lessons I learned while teaching Leia to come when called.

Teach “Touch It” First

The moment I brought Leia home, it became obvious there was more to her recall issues than not knowing the command. She understood the assignment, and the assignment was to never