Building a reliable recall with a ten-month-old Vizsla

The problem this solves

Ten months is the classic age for recall to fall apart. The puppy who once trotted back happily discovers the world, and a Vizsla discovers it at thirty miles an hour. Owners tell me the same story again and again: he comes back at home, but in an open field he goes deaf.

What you’re watching

This clip is one session in an ongoing series with a ten-month-old Vizsla and his owner, working towards a recall that holds up with space and distractions around. It builds on the foundations we laid in earlier sessions, and you can see the result: a young, fast, distractible dog choosing to come back in an open field.

The important part is who he is coming back to. I train the owner as much as the dog, because a recall only works if the person calling is consistent, well-timed and worth returning to. My job is to build the habit and hand it over.

Why this matters for your dog

Recall is freedom. A dog that returns reliably gets off-lead walks, open fields and a far better life, and his owner gets to relax. It is built in stages, at the dog’s pace, and adolescence is not too late. It is exactly the right time to fix it.