Urban Pace Pet Sitters

10/09/2025

02/14/2022

#512

10/13/2021

Dogs love to play games!

Are you facing recall issue with your dog?

There are ways to build a strong recall with your dog. Here are some games to play with your dog while teaching a strong recall.

- Hot and Cold
You will need minimum 2 persons for this game. Person A calls the dog. Reward the dog with high value food for coming, then turn boring immediately. Person B calls the dog excitedly, reward the dog with high value food for coming, then turn boring. Person A calls again. Rinse and repeat.

- Catching
Call out to your dog and runaway, let the dog chase you, catch hold of the collar or harness and reward the dog with high value food for catching up with you and allowing you to catch hold of the collar or harness. This game is important to practice in advance. In the event that the leash, harness or collar comes off from the dog when outdoors, your dog has already practiced running to you and allowing you to hold onto it.

- Follow Me
This can be a single person game. Call out to your dog, run backwards to allow the dog to run into you and reward for touching you.

What you should NOT do

- Nag / Scold / Punish
These are aversive to the dog and the dog will learn to hesitate or not come to you when the name is called because it is followed with something unpleasant. Scolding or punishing the dog does not teach the dog anything other than fear.

- Catch Me If You Can
Do not chase after your dog because you are only teaching your dog to runaway from you. Your dog has 4 legs. Even a 3 legged dog will run faster than a human.

- Good Things End
If your dog is having a good time, calling your dog to end the fun time will result in your dog not wanting to come back to you when recalled in the future. If it is about time to go home soon, call your dog over, engage with activities with you first before gradually slowing the pace down and then head back home. Continuously walk and feed your dog for willingness to leave with you.

- The Cow Arrived Without Your Dog
As the saying goes, "call until the cow comes home". When your dog is engaged with something intense like sniffing, avoid calling your dog's name if you think that there is even a slight chance that your dog will not response. Continuously calling your dog's name will only teach your dog to ignore you. Make some noise like clapping, high pitch squeal or whistle etc, to get your dog's attention and reward for turning to you.

Most importantly, make the recall training fun so that your dog is more willing to participate. Start from home first with minimal distraction and competing motivator before trying it outdoors. The main objective is to let your dog learn to run to you with enthusiasm when the name is called.

Have fun!

01/25/2020

Maggie: totally ready for the weekend!




#512

01/02/2020

01/01/2020

My city is rather gorgeous!

12/31/2019

Time to do something different

We are down to just hours left before ringing in a new decade. A little reminder that their are safer, better ways to celebrate and spend your money than literally burning it up! Fireworks wreak havoc on both your pet and animals in nature. The percussive force coupled with toxins released cause untold deaths. It should also be noted that many veterans do not care for blasts and explosions and these celebrations cause a lot of PTSD.
Consider an alternative to fireworks this New Year; your wallet, fingers, ears, and pets will thank you for it.
However you celebrate please do so safely and responsibly as we don’t want you to miss some exciting things for URC in 2020!

12/31/2019

Orca whales and humans share a trait that's rare among mammals: Females survive long past their reproductive period and take care of grandchildren.

12/27/2019

Wow,
I thought I was looking at a human hand...

The hand of a gorilla with vitiligo.

12/25/2019

Truth.