Recall and lead training in Nottingham

Loose-lead walking

Pulling works for a dog because it gets them where they want to go. Trainers teach a loose lead by rewarding the dog for staying beside you and by stopping or turning when the lead goes tight, so pulling stops paying off. Start in a quiet place and add distractions slowly.

A well-fitted harness or collar and a lead of a sensible length help. Avoid equipment that works by causing discomfort.

Building a recall

A recall is trained, not hoped for. Start indoors and in the garden, call your dog’s name and a cue word, and reward generously every time they come, then practise on a long line in a safe place before adding distractions. Never call your dog back to punish them, or they will learn that coming back is bad news.

Where to practise around Nottingham

Pick quiet, enclosed or low-distraction places to start, then work up to busier ones. Around Nottingham, spots such as Nottingham Castle and Victoria Embankment are good places to build up, once your dog is reliable in quieter ones.

Whatever your recall is like, follow the local rules: the Countryside Code, which says to keep dogs on a lead around livestock and, on open access land, on a short lead between 1 March and 31 July. A good recall never replaces a lead near livestock, roads or water.

Nottingham dog rules

Nottingham City Council’s Public Spaces Protection Orders page lists four dog orders: dogs on leads, dogs on leads by direction, dogs exclusion and fouling of land by dogs. In practice that means keeping your dog on a lead where an order requires it, putting it on a lead if a police officer, PCSO or council officer tells you to, keeping dogs out of the places where they are excluded, and clearing up after your dog while carrying bags or a scoop.

The council says you can be fined if you ignore an order. The page does not give an amount here, so check it for the current details and the map. More general guidance is on GOV.UK’s page on Public Spaces Protection Orders.

Common questions

How long does it take to train a recall?

It depends on the dog and how much you practise, but most dogs need weeks of consistent practice, not days, and it needs maintaining throughout their life.

Is a harness better than a collar?

A well-fitted harness can be more comfortable for a dog that pulls. The key is the training, not the equipment. A trainer can advise on what suits your dog.

Can my dog be off the lead in Nottingham?

It depends on the place and the local rules. Follow signs and council rules, and keep your dog on a lead near livestock, roads and wildlife.

Is K9PN a dog training company?

No. K9PN is a referral service and does not train dogs. We pass your request to a professional trainer who covers your area. It costs you nothing to send a request.

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