The “Recall” Reluctance
By iKE ALLEN, Happy Healthy Dog Co-Founder
In dog training, the “Recall” (the command to come) is often the most difficult skill to master. Why? Because most pet parents accidentally turn it into a punishment.
Think about it: the dog is having the time of their life at the park, sniffing every blade of grass and chasing friends. Then, the owner yells, “Fido, Come!” The dog comes back, the leash goes on, and the fun ends. The dog’s brain quickly learns a “Leash Greeting” of a different kind: “If I go back to my person, the party is over.” No wonder they start to ignore the call!
The Dog Education: The “Touch and Go” Recall
To fix this, we use the “Touch and Go” method. We call the dog back when they are right in the middle of playing. When they arrive, we give them a massive reward—a high-value treat, a belly rub, and a big “Good job!”—and then we immediately say, “Okay, go play!” and release them back to the fun.
By doing this, we teach the dog that coming back to us isn’t a “stop” sign; it’s a “pit stop.” They learn that checking in with their person actually recharges the fun instead of ending it.
The ReThink Pivot: The Fear of Self-Reflection
Humans have a massive “Recall Reluctance.” We avoid “coming back to ourselves” (meditation, quiet reflection, or just sitting with our thoughts) because we’ve conditioned ourselves to believe that looking inward is a punishment.
We think that if we stop “playing” in the outside world to check in with ourselves, we’re only going to find a lecture. We’re afraid our internal voice is going to point out our mistakes, tell us we’re behind on our goals, or remind us of our “Obligations.” So, we stay frantic. We stay “at the park” of social media, work, and distractions because we’re afraid that if we “come,” the fun will be over.
Back when I did my LEAP! Seminars, I saw this all the time. People were terrified of being alone with their thoughts because they were coming from a place of Desperation for external approval. They didn’t realize that their internal voice could be a source of Inspiration instead of an “internal leash.”
Using the ReThink Method allows us to realize the most important “Good job!” is the one that comes from inside. When you stop viewing self-reflection as a “time out,” you discover that checking in with yourself is actually a “pit stop” for your soul. You become a “self-rewarding” pup who knows that the more you check in with your own peace, the more “fun” you can actually have in the outside world.
The [ReThink] Tool: The “Pit Stop” Check-In
The next time you feel like you’re “running away” from your own thoughts, try a human version of the “Touch and Go”:
- Call Yourself Back: Set a timer for just two minutes. Don’t wait until you’re “in trouble” to check in. Call yourself back when things are going well.
- The Internal Reward: Instead of a lecture, give yourself a “Good job!” for one thing you did well today. Feel the “treat” of that internal validation.
- Go Play: After sixty seconds of breathing and self-praise, go right back to what you were doing. Notice how much lighter the “park” feels when you know you can check in and still keep your joy.
The Bottom Line
Coming home to yourself shouldn’t be a sentence; it should be a celebration.
Don’t wait until you’re exhausted or overwhelmed to listen to your inner voice. Practice the “Touch and Go” today. Call yourself back to your heart, give yourself a massive “Good job!”, and then go right back out there and play. The more you trust the “Recall” and “ReThink” everything in your life, the more freedom you’ll have to roam.
