At least eighteen dogs and their owners participated in City Dog Training's third free Recall Clinic on March 7 in Perry Park. The clinics, co-sponsored by the Somerville Dog Owners Group and the Somerville Youth and Recreation Commission, are held in different parks around the CIty every other month or so.

Gail Merriam brought her daughter and their dog, Chester, a Labrador Retriever, to Perry Park for the clinic. Justin Aucoin, one of the trainers at City Dog Training, taught them to play the "Get it!" game to teach Chester to come when called.

Playing the "Get It!" Game

Bryan Prentice has Brandi, his Doberman Pinscher, on a long training lead. Bryan tosses a treat away from himself and tells Brandi to "Get It!" To get the treat, Brandi has to move away from her owner.

Chris Silva and Lexi Dew are playing the "Get It!" game with Madison, their Dachshund mix, too. After Maddie "gets it"—goes away from him to retrieve her treat—Chris calls her name. When Maddie comes to him, he rewards her with another treat.

In Canine Obedience, training the ability to call your dog and get an immediate response at all times is known as "recall". A reliable recall can save your dogs life and help prevent your pet from jumping up on others in the event that your dog does get away from you.

The clinic at Perry Park was City Dog Training's third free Recall Clinic in Somerville. Previous clinics were held in Nunziato Field (November 2009) and in Powder House Park (January 2010). The next free Recall Clinic is scheduled for May 2 in the Ed Leathers Community Park on Walnut Street, between Medford Street and Pearl Street.