Rebuild recall in an older Weimaraner

Reliable recall is honestly the most important skill a dog can have — and rebuilding it in an adult dog who's been off lead exercise for a while is very doable, especially with the right setup. The combination that works best is a high-value treat the dog goes absolutely wild for, paired with a long line so you can practise safely without the risk of them disappearing. To point you in the right direction: what breed and age is your dog, how bad is the recall right now, and are you after training aids, treats, or both?

Great news that Bram's been cleared — and this is a really common situation after a long enforced rest. The good news with Weimars is they're not stubborn; they're just easily distracted and very scent-driven. If the motivation is high enough, the recall clicks back into place faster than you'd expect. A few quick questions: does Bram have any food sensitivities or allergies I should know about, and how is he generally with food motivation — will he work for most treats, or is he picky?

That's exactly what I needed to know. For Bram, I'd go with Forthglade 100% Natural Chicken Liver Treats. They're soft, intensely smelly — which matters a lot for a scent hound like a Weimaraner — and because they're single ingredient you can use them in high volume during a training session without worrying about upsetting his stomach. They come in a resealable pouch which is practical for outdoor training. Critically, they don't have the 'boredom factor' you get with dry treats because the smell stays strong even after repeated exposure. Pair these with a Trixie 10-metre long line — it gives Bram enough distance to feel genuinely free while you maintain a safety net as you rebuild the behaviour. Start every recall session on the long line, call him once with a really upbeat cue, reward heavily with the liver treats the moment he reaches you, and build duration of off-lead time gradually as he gets consistent. Don't call him unless you're fairly confident he'll come — set him up to succeed rather than practise ignoring you.

Good instinct to think about that. In a dedicated 10-minute recall session, 15 to 20 small pieces is reasonable — the Forthglade treats are soft so you can break them into pieces roughly the size of your little fingernail, which keeps the reward feeling significant without the calories adding up. Factor that into his daily food allowance if you're training daily. For an 8-year-old Weimaraner, the quality of the reward matters more than the quantity — one piece of liver treat delivered immediately and enthusiastically with genuine praise beats five pieces given flatly. Keep sessions short and end on a success. Once his recall is solid on the long line across three or four outings, you can start testing in low-distraction areas off lead.

Bram sounds like he'll pick this back up quickly — Weimars want to be near their person, which works in your favour. Stick with the long line until you genuinely trust the recall, not just when it's convenient to drop it. Good luck with him.