Xolo recall training tips and treats

Reliable recall is genuinely the most important skill any dog can have — and for a breed like the Xoloitzcuintle, with that sharp, alert temperament and a strong instinct to react to everything around them, it's also one of the hardest to build in an urban environment. The good news is that the right high-value treat combined with a long line for safe practice is the combination that works best in almost every case. To point you toward exactly the right setup: what's your Xolo's current recall like — does he come sometimes, rarely, or basically never when distracted? And are you after training aids, treats, or both?

That lockout focus is very typical for Xolos at this age — they're adolescent, their senses are dialled up, and the breed is naturally vigilant. The most important thing right now is that you never let her practise ignoring the recall cue off-lead, because every time she blows it off, that pattern reinforces itself. That's where a long line is non-negotiable. Can I ask — where are you doing most of your training? Pavement walks, a park, a car park, somewhere else? That'll help me suggest the right line length.

Perfect — a large park with some distractions is actually ideal for this kind of work. For the long line, I'd go with the Trixie Long Line Lead, 10 metres, in biothane or nylon. It gives you enough distance to let her move naturally and build the habit of turning back to you, without the risk of her getting away if she locks onto something. For treats, Xolos tend to be food-motivated when the reward is genuinely high-value — I'd recommend Forthglade 100% Natural Liver Treats. They're soft, smelly, and small enough to use in rapid repetition without filling her up. The combination of those two things — long line so she can't rehearse the wrong behaviour, and liver treats so coming back is always worth it — is where I'd start before anything else.

Exactly right — dragging her back is the one thing to avoid. The line is a safety net, not a tool for reeling her in. Let it trail on the ground while she explores. When you call her, use a bright, upbeat tone — one cue only, not repeated — and if she doesn't respond, you can apply very gentle pressure on the line to interrupt the distraction, then the moment she turns toward you, release and reward heavily with the liver treats the instant she reaches you. The key is that arriving at you should always feel like the best thing that happened in her day. Once she's hitting 80–90% recall on the long line with genuine distractions around her, you can start working on transitioning to off-lead in a secure area.

They're not the hardest, but they're not the easiest either. Xolos are alert, sensitive, and form very strong bonds with their owners — which is actually a real advantage once you've built the training foundation, because they do want to be near you. The challenge at 9 months is that adolescence plus an urban environment plus a breed that's wired to notice everything creates a perfect storm of distraction. Stick with the long line, keep sessions short — five to ten minutes — and use those liver treats exclusively for recall practice so they stay special. You'll likely see meaningful improvement within three to four weeks of consistent work.