Yoga Balls & Recall: Training for the Real World
If you’ve ever watched your dog vanish after a deer, rabbit or squirrel, you’ll know how quickly instinct takes over. Recall cues disappear in an instant, and it’s SO stressful as the owner standing there praying our dog will come back. The challenge is how to get our dogs to hear us when their adrenaline is sky high and their prey drive is in full swing?
Many trainers will suggest we put a lid on the dog's energy, always keeping them ‘below threshold,’ but if we don’t practice at these levels, we can never move beyond the leads and long lines, and we end up having no trust in our dogs. The key is not to avoid arousal but to practise in it. If we want our dogs to succeed when it matters, we need to meet them in that state of excitement and teach them how to make choices while their body chemistry is firing.
But we don’t want to offer up the park’s rabbits and squirrels as tributes… so that’s where the yoga ball comes in.
Why a Yoga Ball?
The yoga ball’s light, unpredictable movement mimics prey. It bounces, rolls, slips away and can be manipulated, even by smaller dogs (don’t ever tell a daxie they can’t!). Unlike endless games of fetch that become a repetitive habit, the yoga ball is dynamic. It excites your dog while keeping the game safe and controlled.
This is our chance to practise recall and focus when the energy is high. By teaching start and stop cues, your dog learns how to switch between drive and calm. The more they rehearse this with you, the more likely they are to be able to hear you when a squirrel dashes across your path.
How It Works
Keep it short at first. Let your dog chase for a few seconds, then pause. If you don’t have recall yet you can keep them on a long line so you can help them to bring the energy down if they can’t regulate themselves yet.
Add clear cues. “Get it”, “stop” or “ready” help structure the game and make you part of the fun.
Build gradually. Increase both play time and rest so your dog learns to self-regulate.
Layer in what they already know. Once your dog can start and stop, you can ask for downs, watch-me, or twists.
This way, your dog builds resilience against the flood of adrenaline that usually carries them away. Instead of going rogue, they learn that staying with you keeps the game alive and that it’s a whole lot of fun!
More Than a Game
The yoga ball is more than just recall-proofing. It’s a way to strengthen your bond, practise impulse control and turn prey drive into cooperation. Dogs learn that you are part of the chase. You become the constant, even in the most exciting moments.
Inside our Predator Within course, we take this further. We work with dogs at every stage, from those who are suspicious of the yoga ball and need a gentle introduction, to those who play happily, to those who it drives completely wild. Whatever the starting point, we can shape the game to build a pause, spark their thinking brain and keep them engaged with you.
This is what sits at the heart of the course. We don’t suppress instinct, we work with it. We use it to build recall, focus and trust.
Why not give the yoga ball a go for fun, and if you love it, explore the rest of the games inside the course.
👉 To celebrate this month’s theme being focused on recall, we’re giving you exclusive access to 15% off The Predator Within course. Proof your dog’s recall with games that work in real life - grab the offer before it’s gone.
