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Dog recall is essential for your pup’s safety, so they can enjoy the benefits of being off lead.

This blog post will give you 4 clear cut steps from a professional dog trainer to making dog recall simpler than ever before.

If you want your dog to come to you, then they have to see you as a more exciting stimulus than what’s in their environment. 

A simple guide is to run back a couple steps, call your dog’s name and say “come” in a exciting, and happy tone – getting down low can help you appear less intimidating too.

If you want a more specific guide with exact steps, then keep reading below.

Every time you ask your dog to come to you, you’re asking them to turn away from other stimuli.

If you positively associate your dog paying attention to you with a high quality treat, then they will start paying more attention to you.

4 Easy Steps For Teaching “Come”

Supplies You’ll Need:

– A quiet space

– A long leash (more than 10 feet)

– Valuable Training Treats

– 15 to 20 minutes of time a day

– Patience

Step 1

Summary: Sit down with your puppy and say the word “come”.

Start indoors with short distances, 10 feet or less, and catch your dog’s attention by cheerfully using their name.

If your dog responds by looking at you, do things like patting your legs or clapping for extra motivation.

Only use your verbal cue when they are coming towards you. This pairs the action you want with the word. If they don’t respond or look at you, go to them and when trying again, begin with a shorter distance this time.

Tip: Each time you say “come/name” give your puppy a treat. Do this without expecting anything from your puppy yet – repeat the word and give your puppy a treat.

Step 2

As you progress, increase the distance and move to different rooms.

If challenges arise, go back to the initial room for additional practice. Consistency is key for you to actually see results. 

Tip – As your dog becomes more skilled at this exercise – test the cue. Use it before the action and see if they come. If not, keep pairing the word with the action.

Step 3

Introduce mild distractions like their favourite chew toy, during “come” practice. Reward them for successfully navigating distractions.

Tip – Make sure your dog comes to you all the way when called to ensure they complete the entire skill. 

Step 4

Once indoor recalls are mastered, it’s time to go outdoors. Start in the backyard or a quiet outdoor area, advance to parks, steadily increasing distances, and adding more distractions.

This gradual approach helps build a reliable recall in various environments, and gives you and your dog the confidence to use it anywhere.

Tip – Use a long line to safely practice recall outside! Long lines are available in lengths from 10ft to 100ft! I recommend starting with a 10′ or 20′ to practice.

Why is it Important for my Dog to Learn Recall?

• It keeps your dog out of dangerous situations – Prevent your dog from ingesting something toxic, darting into traffic, or encountering a potentially dangerous wild creature, such as a raccoon.
• Imagine your dog being able to socialize with other dogs at the dog park, to have fun during a play session in the backyard and still come back to you at any point during your cue

The next step to ensuring your dog’s recall is reliable in all situations is to introduce distractions commonly encountered in everyday life.

How Can I Add More Distractions Into The Environment

Adding in distractions into your training makes your dog training as close to the real world as possible, which makes your training as relevant and productive as possible.

Here are different distractions which you can add in to make your dog recall more reliable. Obviously, some distractions are more stimulating to your dog than others so it’s important to focus on training with them:

1. Favourite Chew Toy 🧸

Begin with your dog’s favourite chew toy. Have it nearby but not directly in their line of sight. As you call your dog, observe how well they respond with the tempting distraction present. 

2. Food Distractions 🍗

Place a few treats or their regular food on the floor. This simulates scenarios where your dog might be tempted by food in the environment. Monitor their response to the recall command.

3. Other Pets 🐈

If you have other pets, introduce them into the training area. This adds a social distraction. Ensure that the other pets are well-behaved and won’t cause stress to your dog.

4. Outdoor Sounds 🔊

As you transition to outdoor training, introduce your dog to mild outdoor sounds like birds chirping, distant traffic, or rustling leaves. These noises can be initially subtle and progressively louder.

5. People Passing By 👥

Train in an area where people might walk by. Initially, have someone walk at a distance, and later, gradually decrease the distance to mimic scenarios where strangers might be present.

6. Playful Distractions 🪀

Enlist the help of a friend or family member to engage in playful activities, such as throwing a ball or playing with another dog nearby. This adds an element of excitement that your dog needs to resist when responding to your recall.

7. Unfamiliar Environments 🌤️

Take your dog to different locations for training. Start in familiar places like your backyard, then progress to parks or quiet streets. The goal is to introduce your dog to various environments and maintain their focus on your recall cue.

8. Inclement Weather 🌧️

Train in different weather conditions, such as light rain or a gentle breeze. This helps your dog adapt to external factors that might be present when you need them to respond.

Where do people usually go wrong with recall training?

• Don’t fall into the trap of repeatedly calling your dog from a distance; be close enough to entice them with treats and enthusiasm.
• Avoid unintentionally teaching your dog to ignore you by not allowing them to ignore your calls. If you’re uncertain about their recall, stay close to use treats and a lively call.
• Punishing your dog upon return is counterproductive, as it associates negativity with coming back to you. Instead, redirect their behavior with a different command, reward compliance, and calmly leash them.

• For dogs with strong scent or play drives, choose opportune moments to call them back. Consider using a short ribbon on their collar for added control during off-leash training. Waiting until breaks in scent tracking or play sessions increases the likelihood of a successful recall.
• Encountering setbacks in dog recall training can be discouraging. Typically, when a dog fails to respond as expected, it’s because they’re being asked to perform an action they haven’t been trained for. Responding to the command to come when there are no novel distractions is distinct from returning when someone else is offering treats.

Secrets to Make Recall Training More Productive:

1. Use high-value rewards, like special treats, for positive reinforcement during dog training.
2. Explore non-food rewards, such as walks, toys, and praise, to reinforce positive behavior.
3. Start practicing commands indoors before moving to more distracting outdoor environments, gradually building reliability.
4. Avoid unintentionally punishing your dog for obeying recall commands by associating them with activities they dislike.
5. Use specific commands like “here” or “come” instead of just the dog’s name for better training results.
6. Ensure your dog fully comes to you when using the “come” command to avoid confusion and maintain consistency in training.

If you did want a video tutorial for how to get your dog to come when called, I recommend this video from Zak George below:

Takeaway

If you want your dog to come to you full of trust and joy every time, then you need to factor in engaging training time with your dog.

It may require some patience, but by using the correct techniques presented in this blog your dog will begin to understand it over time.

If you wanted a professional dog trainer to give you a guiding hand in helping teach your dog any skill you want, while working within your busy daily schedule, then check out our custom plan below.

If you want to feel confident that your dog will come to your call in any situation whether it’s at a dog park, or in a busy street, then our Custom 1:1 plan will help build an excellent recall for your pup.

Let us know what cue word you’ve decided to use, and what kind of dog you have below 👇