Mastering the art of dog recall training

There’s nothing like calling for your dog to come back, only for them to look straight at you before carrying on with whatever they were doing. Is it because they’re away with the fairies, they’ve got “selective” hearing, or simply that they haven’t got to grips with their dog recall training? Teaching your four-pawed pal to come when called is in everyone’s best interest; it keeps dogs safe in an emergency, reduces the chances of losing them, and makes walkies much more enjoyable for everyone involved. Recall dog training is one of the most important things your furry friend will learn, but where do you even begin?! 

What is recall in dog training?

Recall training for dogs teaches your four-pawed pal to drop what they’re doing and run over to you when called. Sounds great, right? It’s a crucial part of the training process, and in an ideal world, a dog with “reliable recall” skills will come when called 99% of the time. Whether your furry friend’s got a taste for other people’s picnics or adventuring solo, it’s an important skill to teach your dog to ensure both their own safety and the wellbeing of those around them. 

How to teach recall for dogs

So now you understand the importance of recall training, but do you know how to teach a dog recall? 

We recommend starting off at home, ideally in a small, contained environment with as little distraction as possible. Once your pooch pal’s had a sniff around, they’ll likely come up to you to say hello. Reward this behavior with praise and a high-value treat or their favorite toy - you don’t need to give any verbal cues at this point, the aim is to simply show your furry friend that being close to you is rewarding in itself.

Repeat this a few times, and once your furry friend’s got the hang of it you can add in your verbal cue, “come” or “here”. This will help your pooch pal associate the word with the action of coming to you, and teach them that they’ll get rewarded for their good behavior. Practice this daily and gradually test your furry friend’s skills a little further by adding distance between the two of you. 

Once you feel comfortable with your dog’s recall at home, it’s time to put them to the test in the real world. Remember to take baby steps; start off in an enclosed area like a backyard before taking the leap at the dog park, which is the ultimate test of your dog’s recall skills as it’s full of distractions. Once you’ve made it to the dog park level, continue your dog recall training just as you were by calling your furry friend over and rewarding them. At this stage, it’s really important to avoid putting your dog on the leash and taking them home once you’ve called them over, as this will teach them that this is the end result. Most pooch pals don’t want the fun and games to be over, and doing this can lead them to associate the recall cue with something negative (aka hometime). 

Dog recall training games

Why not make your standard training sessions a little more fun with some recall games?

• Catch: Go for a walk with your furry friend on a long leash. Get their attention and call out your recall cue before running a few steps ahead. If your pup runs after you, remember to give them lots of praise and a tasty treat. 
• Hide and seek: If your four-pawed pal’s got to grips with recall training at home, you could up the ante by hiding somewhere in your house and then calling out your verbal cue. Your dog should come running and of course, they deserve a reward once they find you!   
• Fetch: Ah, the age-old classic! Telling your furry friend to “come back” during a game of fetch teaches them how to keep the game going (and saves your legs!). Don’t forget to reward your dog by tossing the ball again. 

Recall training tips 

• Rewards: While dogs love a scratch behind the ears, a tasty treat is usually the way to their heart. Don’t worry about the number of treats your furry friend is enjoying at the initial training stages - the important part is getting your dog to learn the skill. 
• Take it slow: Learning new skills takes time, and it’s important to be patient with your dog during training sessions. Never show signs of frustration - this will lead your pup to associate recall training with negativity. 
• Be consistent: Complete short, regular training sessions with your buddy and get the whole family involved so it’s not one rule with you and another with someone else.

Things to avoid when dog recall training

If you’re having trouble teaching your furry friend to come, there’s a chance you may have “poisoned” the verbal cue. This can happen for a variety of reasons:

• Negative associations: It’s widely understood that physical punishment has no place in dog training, but you may be punishing your pup without even knowing it. A common mistake many pet parents make is calling their dogs to come, then putting the leash straight on and heading home from the park. If your furry friend associates your recall cue with an end to all the fun, this will seem like a punishment to them. 
• Overuse of verbal cue: If your dog hears the same word time and time again, it can become meaningless to them and they may end up ignoring you. 
• Unclear meaning of verbal cue: If the cue isn’t practiced time and time again, the meaning can get lost at some point along the way. 

If you’ve accidentally “poisoned” the verbal cue, you may need to go back a step in the training process or switch the word you use. If you decide to replace the recall cue with something like “here” or “close”, go back to the very first step and re-teach your dog, this time avoiding any of the mistakes you made previously.

Dog recall training is an important part of ensuring your furry friend’s living their best life. Mastering this skill enables them the freedom to explore off the leash without pet parents or dog sitters having to worry about where they’ve gone or what they’re up to. If you’re interested in enlisting the help of a professional dog trainer, check out our guide to finding local puppy training classes.