How to teach your dog recall

Most dog parents have been here… You’re at your favourite dog-friendly beach, your pooch has decided to take off after spotting a new friend to play with. And, try as you might, you just can’t get him to come back.

You repeat his name time and time again, but you know he’s flat-out ignoring you in favour of whatever he’s sniffed out. Frustrating, right?

Dog recall training is handy in so many instances! This is where dog recall training comes in handy. It’s like the canine version of a boomerang!

You may also hear it referred to as “reliable recall”, which is a term often used by dog trainers.

If the above scenario sounds exactly like you and your pupper, we’ve put together some recall training tips to help turn the situation around.

Why is dog recall important?

Among all the easy dog tricks and commands you can teach your pooch, recall might just be the most important.

If your dog is ever roaming off-leash, being able to come on command is crucial. It prevents your dog from running off and getting into trouble, especially in an area that isn’t fenced off.

You can use recall at the dog park, beach, or in social settings with lots of dogs and people. Good recall isn’t just about obedience. It’s about:

Safety (cars, other dogs, rogue kebabs on the footpath)
Freedom (more off-lead time, more adventures)
Trust (your dog believes coming back is always a good idea)

Teach your dog recall in 3 steps

Dog recall training in 3 steps:

Step 1: Start where success is guaranteed

Begin in a distraction-free zone, like your living room or hallway.

Say your cue once – their name or “come”, for example – then immediately make yourself interesting by:

Stepping backwards (or crouching down)
Opening your arms
Sounding excited (no shame in using a silly voice!)

The moment they move toward you, reward instantly.

What you’re teaching them is:

Cue = movement toward human = good things happen

Step 2: Make coming back feel like a jackpot

This is not the time for polite “good dog.” This is the time for making them feel like a superstar!

Try using a particular toy, or some ultra-delicious dog treats… Whatever you use, make sure the incentive is something they only get during training.

This ensures your dog can differentiate between regular and special treats, and is more likely to respond to the command. After all, why go the extra mile if they know they can get the very same treat any old day?

Positive reinforcement training means rewarding any kind of progress, whether it’s merely looking at you (hopefully with the intent to come on over) or successfully plonking themselves down at your feet.

Step 3: Add distractions like seasoning, not a tsunami

Once recall works indoors, slowly level up. By this, we mean moving your training outdoors. Start with a quiet backyard or courtyard, then a quiet public space like a park (outside of peak time). Once you feel they’re mastering their dog recall training in these settings, move to a slightly busier environment so you’re peppering in the distractions in small doses!

If they start ignoring you, it’s a sign that they’re not ready (AKA. the environment is too stimulating). In this case, dial it back, re-build success, then progress again.

Some extra tips & tricks when dog recall training:

One thing to note when doing recall training outdoors: never chase your dog if they start to run.
They may see this as a game and take off, or worse, head straight into a dangerous situation. Instead, run away from your dog using your chosen recall command, in an effort to make them chase you.
Avoid using recall only when you need to go home from somewhere like the dog park or beach.
Your dog will start to associate recall with what they perceive as a negative experience, ending their fun. Instead, use recall a few times throughout their activities so they can go back to enjoying themselves. That way, they’ll see the command as a neutral one.
Use a long training lead so your dog has freedom, but you still have backup control. In the training phase, call them in between different actions, like: mid-sniff investigation, mid-zoomies, or mid-“I’ve discovered ancient secrets in this bush”.

Gameify your dog recall training:

If you’d like to make recall training a little more fun, here’s a few games you can play:

Hide and seek

Level-up your recall training with a game of hide and seek at home. All you need to do is slip into another room and call your dog using your chosen command. As soon as they find you, reward them with a treat or belly rub. Then, you can hide in a different room to continue the game.

Collective calling

If you’ve got friends and family keen to get in on the fun, this is a great game to play. Get the group to stand in a circle, each with a treat in hand. Take it in turns to call your dog using your chosen recall command. Then, get whoever called your dog to reward them with a treat. Not only is this game very entertaining for your dog, but it also gets them used to being called by other people.

Run and catch

This activity is ideal in a fenced-in outdoor area. Grab a bag of your dog’s favourite treats and place a single treat on the ground. As they’re gobbling it up, run away from your dog and use your chosen recall command to get them to come over to you. When they do, place another treat on the ground, run away, and repeat the command. We can guarantee your doggo will get a real thrill out of chasing you around!

Want to know how to start dog recall training?

Ready to give dog recall training a red-hot go?

As with most skills, it’s easiest to teach recall when your dog is still a puppy. However, it’s not entirely impossible to teach an old dog new tricks. It’ll just take a bit of extra time and patience.

If you’re not full of time and patience, one of our experienced Dog Trainers can help!
Find a Dog Trainer near you >

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