Recall is a behavior in which our dog comes to us when called. For example, our dog is chasing squirrels in the yard. We call out “HERE!” and our dog comes running back inside the house. Simple. 

As many of us have experienced, recall is anything but simple. We watch our dog continue to chase the squirrel while we repeatedly call our dog and shake the treat bag. We are convinced that our dog knows to come when called and are choosing to ignore us. So why is it so difficult for our dog to reliably come when called? 

Training our dog to come when called takes daily training, high-value rewards, and consistent practice across different locations and distractions. A reliable recall offers our dog more freedom as well as the security of knowing we can call our dog away from dangerous situations.  

This guide will cover strategies for building a strong and fast recall to take your training to the next level, no matter where you are in your journey. At the end, you will find a two-month training protocol you can use or customize to start your recall training.

Choose Your Recall Cue

Pick a recall cue or command that you’ll remember and feel comfortable using every time—consistency matters more than the exact word. Common options include a whistle, “come,” “here,” “quick,” or your dog’s name paired with one of those words. For dogs hard of hearing, use a clear visual cue, like opening your arms wide or clapping your hands above your head. If your dog has a history of ignoring their current cue, start fresh with a new one. 

Setup for Success

Effective recall training requires many repetitions of our dog pairing their recall cue with successfully returning to us. Start in controlled, low-distraction environments and then work your way up to real-world challenges. The goal is to make recall into a reflex: as soon as your dog hears their recall cue, they come sprinting to you before they have time to register what they are leaving.

Train in those situations where you know your dog can successfully respond to the cue at least 80% of the time. It may not be the best time to train when our dog is chasing squirrels… yet. A good place to start is indoors with few distractions and during games like fetch when returning to you is something they will already do. It’s important for your dog to win frequently and build a drive to perform the recall again!  

Once your dog is able to reliably recall on the cue 95% of the time in one situation, slowly introduce more challenges, like changing where you train or what distractions are present. For example, for the dog that loves to chase squirrels in the yard, practice recall while they are looking at squirrels through a window or outside in the yard when no squirrels are present. 

Make a list of situations when you would like to have a reliable recall, such as the dog park, off-leash hiking, or if your dog gets out of the yard. Then break these goals into smaller training steps that you can work through. Think about ways to train for a situation, rather than in the situation.

Start Close

Start training at short distances when you are more likely to have your dog’s focus. Stand a couple of feet away from your dog and say your recall cue. As soon as your dog looks in your direction, back up to create distance. Encourage your dog to move quickly towards you by clapping or whistling. If you have the space, say your recall cue and then run away from them. Dogs love to chase and this can teach our dog to run, not walk, when called! 

Once your dog is reliably recalling when you’re close, slowly add distance in 5–10-foot increments. Continue backing up or running away to encourage your dog to move quickly in your direction. 

Train with a Leash

Even in a minimally distracting environment, our dog may still struggle to respond to their recall cue. Train with your dog on a leash or long line, even indoors. The leash will build reliability by limiting opportunities for your dog to become too distracted and not respond to the recall cue. The leash is also a safety net when training in unsecured areas or around distractions. Use leashes of varying lengths, such as 15, 30, and 50 feet, to practice recall at progressively greater distances. When moving to off-leash training, start with a long line dropped on the ground so you still have control. 

Practice Everyday

Aim to practice recall at least 10 times a day. Keep sessions short—try a few repetitions at a time, then take a break. Include some practice when your dog is not expecting it. Excitedly say your recall cue when your dog is calmly chewing on a toy or wandering around a room. This will create a bright and fast response to the recall cue even when our dog is not anticipating it. 

Reward Experiences

Recall training is about building a strong foundation that returning to you is well worth it for your dog! We want them to know that coming when called under many different situations means they will predictably receive amazing experiences—food, play, affection, and sometimes being able to return to what they were doing. Always reward your dog for successful recalls regardless of what your dog was doing before they were called. Recall should be a positive experience that our dog wants to do again!

What a dog finds rewarding ultimately depends on them. It’s not what we think the dog should work for. Make a list of things that your dog LOVES. If it’s food, what kind of food? Common favorites are cheese, hotdog, chicken, freeze-dried fish or organ meat. Recall training is the time to use the special, coveted treats that your dog rarely receives! 

What activities does your dog enjoy—tug, fetch, sniffing? If your dog loves to play tug or fetch, choose one or two of their favorite toys and bring them out specifically for recall training. Otherwise, keep the special toys stored away so your dog will be excited the next time they come out. 

Reward Generously

Every time your dog comes when called, throw a party! Give them lots of verbal praise and offer at least five amazing treats, one at a time, while your dog is very close to your body, within arm’s reach. Recalling is not easy for dogs, so let’s reward them well for that choice. 

If we consistently end each recall with multiple treats in a row, the dog will naturally wait next to us, anticipating more. This is a great start to training an end sequence such as your dog sitting or standing next to you until released. This is particularly important for off-leash moments when you need your dog to wait long enough for you to put the leash back on.

There are few things more frustrating than a drive-by recal—your dog comes running straight to you, quickly grabs the treat from your out-stretched hand and takes off again! 

Match the Experience

When training around specific distractions, consider the experience the distraction offers your dog. Why would your dog chase squirrels, dig in the trashcan, or chew on furniture? Part of your reward can be offering a similar experience that the distraction offers. For example: 

• Recalling away from squirrels = lots of amazing treats and playing tug or fetch.
• Recalling away from an open trashcan = lots of amazing treats.
• Recalling away from chewing on furniture = lots of amazing treats and offering an appropriate chew.

Party and Release

Another great reward option is releasing your dog back to the very distraction or activity they were doing when recalled! Your dog doesn’t have to choose between you or the environment, they can have both! At least half of recalls should end with your dog being able to return to what they were doing as long as the activity is safe and positive. For example: 

• Recalling from other dogs in the dogpark = lots of amazing treats and releasing them back to play.
• Recalling from the pet store entrance = lots of amazing treats and going into the store. 
• Recalling from a human friend = lots of amazing treats and allowing your dog to greet. 

Keep the Recall Cue Positive

Avoid recalling your dog and following with an activity they will not enjoy, like a bath or leaving the dog park. It is possible to accidentally pair a recall cue with something they find punishing—return to me and the fun is over. For these types of situations, walk over to the dog to leash them, use another cue like a hand target, or make attention-getting sounds (whistles, clapping, etc.). 

There will be times when you cannot adequately reward your dog for a good recall, but with a strong history of positive experiences, a few missed moments won’t undo your progress. 

Troubleshooting Tips

Even with the best laid plans, there will be times (many times), that your dog will not come running when they hear their cue. If your dog does not respond to their recall cue, use other ways of getting your dog’s attention.

• Make lots of high-pitch, attention-getting sounds (whistles, kissy sounds, clapping, etc.). 
• Get closer to them and repeat the attention-getting sounds. 
• Walk backwards while holding the leash and applying consistent leash pressure. 
• Avoid repeating your recall cue! This only weakens the cue and the dog will start to tune it out.  

As soon as your dog turns and looks in your direction, back up with lots of verbal encouragement. Make yourself more enticing by running away. Dogs love to chase so make yourself worth chasing! 

Once your dog reaches you, reward them generously. It doesn’t matter that they didn’t come immediately, you want them to wish they came sooner! 

If you are relying on using other prompts (attention-getting sounds, reducing the distance, and leash pressure) for your dog to return to you, the training setup may be too difficult. Consider practicing with easier distractions or increasing the value of the treats you are using. Biscuit treats may work well inside the home, but you may need to switch to chicken jerky in the yard. 

Management

While you are working on recall, have real expectations of what your dog can do in different situations and consider other ways to keep them safe. 

• Keep your dog on a leash or longline in unsecured areas or around difficult distractions. 
• Use fenced-in areas like dogparks, tennis courts, doggie daycares, and Sniffspot to search for fenced-in yards for rent. 
• To prevent escapes from your home, use gates to block off doorways and have more than one way to secure yard gates. 

Recall training takes a lot of time and patience. It’s very difficult for our dogs to ‘give up’ something that they were doing and return to us. We need to understand what we are asking of our dogs and make sure we are setting them up to succeed. Recall is one of the most important behaviors we can teach our dogs, so let’s make it impossible for our dogs to not hear us!  

Ready to get started? Here is a simple two-month training protocol to help jumpstart your recall journey: A 2-Month Recall Training Plan!