How To Teach Your Dog To Reliably Come When Called

• Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.

Recall, or “come,” is an essential training skill for dogs. It might seem less important for pups in urban environments where off-leash opportunities are limited—but if your dog gets loose, the ability to call them back can be critical.

“A strong recall can literally save a dog’s life,” said Alexandra Bassett, founder and head dog trainer at Dog Savvy Positive Dog Training. “Recall also makes everyday life easier and more enjoyable. A great recall isn’t just about obedience—it’s about safety, trust, giving your dog more freedom, and having a good relationship with your dog.”

A rock-solid recall can be hard to teach. With Bassett’s help, we review step-by-step instructions, plus troubleshooting tips and FAQs.

How To Teach Recall or “Come”

Teaching a dog to come when called involves positive reinforcement and four key steps you’ll want to practice and build on over time.

• Step 1: Build positive associations between you, your dog, and their name.
• Step 2: Encourage movement toward you.
• Step 3: Progress to simple recall games.
• Step 4: Practice, practice, practice.

Step 1: Building positive associations

“The best way to teach a dog to come when called is to make coming to you one of the most rewarding things they do all day,” explains Bassett. “Rather than relying on repetition or corrections, focus on creating a strong positive association with turning toward you and running in your direction.”

Here’s what to do:

• Start inside or in a low-distraction area, like a fenced-in backyard.
• Pick a high-value treat or reward your dog loves (think something out of the ordinary, like cheese, shredded chicken, low-sodium hot dogs, etc.).
• Start by using your dog’s name as the initial recall cue, and give them a reward every time they look at you when you say it.

Step 2: Encouraging movement toward you

Once your pup reliably responds to their name and cue, Bassett recommends incorporating the “Call Once & Collar Grab” game into recall training sessions.

1. Stand in front of your dog.
2. Say their name once.
3. Gently grab their collar and give them a treat.
4. Repeat 5 times.

When your dog understands the pattern, start adding movement:

1. Say your dog’s name.
2. Take a few steps backward.
3. Wait for your dog to come to you.
4. When they arrive, gently grab their collar and reward them.
5. Repeat 5 times.

“The collar grab is important because many dogs learn to avoid people reaching for them if reaching predicts the end of fun,” said Bassett. “By pairing collar grabs with rewards, your dog learns that being caught is a good thing.”

Step 3: Progressing to simple recall games

Once your dog has the collar game down, Bassett recommends playing the “Cookie in the Corner” recall game.

1. Hold your dog’s collar.
2. Toss a treat a short distance away and tell them to “Search!”
3. Release them to find the treat.
4. As soon as they finish eating it, call their name and run in the opposite direction.
5. When your dog catches up to you, reward with treats, tug, praise, or another favorite game.

To add a layer of difficulty, get another person involved for a restrained recall game:

1. One person gently holds the dog’s harness or collar.
2. The other person gets the dog’s attention, calls their name, and runs away while acting excited and fun.
3. After a brief pause, the handler releases the dog.
4. The dog sprints toward the caller and is rewarded with treats or a fun game of tug.

“Restrained recalls are especially effective because they tap into a dog’s natural instincts to chase, pursue, and ‘catch’ you since you become the ‘prey’ in this game,” said Bassett.

“Instead of teaching your dog that recall is something they have to do, you’re teaching them that running to you is the most exciting game in the world. Over time, that emotional enthusiasm becomes the foundation of a fast, reliable recall, even when distractions are present.”

Step 4: Practice, practice, practice

Once your pup has the above skills down, continue to gradually practice and progress in more distracting spaces. For example, if you started indoors, try playing these games in your backyard or driveway, then in quiet parks or other outdoor areas that still allow your dog to focus on you.

When starting outdoor training sessions, Bassett recommends using 15- to 20-foot long lines/leashes for safety. “Long lines allow your dog to explore while still giving you control if they become distracted or decide to run off,” says Bassett.

Keep offering big rewards with lots of enthusiasm. If you hit a snag, go back to a quieter area—dog distraction is a good sign that you may have increased the difficulty too quickly.

Should You Teach an Emergency Recall?

Once your pup has the cue for “come” down, some trainers recommend choosing a new word for an “emergency recall.”

A regular recall teaches your dog to come when called using a standard cue that you use often, whereas an emergency recall teaches your dog to come using a unique word that you use sparingly—and pair with novel, hugely high-value treats.

You’ll teach an emergency recall using the same steps above, but with a more unusual, exciting treat that you didn’t use before in combination with your unique word.

When it comes to choosing an emergency recall word, you want it to be easy to understand and yell in the event of panic. Some of the most popular include:

• “Cheese”
• “Chicken”
• “Treat party” or just “party”
• “Pronto”
• “Hustle”

If you’ve successfully taught an emergency recall cue, your dog will understand to stop everything and come when it’s called. To keep it strong, pair it with an extra enticing reward every time.

Tips & Troubleshooting

Training recall isn’t always linear—some days you’ll cruise, and others you might have to backtrack. Here are some of the most common problems pet parents encounter when teaching their dog to come, plus what to do about them.

Your dog ignores you when called

Bassett points to three common reasons your dog might ignore you when called:

1. The distraction is more rewarding than the treat they’ll get for coming
2. You haven’t practiced enough in your current environment
3. You’ve progressed too quickly to a more difficult setting

When this happens, avoid repeating your dog’s name over and over again. Instead, walk over to your dog and gently guide them to a new spot, away from distraction, and try again.

“Every time a dog hears a recall cue and chooses not to respond, they’re learning that coming when called is optional,” said Bassett. “By calmly following through and helping your dog succeed, you maintain the meaning of the cue and prevent your dog from rehearsing the wrong behavior.”

Practicing at the wrong time

Some pet parents make the mistake of practicing recall at the end of an exciting event—like ending a playtime session, before leaving the dog park, or before going inside. “If recalls consistently predict the end of fun, many dogs begin avoiding their owners when called,” says Bassett.

Instead, Bassett recommends frequently calling your dog, rewarding them with treats and praise, and then releasing them back to their fun activity. That way, a recall doesn’t always mean the fun is over.

Increasing distractions too quickly

If what worked in one environment isn’t working in another, you might have tried to level up too quickly. “A dog that comes running in the living room may not be ready to respond around squirrels, other dogs, or exciting smells,” explains Bassett.

Don’t be afraid to take a step back if your pup seems to be struggling in a more advanced environment.

You may need a different motivator

If your dog isn’t responding, you might need a more enticing reward. Rewards can be anything that might motivate your dog, including food, toys, verbal praise, physical praise, or environmental reinforcers such as sniffing or chasing.

What To Do if You’re Stuck

Teaching a dog to come is a marathon, not a sprint. It takes time and patience to build a reliable recall. You’re also not alone in this! If it seems like your dog just isn’t getting it, it might be time to call in a dog trainer.

“A professional trainer can dramatically speed up the recall training process by helping pet parents avoid common mistakes, introducing effective training games, and creating a structured training plan that progresses at the right pace for the individual dog,” says Bassett.

Not sure where to start? Find dog trainers near you using Rover.