Teaching recall or for a dog to “come” is an essential training skill for dogs to learn. While the cue might seem less important for pups in urban environments where off-leash opportunities are limited, teaching recall could be lifesaving if your dog squeezes through an open door or gate. Dogs are easily distracted, and their curiosity can sometimes lead them into dangerous situations, such as oncoming traffic. When your dog recklessly ventures towards danger or strays too far from your sight, you need them to respond to your voice above all else.
“There are no specific cues that a dog needs to start learning prior to recall training,” says Renee Rhoades, MSc, an applied animal behaviorist and founder of R+Dogs. To teach a dog to come, introduce them to the recall cue using positive reinforcement. Then, gradually practice recall in a setting with more and more distractions.
Recall training can be frustrating, especially for first-time pet parents. Your dog may come once and not again, or be inconsistent. Luckily, Rhoades gives us the foundation for a solid recall in easy-to-follow steps.
1. Always Pair “Come” with a Reward
Begin by building a strong association between the recall cue (“come“ or a whistle) and a reward. With your dog seated near you, say the cue and immediately provide a treat or praise. You’ll repeat this step multiple times over multiple days to create a conditioned response to the word.
2. Practice Distance with Recall
Once your dog associates the recall cue with a reward, it’s time to add some distance. Start from a few steps away and then graduate to further distances. The ultimate test will be hiding in an accessible spot in your home (not outdoors just yet!) and call your dog to come find you.
When they successfully locate you, enthusiastically reward them. Positive and fun games reinforce the recall behavior by making you the exciting part!
3. Practice In a Secure Outdoor Space
After your pup consistently finds you indoors, they’re ready to put their recall skills to the test in a secure outdoor space, such as a fenced-in backyard. If you don’t have a backyard, you can use SniffSpot to rent one.
Another option is getting to the dog park at odd hours. Even five minutes of recall can be helpful before you release your dog to explore freely.
Continue practicing the recall and rewarding the behavior, gradually increasing the distance between you and your dog.
Note: Practice this during varying levels of distraction, such as when your neighbors are out, other dogs are walking by, and when no one is around.
4. Call Your Dog When You Know They’ll Respond
When starting out in the real world, call your dog when they have the fewest distractions. Use the long lead to ensure your dog’s safety, and avoid pulling your dog toward you. Switch to a shorter lead only when you’re confident of their recall skills.
Other tips for building a solid recall outdoors:
- Make sure your dog comes all the way to you before you reward
- Increase their high-value rewards in more difficult, distracting spaces
- Move recall training back indoors, if your dog struggles outside
- Avoid pairing punishment or rough handling with recall
- Avoid using your dog’s name as a recall
- Have multiple recall words for different scenarios
It’s critical to not rush any of these steps, Rhoades says. “We want to give a dog as much time as possible on learning recall because it is such a challenging behavior for [them] to learn,” she adds.
Not only is mastering recall with your dog a great way to strengthen your bond, but it can make leaving your canine with a pet sitter or dog boarding facility far safer too.
Why You Should Practice an “Emergency” Recall Too
An emergency recall is a word you want your dog to associate with “Come to me no matter what”. It’s useful for stressful situations or environments where you want your dog to exit immediately.
The best way to build an emergency recall is to practice perfect recall each time with a lot of enthusiasm and excitement. Essentially, you’ll scream a magic word (a popular one is “Treat party!”) and act like your dog saved a life when they come to you.
Here are two ways to train for an emergency recall:
- Announce loudly the word “Treat Party” and begin dolling out treats to your dog as they are next to you. Your dog should be amazed by the amount of treats they’re receiving.
- Use a food reward of the highest value that your dog only gets for coming when they hear your emergency word. For this, it’s best to have someone help hold your dog as you let them sniff the treat (we like beef gravy baby food). The person should let go when you use the emergency recall, and you will see your dog bound to you.
It’s also normal for recall skills to fluctuate. Puppies tend to follow us closely, but as they enter adolescence, they may assert more independence. Recall skills can also vary depending on the day and the environment.
iStock/Hirurg
Reasons Why Your Dog Won’t Come When Called
Dog training isn’t linear—sometimes you’ll make progress, other times it’s time to step back. Here are the most common problems pet parents might have when teaching their dog to come.
- You’re rushing the process
- You’re ignoring your dog’s fear or anxiety
- You’re pairing recall with negative experiences
- You’re using your dog’s name, which has been taught to be optional
- You reward your dog before they come all the way
- Your treats aren’t high-value enough
- You’re unprepared whenever you are training, allowing your dog the option to opt out of listening
Addressing errors in the recall training process
- Don’t use your dog’s name as the call cue. “It gets their attention but doesn’t tell them what to do, so it’s not a good way to train your dog,” says Beverly Ulbrich, a San Francisco-based trainer and behaviorist.
- Let your dog come all the way to you before rewarding them. “Otherwise, the dog thinks ‘come’ means being able to see them is good enough, and they don’t understand they have to come all the way to you,” Ulbrich says.
- Try a different motivator. Examples of rewards that might motivate your dog include food, toys, verbal praise, physical praise, or environmental reinforcers such as sniffing or chasing.
- Start from the beginning. If training was rushed or your dog is struggling on the current step, pause and revisit a previous step. Remember: training isn’t linear, and moving back a step doesn’t mean the dog can’t be trained or they’re a failure.
If you’re unsure why your dog is resisting the recall cue, consult your veterinarian or a professional dog trainer for valuable insights.
iStock/NickyLloyd
What a Good Recall Says About Your Bond
Rhoades has seen many frustrated pet parents and their pups struggling with recall, often stemming from a lack of effective motivation, unclear expectations, overly stimulating environments, or inadequate recall cue conditioning.
Recall training isn’t just about teaching your dog to come when called; it’s also about strengthening the bond with your dog and fostering a deeper connection.
Don’t feel pressured to teach your dog every skill or trick in the book. Instead, choose training activities that align with your lifestyle. A sense of safety is the cornerstone of a happy pup, and the most valuable thing you can teach your dog is that they’re safe with you.
Additional Resources
With patience, positivity, and the right resources, you can teach your dog to come when called, with the understanding that some days your pup might be more responsive to their recall cue than others.
If you’re feeling challenged by recall or other essential dog training, there are resources available to help. Review our comprehensive list of the best dog training books, explore our reviews of the best dog training apps, or hire an experienced dog trainer.
