The ability to reliably call your dog back to you, known as recall, is arguably one of the most crucial commands a dog can learn. It’s a fundamental safety skill that can prevent serious accidents and ensure your dog’s well-being. However, training a solid recall can be a rewarding challenge, as dogs are naturally drawn to the many interesting sights, sounds, and smells of the world around them. Each time you ask your dog to come, you’re essentially asking them to disengage from something they find captivating. This guide will walk you through effective methods to teach your canine companion this vital command, ensuring a strong and positive connection between you and your dog.
Essential Tools for Recall Training
Before you begin, gather the necessary items to make your training sessions successful and engaging for your dog:
- High-Value Treats: Small, soft, and incredibly enticing treats that your dog absolutely loves. These will serve as powerful motivators.
- A Quiet Training Area: Start in a low-distraction environment, such as indoors, to help your dog focus solely on you and the training.
Step-by-Step Guide to Teaching “Come”
Building a reliable recall involves a gradual process, starting with simple steps and building up to more challenging scenarios. Patience and consistency are key.
- Initial Association: Begin by sitting with your puppy or dog in your quiet training area. Say their name or the cue word “come.” Immediately after, give them a treat. At this stage, your dog doesn’t need to do anything other than hear the word. Repeat this process several times, pairing the cue with a positive reward.
- Introducing Movement: Place a treat on the floor directly in front of you. Allow your dog to eat it. As soon as they finish, repeat the cue “come” or their name and immediately offer another treat. When they look up at you after eating, give them another treat.
- Increasing Distance: Repeat the previous step multiple times. Gradually, begin to toss the treat a short distance away from you. The goal is to encourage your dog to turn around and face you to get the treat. If your dog struggles to turn around, it might be because you’re repeating their name too often without a response, making them prone to ignoring it. In such cases, move closer to your dog and revert to a step where they can succeed in responding to their name the first time.
- Adding Excitement and Movement: Once your dog is reliably turning to face you, it’s time to make the game more dynamic and fun! Toss a treat and then take a few quick steps backward while calling your dog’s name. Your dog should be eager to chase after you, especially if they enjoy games like “chase.”
- Positive Reinforcement: When your dog successfully reaches you, shower them with enthusiastic praise, more treats, or engage them with a favorite tug toy. The objective is to strongly associate coming to you with enjoyable experiences.
- Generalizing the Skill: Continue to build upon these steps by practicing in new locations and gradually increasing the distance. When training outdoors, always ensure you are in a safe, enclosed area. Initially, using a long leash can be very helpful to maintain control while still allowing your dog some freedom.
Important Considerations for Recall Training
To ensure your recall training is effective and builds a positive association, keep these points in mind:
- Avoid Grabbing: When your dog comes to you, resist the urge to immediately grab them. For some dogs, this can be confusing or even frightening, potentially leading them to hesitate next time. If you have a timid dog, try kneeling down, facing them sideways, and offering treats as you gently reach for their collar.
- Never Punish: It is critical that you never call your dog if you intend to punish them. Doing so will teach your dog that coming to you leads to negative consequences, making them more likely to avoid you in the future. Always reward your dog heavily for responding to your recall cue, even if they have previously gotten into mischief.
- Keep it Fun: As emphasized by Kait Hembree, Head of Training at GoodPup, recall training must be an enjoyable experience. “It is critical that we work to ensure a positive and highly reinforced connection to our dog’s recall cue by working to balance the fun with allowing them to at times return to what they were doing originally when we called them,” Hembree states. “Always rewarding for their immediate response when cued; and making sure that the value of their reward is worth what they walked away from to come to us.”
Engaging Recall Games
Incorporate these fun games into your training routine to reinforce your dog’s recall command and strengthen your bond:
- “Can You Catch Me?”: While on a walk with your dog on leash, get their attention. Suddenly turn around and run in the opposite direction. As your dog begins to move with you, enthusiastically call “come!” After a few steps, stop and reward your dog with a treat or a toy. Ensure your dog is paying attention before you start running to avoid accidentally jerking the leash.
- Hide-and-Seek: This game is enjoyable for both dogs and their humans. Find a hiding spot in another room and call out for your dog to find you. Once discovered, reward your dog with praise and treats. This game is best introduced after your dog has a good grasp of the basic recall command.
- “Hot Potato” Recall: Gather two or more friends and have each person hold a high-value treat. Take turns calling your dog to each person individually, rewarding them each time they successfully reach the person who called them. This game is excellent for practicing recall with multiple people and in varied scenarios.
Testing Your Dog’s Recall Skills
Did you know that “come when called” is one of the ten essential skills required for both puppies and adult dogs to earn the AKC Virtual Home Manners title? For puppies aged 3 to 12 months, they must reliably come when called from a distance of 10 feet indoors. Adult dogs, from 4 months and older, are expected to respond to the recall cue from 20 feet away or from another room, both indoors and outdoors. This title highlights the importance of a well-trained recall for overall good canine citizenship.