Recall (aka come when called) is vital for your dog's safety. Unfortunately, it can be one of the most difficult behaviors for dogs to really understand and grasp.
When working on recall with your dog (or other behaviors for that matter!) you want to find what reinforcements motivate your dog the most while training. While treats are generally the most widely used for training, some dogs just aren’t food motivated!
If that is the case for you, this is the podcast you need to listen to!
One often under-used trick for teaching recall is to teach it with play. Yup, good old fun and games!
Scout (my Lab) is EXTREMELY ball-motivated. She loves all toys, but the ball is truly her life.
We struggled for years (honestly) to help her learn a solid recall because she just isn't that food motivated and we couldn't get her that interested in treats (no matter the treat) in high-distraction environments. The only thing she would focus on consistently while outside... her ball.
So, we decided to practice recall every single time we played fetch! Here is what we did, and what you can try!
Start indoors in a controlled environment
Throw the ball to your dog, then take 1-2 steps away from your dog (after they drop the ball) and call your dog to you (at first our dog Scout was slightly confused about that 'cue word' being introduced during play, but after a couple attempts she caught on).
So, again... 1-2 steps back, call your dog to you. Once they come to you, quickly mark (we use 'yes') and then throw the ball.
After practice inside, take it outside. Practicing this fetch-recall-training, every time you play fetch.
Then, the same thing but at a park while on a 100-foot lead. Every 1-2 throws, you can have your dog do a come when called to get the ball.
And guess what, for us, it didn't magically improve overnight. Nope. It took about 6 months of practicing that almost every single day.
And now, she is almost perfect with recall.
The moral of the story... well there are 2.
1. Make recall (and all training) fun.
2. Find your dog's highest reinforcer, and use that ALL THE TIME.
Need more ideas for recall training? Check out the Recall Mastery course, part of Pupford Academy!
Have them on a leash – throw a treat on the ground away from you and them- they run and get it – say “come” – when they get to you praise and throw another treat – do this a few times. They’ll get so they run for the treat and run back to you. I do this after every training session to end in a fun way. Plus, it’s working on recall.
J
Jackie Congdon 01/26/2025
I assume after the dog has dropped the ball, you pick it up then take your few steps back. Or do you have a second ball in your hand while the dog fetches the first ball? She drops the ball and you immediately take your steps back with the second ball in hand?
T
Team Pupford01/26/2025
Hi Elaine, I would go back a few steps in your recall training and add in a parameter of your recall is that he sits and you touch his collar. This can help when dogs have the tendency to run off. I would also try adding a value treat as the reward instead, since when you call him to come you won’t always be engaging in play with tug toy.
T
Team Pupford01/26/2025
Hi Jayne! I would work on finding something that is more reinforcing to him, when training recall I always use something very high value like deli meat, hot dogs, or string cheese. I would also work on getting him used to his collar being touched and have coming in front you, sitting, and being touched become part of his recall routine. This will take lots of repetitions and slow baby steps. I would also not use recall for anything negative, like leaving something fun. If every time you call him over you leave, he will start avoiding you. Instead, periodically call him over, give him lots of treats and praise, and then let him go back to playing. Hope that helps!
Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.
19 comments
Leave a CommentVery helpful, Thank you 🙏
Have them on a leash – throw a treat on the ground away from you and them- they run and get it – say “come” – when they get to you praise and throw another treat – do this a few times. They’ll get so they run for the treat and run back to you. I do this after every training session to end in a fun way. Plus, it’s working on recall.
I assume after the dog has dropped the ball, you pick it up then take your few steps back. Or do you have a second ball in your hand while the dog fetches the first ball? She drops the ball and you immediately take your steps back with the second ball in hand?
Hi Elaine, I would go back a few steps in your recall training and add in a parameter of your recall is that he sits and you touch his collar. This can help when dogs have the tendency to run off. I would also try adding a value treat as the reward instead, since when you call him to come you won’t always be engaging in play with tug toy.
Hi Jayne! I would work on finding something that is more reinforcing to him, when training recall I always use something very high value like deli meat, hot dogs, or string cheese. I would also work on getting him used to his collar being touched and have coming in front you, sitting, and being touched become part of his recall routine. This will take lots of repetitions and slow baby steps. I would also not use recall for anything negative, like leaving something fun. If every time you call him over you leave, he will start avoiding you. Instead, periodically call him over, give him lots of treats and praise, and then let him go back to playing. Hope that helps!