Recall Training: How to Teach Your Dog to Come When Called
To teach your dog to come when called, pick one short recall word, start indoors with no distractions, and reward your dog every single time they come to you. Then add distance and distractions slowly, using a long line outdoors until the recall is reliable. Never punish a dog for coming to you, even if it took a while.
Recall is one of the most important skills you can teach. A dog with a solid recall can be called away from a busy road, a loose dog or something dangerous on the ground. It takes time and practice, but it's never too early or too late to start. You can begin training your puppy the day they come home.
The Best Recall Words for Dogs
Dogs don't understand English, so your recall word can be anything. What matters is that it's short, easy to call out loudly and not used in everyday conversation. If you say "come here" ten times a day while chatting, your dog will learn to tune it out.
Popular recall words include:
- "Come"
- "Here"
- "Touch" or "Check in"
- Your dog's name followed by a cue word (use the name to get attention, the cue to bring them in)
- A whistle, which carries far and always sounds the same
Emergency Recall Words
An emergency recall is a separate cue saved for real emergencies (more on how to train it below). Choose a word you'd never say by accident and can shout in a panic. Ideas trainers use include:
- "Party" or "Fiesta"
- "Pizza" or "Cookies"
- "Jackpot"
- The word for "come" in another language, such as "Ven" or "Komm"
Whatever you choose, everyone in the family should use the same word the same way.
Before we go further, a quick note on fuel: if your dog needs more strength and energy from the bowl, a meat-based, high-protein food is the simplest place to start.
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How to Train Recall, Step by Step
The key to a great recall is going slowly. Have plenty of high-value dog treats or freeze-dried toppers your dog is excited about. Start inside your house when it's quiet.
- Step 1: Show your dog a treat, praise them for approaching, and give the treat.
- Step 2: Repeat, and as your dog is moving toward you, say your recall cue. Praise and treat when they reach you.
- Step 3: Now say the cue without showing the treat first. When your dog starts toward you, praise, and treat when they arrive.
- Step 4: Call your dog from farther away inside the house, including from other rooms. Reward every time. This gradual increase in difficulty is called "proofing."
- Step 5: Move outside to your yard or a quiet area near home, starting close to your dog again. Each session, increase the distance or distractions a little. Then try a quiet park, and later a busier one.
Safety comes first. Until your dog's recall is reliable, practice anywhere unfenced on a long line. Long lines come in lengths from about 10 to 30 feet. They give your dog distance to practice while keeping them connected to you.
Keep sessions short and fun. Several short sessions work better than a few long ones, and each recall session only needs one to three repetitions.
What to Do If Your Dog Doesn't Come
At some point your dog won't come when called. It's frustrating, but never punish your dog when they don't come, or when they finally arrive. Dogs don't ignore a recall to be disobedient. Usually they don't fully understand the cue yet, or the environment is too distracting.
- Get your dog's attention with a treat, a squeaky noise or by running the other way (many dogs will chase), and reward them when they reach you.
- Don't chase your dog. It turns into a game of keep-away.
- Don't keep repeating the cue. Call once, then help your dog succeed.
- Go back to practicing closer and with fewer distractions, then build up again.
Rushing recall training makes it less reliable. Going slowly builds a recall you can trust.
Use Positive Reinforcement for Recall
Positive reinforcement is the most effective way to teach dogs. Some people are tempted to use an e-collar for recall, but it's not advisable. The American Veterinary Medical Association notes there is no reason to use aversive methods to teach new skills, and the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT) takes a similar position.
Why You Should Always Reward Recall
Just like you expect to get paid for going to work, dogs should be "paid" for coming when called. Use treats, toys, play and real-life rewards like going back to sniff.
Coming when called shouldn't always mean the fun ends. If you only call your dog when it's time to go inside or leave the park, they'll learn to avoid you. Instead, call your dog, reward them, then release them to go back and play. That builds value in coming to you.
Good recall pay should be something your dog really wants. High-protein treats made with real beef are easy to carry on walks and training sessions.
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How to Teach an Emergency Recall
An emergency recall is a backup cue used only when your dog must come immediately for safety. Teach it with the steps above, but with two differences:
- Use the best reward you have. Pieces of cooked meat or another special food your dog rarely gets.
- Jackpot every time. Feed several pieces in a row when your dog arrives, not just one.
Practice regularly, but only when you have the special reward with you. Keeping the value sky-high means that in a real emergency your dog is more likely to ignore distractions and run straight to you.
Recall Games for Dogs
Games make recall fun and build understanding. Two easy recall games are hide and seek and restrained recall.
Hide and Seek
Leave your dog in one room, hide in another and call them. Treat and praise when they find you. As your dog gets better, hide in harder places, like behind doors or in closets.
Restrained Recall
Start inside or in a safely fenced yard. Have someone your dog knows gently hold them while you move away, clapping and talking excitedly. Give your recall cue and have your helper let go. Praise and reward when your dog reaches you. This game builds speed and excitement.
Recall Ping-Pong
With two people a few feet apart, take turns calling the dog back and forth, rewarding each arrival. Gradually move farther apart or into different rooms.
Common Recall Mistakes
- Calling your dog for things they dislike, like baths or nail trims. Go get your dog instead.
- Using the cue before your dog understands it, then repeating it when they ignore you.
- Letting your dog off leash in open areas too soon.
- Rewarding less over time. Keep paying for recalls, even as your dog gets good at them.
Is It Too Late to Teach Recall?
It's never too late. Old dogs can learn new tricks, and every dog should learn to come when called because it could save their life. If your dog has learned to ignore your current cue, start over with a new word and teach it from step one, as if your dog has never learned recall before.
How Long Does Recall Training Take?
Recall is a hard skill that takes time and consistency, and speed varies by dog. Breeds developed to chase prey, like many terriers and hounds, often take longer to recall reliably around distractions. Bully breeds are usually very people-focused, but their prey drive and love of a good chase still call for patient proofing. Most dogs grasp recall at home within a few sessions; reliable recall around distractions takes months of practice.
FAQ
What is the best recall word for a dog?
Any short word you don't use in normal conversation. "Come" and "here" are common; many trainers pick something unique like "touch" so the cue stays clear.
What is a good emergency recall word?
A word you would never say by accident and can shout easily, like "party," "fiesta" or "come" in another language. Pair it only with your dog's favorite reward.
Should I use my dog's name as a recall?
Use your dog's name to get attention, then your recall cue to bring them in. Names get said all day, so on their own they don't make a reliable recall.
When can I let my dog off leash?
Only when your dog comes reliably on a long line around real distractions, and only in safe, legal areas. Many dog-selective bully breeds are better off staying on leash in public.
Conclusion
Always rewarding the behavior you want is the key to recall. Rushing or scolding makes a dog not want to come back. Small steps, slowly adding difficulty, and plenty of treats and play teach your dog to come even with distractions. Keep it fun, and recall becomes a skill that could one day save your dog's life.
Play is a great reward too. A quick game of tug after a fast recall teaches your dog that coming back to you is the best part of the day.
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Have you worked on a reliable recall with your dog? Share what worked for you in the comments below. For more training help, see how to train a pitbull and how to train an American Bully.
2 comments
Arturo, thank you very much for the insightful question. Thanks to your comment, we updated the blog post. Here’s the answer as well: In terms of the duration of training sessions, we aim to keep them short and enjoyable. Multiple short sessions are more effective than fewer long ones, as dogs can become bored and tired. When practicing recalls, each training session only needs to include one to three repetitions.
For how long should you do each recall training