Building A Successful Recall

As a dog owner, having a dog that ignores you when it is called has to be one of the most frustrating and sometimes embarrassing of behaviors. We've all been there, (even me) standing at the edge of a trail or park calling our dogs name over and over while they are running in the opposite direction. Without stating the obvious, having a dog that will come immediately when it is called is without a doubt the most important command that you will teach your dog. The recall (come) command will help keep your dog safe when off leash as well as keep walks enjoyable for everyone.

But how do you teach a dog to reliably come when it is called, especially from a group of playing dogs?

There is not one particular secret to having a dog that will come when it is called. It is really more about setting realistic expectations for your dog to work within, knowing what its limitations are and practicing often. Many students take training classes and think, “Heck I just spent ‘X’ amount of weeks teaching my dog to come when it is called, so I guess it is trained now.”

I wish it were that easy. Students must continue to practice their recall beyond their class time in an environment where distractions are low. This means that if your dog is easily distracted by a leaf blowing across the street, practice with the leaf as a distraction but in your back yard without the leaves moving. When your dog can come when called and ignore the leaves then gradually work up to practicing it on the street.

Timing is everything when it comes to training. A properly timed reward will ensure the likelihood of a behavior continuing. When calling your dog to you, wait until the moment he is more likely to respond. For example, if your dog is in the middle of greeting another dog, wait until the moment the meeting is over. Your dog is more likely to have a positive response to the recall after it is finished focusing on the distraction.

When practicing the recall or even calling your dog on a walk, you should always reward the dog for coming with some type of tangible reward. This reward must be something your dog finds appealing, not you. It could be a piece of ham, a liver brownie or a favorite toy. Harley will come faster to his Frisbee than he will to a piece of cooked chicken liver.

Another mistake people make is calling their dog to them only when they are about to go home. If it is time for you and your dog to leave the ‘fun spot’ simply go and get your dog and don’t stand there calling your dog over and over again. Repeatedly calling your dog without them responding only desensitizes them to the command and teaches them to ignore it when fun stuff is happening. A proactive approach would be to practice a few recalls away from the action and reward your dog with some ‘high-value’ treats right away, before you release your dog into an off-leash play area. Let your dog know that coming to you from a fun spot will be worth its while.

Finally, remember that when you call your dog and it does not come it is because the area your dog is leaving is more valuable to your dog than the area it is supposed to come to, not because it is acting spiteful. So be prepared to make yourself more interesting to your dog than its surroundings. And when your dog does finally come your way, you must behave in a manner that your dog knows it is the most wonderful creature in this world regardless of what is was doing beforehand.