Reliable Recall Training
Training Tip of the Week: Recall Training
Recall training is essential for all dogs, whether you enjoy off-leash excursions or not. Any dog can get loose, and equipment always has a risk of breaking or failing. Within fenced-in and secure areas, recall is important to ensure you can get your dog’s attention when you need. But beyond the obvious safety concerns, recall training also strengthens your bond with your dog and encourages attention and focus on you, the handler. In this blog post, we'll dive into why recall training is important, how it benefits both you and your dog, and tips on how to achieve success.
What is Recall Training?
Recall training refers to teaching your dog to respond and return on command to a specific cue (often a word like "come" or “here”).
The key to a reliable recall is consistency and positive reinforcement. Make sure recalling is fun for the dog and not perceived as a punishment or loss of freedom.
Why is Recall Training Important?
Safety First:
Perhaps the most critical reason to train your dog to recall is safety. Whether your dog is off-leash in a controlled environment like a fenced area or out in an open space, a solid recall ensures that your dog will come back to you immediately if needed. This is especially important when your dog is around traffic, wildlife, or other potential hazards.
Even an on-leash dog can get loose, and it’s important to have a solid recall trained in your pup to prepare for any situation.Control:
Recall training gives you better control over your dog, whether you're on a walk or enjoying outdoor activities. Knowing that your dog will come back to you when called means you don’t need to worry about them wandering too far or getting into trouble. It also helps in situations where they’re playing with other dogs or encountering distractions, like other people or food on the ground.
Strengthens Your Bond:
Training your dog to reliably respond to you is a bonding experience that promotes trust. Not only that, but it’s a fun, frequent opportunity to practice cueing and rewarding your dog. Make recalling a fun, rewarding action to encourage your pup to listen and build your bond together!
Socialization and Positive Behavior:
Recall training is a tool for reinforcing good behavior by rewarding focus on the handler. Dogs that have been trained to come back when called tend to be more attentive and engaged with their human companions. This makes it easier to integrate your dog into social situations, whether it’s around other dogs, people, or in public settings. A reliable recall ensures your dog can participate in these settings without becoming too distracted or overly excited.
Less Stress for You:
When your dog knows how to recall reliably, it reduces the stress you might feel when they're off-leash or in an unfamiliar environment. This also reduces frustration and helps make walks, trips to the park, and outdoor adventures much more enjoyable. Walk in confidence that your pup can recall away from any other dog, person, or distraction and allow everyone to enjoy public areas!
How to Train a Reliable Recall
Now that we know why recall training is essential, let’s look at some tips for how to make it successful:
Start Small:
Begin training in a low-distraction environment like your home or quiet backyard. Start on a 6ft leash, and gradually move to a longline as your dog advances. Call your dog’s name or the recall cue (like “come”) in an enthusiastic and positive tone, and when they come to you, reward them immediately with your marker word (or clicker, if using one) and treat.
When first introducing your recall cue, you can mark and reward any attention toward yourself, even a look or a half-step toward you. Reward any behavior that leads toward recall, then build on that behavior.Use Positive Reinforcement:
Positive reinforcement is key to recall success. The goal is to make your dog associate returning to you with something good, such as a treat or their favorite game. This makes them more likely to repeat the behavior in the future.
Make it Fun:
Dogs love to play, so incorporate games into your training. For example, play the “come and go” game where you call your dog back and forth between two people or points. This builds excitement and positive associations with returning when called.
Increase Difficulty Gradually:
Once your dog is reliably coming when called in low-distraction settings, slowly increase the difficulty. Start practicing recall in more distracting environments, like a local park or in a friend’s yard with other dogs or people. Over time, your dog will learn to filter out distractions and focus on responding to you.
Consistency is Key:
Consistency is crucial in recall training. Be sure to practice the recall regularly, especially in different contexts with different levels of distractions. Consistent training helps reinforce the behavior, ensuring that your dog knows exactly what to do in every situation. Try to practice at least once or twice a day, using short, engaging training sessions.
Don’t Make it a Punishment:
Avoid calling your dog for negative experiences, such as to end playtime or to give them a bath. If recall is associated with something they don't enjoy, your dog may start to ignore the cue. Instead, make it clear that coming to you always leads to a positive experience. If you must leash your dog or take away his freedom after recalling, make sure to heavily reward to continue associating the recall with positive behavior, and avoid creating an association between recalling and limited freedom.
Final Thoughts
A reliable recall is one of the most important skills you can teach your dog. It not only keeps them safe, but fosters a relationship built on trust and positive reinforcement. Whether you're teaching a young puppy or reinforcing training with an adult dog, recall is a lifelong skill that pays off in countless ways. Through patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement, your dog will learn to come when called, making your time together much more enjoyable and safe.
Start your recall training today, and soon you'll be able to enjoy the freedom of knowing your dog will always come back to you when it matters most!
Want to learn more? Check out our Total Recall guide by our on-staff certified trainer!
