How To Teach A Reliable Recall

When you teach your dog a new skill, you are usually doing so because it offers you greater control and peace of mind over their behavior. Strong communication between owner and dog means that you can trust that when you give your dog a command, they are going to respond in an appropriate way to your instruction.

Some commands bring more control and peace of mind than others, and teaching your dog to come to you when called is near the top of the list. In a world full of exciting and enticing smells, your dog’s instincts can often take over – so don’t underestimate its importance. Working on a recall can actually prevent your dog from sustaining injuries or running out of sight in high-stress situations.

What is a reliable recall?

In off-leash settings, a reliable recall ensures that your dog is very likely to return to you when you call their name – even if there are other distractions present or significant distance between the two of you.

As with any aspect of dog training, there is no guarantee that your dog will respond 100% of the time. However, by increasing the probability and putting the odds in your favor, it means you can take your dog out to a park with a level of confidence that they will listen to your instructions.

Why does a reliable recall matter?

There are two main reasons why it is worthwhile spending the time working on a reliable recall with your dog.

The first reason is purely down to their safety and wellbeing. When a dog is off-leash, you don’t have a way to restrain them if their interest is piqued by another dog, a person, a small animal, or even a moving vehicle. Without a reliable recall, your dog may run straight into a dangerous situation that could have been avoided if the recall command was available to you. Furthermore, this can also help avoid unwanted interactions with other dogs who may be on-leash, or may have behavioral issues like reactivity or aggression.

Secondly, reliable recall gives you the confidence as a dog owner to give your dog freedom. This isn’t just about public outings. For example, if you don’t have a fenced yard at home, failing to teach reliable recall essentially means you’re either a) going to have your dog on a leash or longline every time you let them outside, or b) you’re betting that they won’t get distracted by anything else and will always stay in the proximity of your yard. Neither of those options is practical.

How to teach your dog to come back to you (step-by-step)

Training your dog to come back to you when called requires work over several training sessions, but it is a behavior where you can see rapid improvement in a short period of time. In terms of prerequisites, you’ll want to use a longline and their favorite treats to begin with.

It is often easier to begin training reliable recall inside your home, where the environment is familiar, less stressful, and conducive to a positive learning experience for your dog. Start by standing 8-10 feet away from your dog, holding out a treat in your hand, and calling your dog’s name. Reward them with the treat and plenty of positive encouragement once they get to you.
Repeat the first step. After about half a dozen times, pair this with your chosen word for the recall, like “here” or “come”. Make sure to use the same word whenever you are training reliable recall.
Once you are confident your dog is mastering this indoors, you can move outside. If your yard isn’t fenced, using another person and practicing with a longline can ensure your dog doesn’t run out of the yard. Start about ten feet apart, with the other person holding the dog’s longline. Use their recall word to encourage them to come to you. Your helper should let go of the longline to ensure there is no leash pressure. When your dog comes to you, reward them.
Staying in your yard, you can gradually begin to increase the distance between you and your dog. Each time they come back to you, make sure to give them plenty of praise and reward them. Over time, you can wean them off the treats and use them sparingly.
Once you are confident in your dog’s ability to come back to you in your yard, you can try this in a public place, like a park. Ideally, because of the change in context, it is preferable if the park is quieter when you first move to this environment. Again, a longline and another person can help act as a safety net. You’ll want to start off slowly and at shorter distances (beginning at ten feet), before increasing the distance as you become more confident.
Continue to practice reliable recall whenever you have the opportunity. Working on this little and often, and in a variety of different settings, is the best way to ingrain this behavior in your dog.

Troubleshooting tips for reliable recall

Teaching reliable recall can be frustrating, particularly if your dog doesn’t “get it” right off the bat. The following tips will help to mitigate any issues.

Remain patient. This is good advice for any dog training endeavor, but particularly with reliable recall. When your dog is off-leash, it is natural that they feel free and want to explore. Keep your cool and remember the value of teaching this behavior.
Always be positive. You really want to emphasize praising your dog when they do come to you. Even if your dog takes a while to perform their reliable recall, don’t let any frustration show through – positivity is key.
Don’t overuse your recall cue. If your dog doesn’t respond to you the first time, don’t simply keep shouting the recall word over and over again. If your dog is ignoring the cue, it is time to take a step back in their training, by either reducing the distance or the distractions present in the training environment.
Choose a high-level motivator. Encouraging your dog to come back to you can be tough when you begin this activity. Make sure you choose a treat that is sufficiently motivating for them.
Never chase your dog in an emergency. This is a common mistake many dog owners make when they panic after their dog bolts away from them. It actually has the opposite effect from the owner’s intended outcome, because the dog sees this as a game and will likely continue to run away. Instead, running away from your dog can actually encourage them to chase after you.

In conclusion

Teaching your dog reliable recall has so many benefits – it offers them greater freedom to be off-leash more frequently, while also providing you with peace of mind that they will come back to you when called. This is an excellent everyday training activity, with real-world benefits that can avoid potentially dangerous situations.

If you’re struggling with teaching reliable recall, our trainers at Highland Canine Training can help you! We have professional dog trainers located across North America – find one in your local area today.