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It’s a common sight: a dog owner asking their dog to “come” again and again while their dog runs off sniffing the grass. Sound familiar? When you ask your dog to come, you’re expecting them to stop whatever they are doing and immediately return to you. That’s a big ask!
A reliable recall is more than convenient, it’s potentially lifesaving. In case of an emergency, you need to know your dog will come to you no matter what. Read on to learn how to train a reliable recall.
Collar Grabs and the Name Game
Before you start training the “come” cue, you need to teach your dog a few other words. The first is their name, and it should mean “pay attention to me.”
Teaching Your Dog Their Name
You want to teach your dog that when they hear their name, they should look to you for further instructions. The following steps will help you play the name game:
- Start with your dog either on leash or in a small, quiet room. You don’t want distractions.
- Wait until your dog is looking at anything other than you. Then say your dog’s name in a happy and excited tone of voice.
- As soon as your dog turns to look at you, mark the moment with a clicker or marker word, like “yes.” Then immediately praise and offer a treat.
- Once your dog is looking enthusiastically every time they hear their name, you can begin to add distractions like other people in the room or toys on the ground.
In no time, your dog will always have an ear at the ready just in case you call them because they will know it can potentially lead to getting a reward. And getting your dog’s focus is the first step to ensuring a recall.
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Playing ‘Gotcha’
The second word you need to teach is “gotcha.” Most dogs dart away when you try to take hold of their collar. But in an emergency, you’ll need to get a hold of your dog. This exercise is also helpful when you need to clip on your dog’s leash or lead your dog to the bath. Just as with the name game, you’re going to teach your dog that a collar grab is the chance to get something delicious. Follow these steps:
- Lure your dog over to you with a super exciting treat. When they approach, let them lick or nibble the treat, but don’t hand it over yet.
- Say “gotcha,” then slowly and gently grab your dog’s collar. Once you have a grip, release the rest of the treat so your dog can eat it.
- As you continue your training, make your collar grabs faster and firmer.
- Once your dog is comfortable with fast, firm collar grabs, wait to offer the treat until after you have said “gotcha” and gripped their collar.
- Practice collar grabs in many different locations, but always offer your dog a treat after you get hold of them.
Once your dog understands collar grabs are a good thing, you should have no problem restraining them when they perform a recall. After all, it’s no good for them to come to you only to run away again as soon as you reach for them.
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How to Train a Recall
Now you’re ready to train the recall. The key to success is being the most exciting thing in your dog’s environment. If you’re where the party is, why wouldn’t your dog want to come and see what all the excitement is about? But if you sound angry, harsh, or even just boring, why would your dog be interested? So, start your training in a quiet environment with your dog on leash. It’s easier to be exciting when there’s no competition.
You also need to use rewards your dog loves. That might be a game of tug-of-war or a piece of chicken. Make this so worth their while they would never consider not responding. These steps will get you started:
- With your dog only a few feet away from you, say their name, then “come,” and entice them to approach you. You can pat your legs, make kissy noises, clap your hands, etc.
- As soon as your dog approaches you, click/mark the moment, then praise like crazy while you offer a favorite reward.
- Once your dog is coming every time you call, add some distance. Let your dog wander to the end of their leash before you call them back.
- Now, let them off leash in a quiet room and repeat. To encourage them to approach you, run backwards as you say “come.” Dogs love a good chase.
- Repeat your training in different rooms of the house.
- When your dog is happily running to you every time, ask for a “sit” when they arrive. Then click/mark/praise and reward. You want your dog to be stationary when they come, not to bounce away again as soon as they’re done with their reward.
- Once you’ve successfully added “sit,” add a “gotcha” every so often to teach your dog that it’s okay if you restrain them too.
Make sure that whenever your dog comes to you, they get plenty of praise, pets, and play, as well as a treat or toy. This isn’t a time to be stingy. Your dog should think that coming when called is incredibly fun. You can even play recall games like round robin (where a group of people each calls your dog in turn) or find me (where you hide in another room before you call your dog).
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Add Distractions to the Recall
Now that your dog will happily run to you anywhere in the house, you’re ready to add distractions. Start with small things like another pet in the room, somebody cooking in the kitchen, or tossing a ball in your hand. Then gradually build up to larger distractions.
Next, take your training outside. But do not let your dog roam free. Even if they come 100% of the time indoors, outdoors is a whole new ballgame. Start with your dog on a 6-foot leash and repeat the steps above. Then graduate to a 20-foot line or 30-foot line and slowly give your dog more and more of that distance while you train. The line isn’t to reel your dog in if they ignore you, but to control the situation. Simply gather the leash as you walk closer to your dog and try again.
However, if your dog is ignoring you, it’s time to troubleshoot your training. There can be all kinds of reasons your dog doesn’t come when called. Take several steps back in your training and be sure you don’t ask for too much too soon. In time, your dog will have a reliable recall anywhere and anytime. But beware, even the best-behaved dog won’t be 100% perfect. Therefore, only let your dog off leash in a safe environment.
FAQs
Let your dog wander to the end of their leash before you call them back. Now, let them off leash in a quiet room and repeat. To encourage them to approach you, run backwards as you say “come.” Dogs love a good chase. Repeat your training in different rooms of the house.
How to discipline a dog that doesn't come when called? ›
Let your dog wander to the end of their leash before you call them back. Now, let them off leash in a quiet room and repeat. To encourage them to approach you, run backwards as you say “come.” Dogs love a good chase. Repeat your training in different rooms of the house.
How do you fix a dog that ignores the recall? ›
Use high value treats and lots of praise and attention to reward your puppy for coming to you. Repeat this many times until your puppy comes to you every time. Start to gradually increase the recall distance between you and your puppy. Reward the puppy with a high value treat every time it succeeds.
How do you teach a stubborn dog recall? ›
Always reward your dog when they come back
Start indoors, in your garden, or in another enclosed space with some tasty treats to hand. Get your dog's attention with their name, then use your recall cue and take a step away from them. Reward them with praise and a tasty treat when they come to you.
What is the best way to train a dog to come when called? ›
You need an incentive to encourage your dog to come back - a really tasty treat or a fun game with a toy. Show your dog the toy or food. Run away a couple of paces then call your dog's name and say "come" in a friendly, exciting tone - getting down low can also encourage them to come back.
What is a good recall command for a dog? ›
Note: It's best to have two different commands for calling your dog. Use “here” or “let's go” for everyday situations and reserve “come” for times when you need a bulletproof recall, for example when your dog sees a squirrel and runs headlong into a busy street. Exercise 2. Call your dog from 8–10 feet away.
Why does my dog refuse to come when called? ›
Two of the most common mistakes we see dog owners make with recall are: calling their dog too frequently, and calling them at the wrong times. Asking your dog to stop what they're doing and come to you every few minutes is tiresome.
How do you train a disobedient dog to come? ›
To teach a dog to come, introduce them to the recall cue using positive reinforcement. Then, gradually practice recall in a setting with more and more distractions. Recall training can be frustrating, especially for first-time pet parents. Your dog may come once and not again, or be inconsistent.
How to punish a dog for not recalling? ›
Never punish or shout at your dog for not returning. They will only form a negative association with returning to you and be less likely to want to come back to you.
Is it too late to teach my dog recall? ›
Whether you have a puppy or an older dog, it's never too soon or too late to start on recall training.
That word could be their name, but it's most effective to use an actual command, such as “come” or “here.” You can also say your dog's name followed by a command word (“Fido, come.”)! Once you've chosen a recall cue, you can get into training.
How to catch a dog that won't come to you? ›
Instead, make some type of other noise like clearing your throat or fake a sneeze to alert the dog to your presence. Then look away, which is a submissive gesture. You can even fake like you're eating food on the-ground, and we suggest that you have a baggie of smelly treats like pieces of hotdog or liver treats.
How long does recall training take? ›
If you have time to practice on most days, you can figure it will take 3 to 6 months to develop a reliable recall. (Note: This training program assumes you are using clicker style training and that you know how to “fade the lure”.)
What is the dog command for come? ›
2Say your dog's name, then tell them to come to you.
After about five minutes, say your dog's name and then give your dog the “come” command (literally say the word “come”). As they start moving toward you, encourage your dog by cheering them on.
Do dogs always come when called? ›
The fact is, dogs don't come into this world ready to respond to the word “come” by trotting to you, much less to do it joyfully or to do it every time. It takes a lot of repetition for dogs to learn what the cue means and to respond to it as we would like them to.
How do you signal a dog to come? ›
They are an excellent way of instructing your pet without using your voice and can be essential to obedience training. The most common signals include the palm facing out for “stay,” pointing forward for “go,” a flat hand for “down,” and a closed fist for “come.” For “sit,” use an upward-facing palm.
How to train immediate recall? ›
Pair a unique, high-value treat or toy to establish a positive association with your chosen cue. The training process begins by randomly saying the cue when your dog is near and feeding the treat (or giving the toy) before walking away. Repeat this process five to 10 times throughout the day for two weeks.
What is the best tool for dog recall? ›
A whistle will always provide a loud, clear signal, and it sounds the same every time, so it'll help provide vital consistency during dog training. Some of the best dog whistles allow you to adjust the frequency of the sound, which is ideal for teaching different commands or training a variety of dog breeds.
Why doesn't my dog come when called? ›
They're worried about being punished, especially if your tone of voice is even just slightly angry or annoyed. For some dogs, it could simply be that they're having so much fun and really don't want playtime to be over. They know that if they come over to you, then chances are that the fun and games will stop.
How do you get a scared dog to come? ›
Best Way To Catch a Scared Dog
Entice the dog to come to you. Don't make loud noises or call out to the dog. Remain calm and use submissive body language. Avoid direct eye contact.
Call your dog's name, immediately followed by the word "come" (i.e. "Fido come"). Use a happy, upbeat voice. If your dog doesn't respond, instead of repeating "come," whistle or make some kissy noises to get their attention.
How do you discipline a dog that doesn't listen? ›
Instead of shouting or hitting your dog, use effective punishments that actually work, like ignoring them or withdrawing your attention. Since dogs respond to positive reinforcement, your dog will quickly learn what behaviors to avoid.
