Coming when called is one of the most important commands a dog can have. From wanting to bring them inside from the yard to calling them back from an unfriendly dog, asking your dog to come when called, also known as recall, needs a solid foundation when building the behavior. A strong recall is also one of the hardest skills for dogs and humans alike to shape. To help get you started, we are going to share a few tips and tricks for teaching the recall command.
Choosing the right reward
In animal training, we have a widely known saying; reinforcement is in the eye of the beholder. This means what one dog may find rewarding, another dog could turn their nose up to it. It also reminds us that what we as owners and handlers would like to reward our dogs with may not be effective enough to increase the likelihood of the behavior happening again in the future. Small, dry, training treats might be a quick and easy choice for us to give our dogs, but it may not grab their attention when they start working around enticing distractions. When focusing on recall, you should choose a treat that your dog finds exciting!
Most dogs prefer a savory treat with high moisture content as they have an enticing smell. Simply cooked meats with no other ingredients like boiled and shredded chicken or deli meats are the first choice for us. For medium and large dogs, we recommend cutting the treats into pieces that are nickel sized. For small dogs, a pea-sized treat will help them not fill up as fast and allow for more repetitions.
Choosing the right environment
Start at home, in an open space and then work up to more difficult spaces as they become successful. Choose a room with little stimuli (e.g. no other people or animals, minimal sound, etc.). If you don’t have a room large enough to practice recall with enough space, find an outside environment that is as quiet as possible, and preferably on a flat surface. (Be sure to check the temperature of the concrete before working your dog!) Quiet neighborhood streets or empty tennis courts are usually a great secondary option.
The Four D’s of Recallment
As your dog learns to recall, you’ll want to consider the “Four D’s”: Distance, Distractions, Duration, and Disappearing. The four D’s help teach your dog to obey recall in every situation. Your puppy might recall consistently in your backyard, but that doesn’t mean they will reliably recall at the park. By implementing the four Ds into training, you can gradually increase the difficulty so your puppy can succeed no matter the setting. Let’s discuss the four Ds in more detail.
1. Distance
The farther your dog is from you, the harder it can be for your puppy to listen to the recall command. It’s important to increase the distance gradually, as puppies are more attentive when you are close. This is especially true when distractions are around. Understanding this helps you set realistic expectations and train more effectively.
2. Distraction
When working with distractions, remember that the distance between you and your puppy includes how far your puppy is from potential distractions as well. There are many distractions that can pull your puppy’s attention away from you. You will find that your puppy will notice all the sounds, smells, and movement, which may come from squirrels, other dogs, passing pedestrians, or cars. Being aware of these distractions helps you understand why your puppy might struggle to stay focused and why gradual exposure is important.
3. Duration
Duration is how long your dog can maintain a behavior, like staying focused on you before coming when called. When starting recall, we recommend quick repetitions. Adding more time between trials will serve as one form of adding duration difficulty.
4. Disappearing
Disappearing refers to your dog learning to respond to recall even when you are out of sight. You can test this skill through fun games such as hide and seek, where you hide from your puppy. Practicing disappearing helps your dog generalize recall, teaching them to come to you reliably, no matter where you are or what they can see.
Now that we have discussed the four D’s that improve your puppy’s reliability with the recall command. If you’d like to explore games with recall, check out our blog “Games to Make Recall Fun”.
We’re here to help
Do you need help addressing any challenging puppy behaviors? Do you want to teach your puppy high-level manners and obedience commands? You can schedule a free consultation with our Pet Behavior Team to discuss your training goals.
All of our programs are conducted through one-on-one training sessions at your home and in your local Houston neighborhood. We also offer board and train programs, during which your dog stays at your trainer’s home and participates in follow-up sessions with you after their training.
Do you live outside our service area or prefer to connect virtually? Our co-founder and Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, Dr. Echterling-Savage, offers virtual consultation programs. During these programs, she will design a personalized training plan and provide support to achieve your training goals.
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