5 Top Tips for Improving Your Dog's Recall Training

Recall is one of the most important skills for your dog to have- but it can also be one of the trickiest to teach!

Here are my top tips for improving your dog’s recall…

1. Recall Your Dog Regularly

Often we only call our dogs back to us when we don’t want them to go towards something (e.g. another dog on a lead) or when it’s time to go home.

Instead of only calling your dog back in these situations, call your dog back frequently throughout their walk, even when you don’t need to!

This will help them (and you!) to practice their recall regularly, rather than just when you really need it.

2. Amazing Rewards

A spaniel playing tug with a rope toy on the grass

Recall is really hard for our dogs.

Think about it from their perspective- your dog is in the park, making friends, trailing sniffs, running around, and we want them to come back to us?

In order for our dog to want to return to us, we need to have some amazing rewards to make it worth their while!

Have some AMAZING treats they only get for recall.

Or have some super special toys they only get when they return to you on a walk.

These are my favourite treats:

JR Pate Salmon

And my favourite toy for recall:

Ball Tug Toy

3. Think About Timing

A black spaniel running towards the camera across a field

Don’t call your dog back to you when they are in the middle of a sniff. They probably won’t come back to you and are just learning to ignore you.

Instead, wait for a natural pause in their sniffing, and call them in that moment!

They will be much more likely to listen to you and come back as a result.

It’s just like us- If I am busy working on my laptop and my partner starts to ask me about dinner, I don’t always listen. It’s not because I don’t want to listen, it’s because I am really focused on my work!

So, be patient with your dog. Wait for those natural pauses when they are sniffing, playing or exploring and they will be much more likely to pay attention to you.

4. Consider Using a Long Line

A dog trotting towards the camera along a woodland path on a long red line

If you’re not confident in your dog’s recall, you should consider using a dog long line. This will give you more confidence and help your dog learn recall safely.

These are my favourite long lines:

Honeycomb Long Line

5. Keep it Fun!

Coming back to you should always be a fun, enjoyable, rewarding experience for your dog.

Even if they have taken 5 minutes to come back to you, still praise them for coming back.

If you punish them, shout at them or tell them off when they come back to you, they will be less likely to return to you in the future.

The more fun your dog finds you, the more likely they will come back to you more often!

Rosy smiling with her black spaniel beside her

Would you like some 1 on 1 help with your dog’s recall?

Click here to book a free phone call!

References

Blackwell, E.J., Twells, C., Seawright, A. and Casey, R.A., 2008. The relationship between training methods and the occurrence of behavior problems, as reported by owners, in a population of domestic dogs. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 3(5), pp.207-217.

Blue Cross: Dog recall training | Blue Cross

Dogs Trust: Recall Training - Come Back When Called | Training | Dogs Trust

Hiby, E.F., Rooney, N.J. and Bradshaw, J.W.S. 2004. ‘Dog Training Methods: their use, effectiveness and interaction with behaviour and welfare’. Animal Welfare 13(1): 63-70.