Teaching your puppy to “come when called,” or reliably recall to you, is one of the most vital skills they will ever learn. For a young dog, the world is a thrilling place, filled with new sights, sounds, and smells. Each time you call your puppy, you’re asking them to disengage from these fascinating distractions and return to you. Building a strong, reliable recall means teaching your puppy that being by your side is the most rewarding and enjoyable place to be, offering them the greatest attention and rewards. This fundamental command is crucial for their safety and for fostering a deeper bond between you and your growing canine companion, helping you manage other behaviors like how to stop a puppy jumping up on the sofa.
Understanding Reliable Recall for Your Puppy
“Reliable recall” for a puppy means that when you give the “come” command, you can be highly confident they will enthusiastically respond and return to you. While no dog is a robot, and there’s never a 100% guarantee, our goal in puppy training is to achieve the highest possible consistency for this life-saving skill. This consistency is particularly important if you ever plan to allow your puppy off-leash in a safe, designated area, beyond the confines of a fenced yard. Moreover, a solid recall is invaluable in emergency situations, helping you keep your puppy safe from potential hazards.
Safe Alternatives to Off-Leash Play for Young Pups
It’s perfectly acceptable to keep your puppy on a leash if you are not yet fully confident in their recall abilities. There’s no shame in prioritizing your puppy’s safety. Instead of immediate off-leash freedom, consider allowing them to play in securely fenced areas, or use a long training leash. These options provide your puppy with more room to explore and enjoy their surroundings while ensuring they remain safe and within your control. Learning how to get your dog from pulling on the leash can also enhance their readiness for future off-leash experiences.
A Brussels Griffon puppy stands attentively in the grass, secured by a leash, ready for training or a walk.
Regardless of how well your puppy responds to your recall, it is always important to respect all local leash laws. This applies to your front yard and any other unfenced areas of your property, as well as local, state, and national parks, which typically have strict regulations in place for the safety of all visitors and wildlife.
Step-by-Step Puppy Recall Training
Making training a fun and engaging game is a crucial part of teaching your puppy to come. Begin your recall training in a calm, low-distraction environment, such as inside your home or a quiet, enclosed space. Start by showing your puppy a favorite toy or a highly desirable treat. As they begin to move towards you, offer verbal praise. Once they reach you, be sure to immediately reward them with the treat or toy. After a few repetitions, once your puppy consistently looks at you and starts moving in your direction, you can introduce your chosen verbal cue, such as “come” or “here.” Only add the cue when you are confident your puppy is already on their way to you, associating the word with the action.
You can gradually increase the challenge by asking your puppy to come before visually showing them the treat. Always reward them with a high-value treat, such as small pieces of chicken, cheese, or beef liver, when they successfully reach you. As your puppy progresses, slowly increase the distance between you and them within your low-distraction environment. Remember, consistent positive reinforcement is key to building a strong foundation. Even when addressing other common puppy behaviors, such as how to stop dog from jumping on sofa, a positive approach yields the best results.
Fun Recall Games to Play with Your Puppy
Engaging your puppy in playful recall games can significantly boost their enthusiasm for the “come” command.
- Catch Me: While walking your puppy on a loose leash, get their attention, then turn around and run a few steps away. As your pup follows you, happily say “Come!” or your chosen recall cue. After a few steps, stop and reward them with a delicious treat or a favorite toy. Always ensure your puppy is paying attention before you start running to avoid any sudden jerks on the leash.
- Find Me: Once your puppy understands the basic concept of recall, you can build speed and excitement by calling them from another room. When your puppy finds you, shower them with praise and generous rewards. This hide-and-seek style game is not only effective for training but also a lot of fun for both you and your furry friend!
- Hot Potato: Gather two or more family members or friends, each equipped with high-value treats. Stand a good distance apart and take turns calling your puppy between you. Reward your puppy each time they enthusiastically come to the person who called them.
A common mistake trainers make is to recall their puppy, immediately put them on a leash, and then go home, effectively ending the fun. Puppies may quickly learn to associate recall with the end of their playtime, making them less likely to respond in the future. A better practice is to recall your puppy, offer praise and a treat, and then release them to go back to what they were doing. This teaches them that coming to you doesn’t always mean the fun is over.
Avoiding “Poisoned Cues” in Puppy Training
Have you ever found yourself repeatedly calling, “Come! Come! Come! Please come!” to your puppy with no response? If so, you might have inadvertently created a “poisoned cue.” This often happens unintentionally when a verbal cue either loses its clear meaning or develops a negative association for the puppy, leading them to ignore it. The easiest way to poison a cue is to overuse it, repeating the word over and over without your puppy responding, or using it when you know they are unlikely to respond.
A playful Cocker Spaniel puppy joyfully runs across a green grassy yard, ears flapping in the breeze.
If you suspect you have a poisoned cue, the best course of action is to change your verbal cue entirely. For instance, if you’ve been using “come,” switch to something new like “here” or “close.” Then, go back to the very basics of training, starting in a low-distraction environment, to reintroduce the new recall cue. This fresh start helps your puppy build a positive, clear association with the new command.
Essential Tips for Successful Puppy Recall
Mastering puppy recall requires patience, consistency, and a positive approach. Here are some key tips to ensure success:
- Avoid Repeating Yourself: If you find yourself repeating the recall cue multiple times, it’s likely that the environment is too distracting for your puppy, or they don’t yet understand the skill well enough for that level of challenge. Re-evaluate the situation and simplify the training.
- Reward Eye Contact: Whenever you notice your puppy looking at you or voluntarily choosing to be near you, offer immediate verbal praise and a treat. While you might use many treats initially, you are reinforcing a vital lesson: good things happen when your puppy is close and attentive to you. This also helps with establishing boundaries, like how to get your dog out of your bed if that’s a rule in your household.
- Never Punish Your Puppy for Coming to You: Even if your puppy took a long time to respond, always praise and reward them when they eventually come. Punishing them for a delayed response will only teach them to associate coming to you with negative consequences, making them less likely to come in the future.
- Reward Generously! When training recall, always use high-value treats and exciting toys. This is especially critical during the learning phase. You want your puppy to associate coming to you with receiving something truly fantastic, making it the most rewarding action they can take.
- Practice Recalls Daily: Integrate short, fun recall sessions into your daily routine. Gradually increase the difficulty and the level of distraction. Moving too quickly can confuse your puppy and hinder their progress towards reliable recall.
- In an Emergency, Don’t Chase: If you desperately need your puppy to come to you in an emergency and they’re running away, resist the urge to chase them. This often turns it into a game for the puppy, encouraging them to keep running. Instead, try running away from your puppy to inspire them to chase after you.
Teaching your puppy to come on command is an ongoing journey that strengthens your bond and ensures their safety. By making it a positive and rewarding experience, you’ll build a reliable recall that lasts a lifetime.
