Teaching your dog to reliably come when called is one of the most crucial skills they can learn. This foundational command, known as recall, can ensure your dog’s safety in various situations and strengthens the bond between you. However, it can be a challenging process, as the world often presents more enticing distractions than our call. Each time you ask your dog to come, you are essentially asking them to disengage from something they find interesting. This guide will break down the essential steps and effective games to help your dog master the recall command.
Essential Tools for Teaching Recall
To begin teaching your dog to come when called, you will need a few simple items:
- High-Value Treats: Small, delicious treats that your dog absolutely loves are key to positive reinforcement.
- A Quiet Indoor Area: Start training in a low-distraction environment to help your dog focus on you.
Step-by-Step Guide to Teaching “Come”
The process of teaching recall is best approached with patience and positive reinforcement. Follow these steps to build a strong recall foundation:
- Initial Association: Begin by sitting with your puppy and saying their name or the cue word “come.” Immediately offer a treat. At this stage, there’s no expectation for your dog to perform any action other than to associate the word with a positive reward. Repeat this process consistently.
- Introducing the Treat: Place a treat on the floor near you. Once your puppy finishes the treat on the ground, repeat the cue word “come” and offer another treat. When your dog looks up at you after eating, give them another treat.
- Increasing Distance: Gradually increase the distance you toss the treat. As you toss it further, ensure your dog can turn around to face you when you say their name. It’s important to avoid repeating your puppy’s name excessively, as this can lead to them ignoring it. If your dog doesn’t respond, move closer and revert to a step where they can succeed on the first try.
- Adding Movement and Fun: Once your puppy consistently turns to face you, it’s time to make the training more dynamic. Toss a treat and take a few quick steps away while calling your puppy’s name. The element of a chase game can be highly motivating.
- Positive Reinforcement: When your puppy catches up to you, shower them with praise, more treats, or engage them with a favorite tug toy. The goal is to make coming to you an incredibly enjoyable experience.
- Generalizing the Skill: Continue to build upon these steps in new locations and with increasing distances. When training outdoors, always do so in a safe, enclosed area. Initially, using a long leash can be beneficial.
Important Considerations for Recall Training
As you progress, keep these points in mind to ensure a positive and effective training experience:
- Avoid Grabbing: When your puppy comes to you, resist the urge to immediately grab them. For some dogs, this can be confusing or even frightening. If you have a timid puppy, try kneeling down, facing them sideways, and offering treats as you reach for their collar.
- Never Punish: Never call your dog to you if you intend to punish them. This will only teach them to avoid you in the future. Even if your dog has misbehaved, always reward them generously for responding to your recall cue.
- Maintain Positivity: As Kait Hembree, Head of Training at GoodPup, emphasizes, keeping recall training fun is paramount. “It is critical that we work to ensure a positive and highly reinforced connection to our dog’s recall cue by working to balance the fun with allowing them to at times return to what they were doing originally when we called them,” Hembree states. “Always rewarding for their immediate response when cued; and making sure that the value of their reward is worth what they walked away from to come to us.”
Engaging Games to Reinforce Recall
Incorporating games into your recall training routine can significantly boost your dog’s enthusiasm and success:
- “Can You Catch Me?”: During an on-leash walk, get your dog’s attention. Turn and run the other way, saying “come!” as your dog begins to follow. After a few steps, stop and reward your pup with a treat or a toy. Ensure your dog is paying attention before you start running to prevent them from being unexpectedly pulled by the leash.
- Hide-and-Seek: This classic game is excellent for dogs and humans alike. Hide in another room and call your dog to find you. Reward them with praise and treats when they locate you. This game is best introduced once your dog has a solid understanding of the basic recall command.
- “Hot Potato”: Gather two or more friends, each with a high-value treat. Take turns calling your dog between each person, rewarding them each time they successfully come to the person who called.
Test Your Dog’s Recall Skills
The “come when called” command is a recognized skill in various dog training programs. For instance, it’s one of the 10 required skills for both puppies and adult dogs to earn the Virtual Home Manners title. For puppies aged 3 months to 1 year, they must reliably come when called from 10 feet away indoors. Adult dogs (4 months and older) are expected to respond to a recall cue from 20 feet away or from another room, both inside and outside the house. Consistent practice and positive reinforcement are the keys to achieving these milestones.
