Teaching your dog to come when called, also known as recall, is one of the most crucial obedience skills they can learn. This command is not only essential for their safety but also for building a strong bond between you and your canine companion. However, recall training can present challenges, especially when dogs are easily distracted by the fascinating world around them. Each time you call your dog, you are asking them to disengage from whatever they are doing, making it vital to establish a positive and rewarding association with the command. This guide will walk you through the essential steps and fun games to make recall training a success.
What You Need to Teach “Come”
To effectively teach the recall command, you will need a few simple items:
- High-Value Treats: Use small, tasty treats that your dog absolutely loves. These should be more enticing than their regular kibble.
- A Quiet Indoor Area: Start training in a low-distraction environment to help your dog focus on you.
Steps for Teaching “Come”
The foundation of a reliable recall is built through consistent positive reinforcement. Follow these steps to teach your dog:
- Initial Association: Begin by sitting down with your puppy. Say their name or the command “come.” Immediately offer a treat. At this stage, there’s no expectation for your dog to perform any action; the goal is simply to associate the word with a positive reward.
- Introducing the Treat Drop: Place a treat on the floor near you. Once your puppy finishes the treat on the ground, repeat the cue (“come” or their name). When they look up at you, give them another treat.
- Increasing Distance: Gradually toss the treat a little further away. Ensure your dog can still turn to face you when you say their name. Important Note: Avoid repeating your puppy’s name too frequently without a response, as this can lead them to ignore it. If your dog struggles, move closer and reinforce a previous step where they can succeed.
- Adding Movement: Once your puppy reliably turns to face you, start incorporating movement to make the training more engaging. Toss a treat and take a few quick steps away while calling your puppy’s name. They should be motivated to chase you, turning it into a fun game.
- Reinforcing the Return: When your dog reaches you, offer abundant praise, more treats, or engage them with a favorite tug toy. The objective is to make coming to you an incredibly enjoyable experience.
- Generalizing the Skill: Continue practicing these steps in various locations and at increasing distances. When training outdoors, it’s advisable to use a long leash initially, always in a safe, enclosed area.
Keep in Mind for Successful Recall
When your dog successfully comes to you, resist the urge to immediately grab them. For some dogs, this can feel confusing or even frightening. If you have a timid puppy, try kneeling down, facing them sideways, and offering treats as you gently reach for their collar. Crucially, never call your dog if you intend to punish them. This will teach them to avoid you. Regardless of any mischief they may have been involved in, always reward your dog heavily for responding to your recall cue.
Kait Hembree, Head of Training at GoodPup, stresses the importance of keeping recall training fun and highly reinforced. She advises, “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. 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.” See the AKC’s advice on reward-based training.
Make Recall Training Fun with Games
Adding games to your routine can significantly boost your dog’s enthusiasm for recall training.
Can You Catch Me?
During an on-leash walk, capture your dog’s attention. Turn around and run in the opposite direction. As your pup starts to follow, enthusiastically call “come!” After a few steps, stop and reward your dog with a treat or a toy. Important: Ensure your dog is already focused on you before you start running to avoid any sudden jerks on the leash.
Hide-and-Seek
This classic game is enjoyable for both dogs and owners. Find a hiding spot in another room, then call out for your dog to find you. Once they locate you, reward them with praise and treats. This game is best introduced once your dog has a solid grasp of the basic recall command.
Hot Potato
Gather two or more friends for this game. Each person should have a high-value treat. Take turns calling your dog from one person to another, rewarding them each time they successfully come to the person who called. This game helps generalize the recall command to different people and situations. Basic dog obedience classes can also provide structured environments for practicing recall with distractions.
Test Your Skills
Did you know that “come when called” is one of the ten 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, from 4 months and older, need to demonstrate recall from 20 feet away or even from another room, both inside the house. Practicing basic things to train a puppy consistently will prepare them for these titles. Remember, training a puppy basic commands effectively relies on patience and positive reinforcement. Furthermore, basic command training for dogs extends beyond just recall, encompassing a range of essential behaviors.
