Teaching Your Dog a Reliable Recall

Why recall matters

A good recall gives your dog more freedom and keeps them safer around roads, wildlife and other people. It is also one of the harder things to teach, because the world is full of things more interesting than you. The secret is to make returning to you so rewarding that it becomes a habit.

Choose rewards your dog really wants

Ordinary kibble rarely competes with a squirrel. For recall training, use something your dog finds special:

• Small pieces of cooked chicken, cheese or a soft training treat
• A favourite toy, if your dog loves to play
• A quick game of chase or tug

Keep pieces small and adjust daily food to allow for training treats. Our pet calculators can help you keep portions sensible, and check our toxic foods list before using any human food as a reward.

Pick a clear cue

Choose a word or sound you will use only for recall, such as "come", "here" or a whistle. If you have used a word in the past and your dog tends to ignore it, start fresh with a new one. Say it once, in a happy, clear voice. Repeating it over and over teaches your dog it is optional.

Start indoors

Begin in a quiet room with no distractions.

1. Stand a short distance from your dog.
2. Say your cue in a cheerful voice.
3. As your dog comes towards you, praise them.
4. When they reach you, give the reward and gently touch their collar, so being held does not become something to avoid.
5. Release them to go back to what they were doing.

Practise a few times a day in short sessions. Move to different rooms, then a quiet garden. Getting a family member to call your dog back and forth between you can make it a fun game.

Add distractions slowly

Once your dog comes reliably at home, increase the challenge one step at a time. Change only one thing at a time: distance, distraction or location.

• Quiet garden, then a quiet street, then an empty park
• Short distances first, then further away
• Mild distractions, such as a toy on the floor, before bigger ones, such as other dogs

If your dog fails to come twice in a row, the step was too big. Go back to an easier level and build up again. Set your dog up to succeed as often as possible.

Use a long line

A long line is a lightweight lead, often several metres long, attached to a well-fitted harness. It gives your dog freedom to explore while you keep control.

• Let it trail or hold it loosely.
• Call your dog when they are not too distracted, and reward generously.
• If they do not respond, use the line to stop them from running off, but do not reel them in roughly.
• Avoid wrapping the line around your hand, and wear gloves if your dog is strong.

Practise on the long line in many locations before trying off lead in a safe, enclosed space.

Never call your dog to punish

If coming to you leads to something unpleasant, your dog will learn to avoid it. Never call your dog and then tell them off, even if they took ages to arrive or did something you did not like.

Be mindful of quieter downsides too. If you only call your dog to put the lead on and go home, recall becomes a signal that fun is over. Call them back several times on a walk, reward, and let them go again.

If you need to do something your dog dislikes, such as a bath or nail trim, go and get them instead of calling.

Build an emergency recall

An emergency recall is a separate, special cue saved for real situations, such as a dog heading towards a road. Choose a distinct word or whistle pattern.

• Use it rarely in training, and every time follow it with something exceptional, such as a handful of their favourite food.
• Practise in easy settings first, as with your everyday recall.
• Never use it casually or when you are not sure your dog will respond.

Because it is always paired with an outstanding reward, this cue can stay powerful even when your everyday recall is not perfect.

Breeds with strong chase and scent drives

Some dogs find it much harder to ignore movement or smells. Sighthounds such as greyhounds and whippets are often triggered by fast-moving animals. Scent hounds such as beagles and bloodhounds can become completely absorbed in a trail. Many terriers and working breeds have strong chase instincts too.

This does not mean they cannot learn recall, but it may take longer, and some dogs may never be safe off lead in open areas. For these dogs:

• Rely on a long line in unfenced areas
• Use secure, enclosed fields for off-lead time
• Offer outlets such as scent games, flirt poles or lure chasing
• Be realistic and put safety first

You can read more about breed traits in our dog breed profiles.

Keep it fun

Short, positive sessions work better than long ones. Keep notes on where your dog did well and where they struggled, so you know which steps to repeat. If recall is not improving, or your dog is reactive or fearful around distractions, a qualified, reward-based trainer or behaviourist can help.