October 20, 2022, 4:22 am | Read time: 3 minutes

In a city full of people, in tricky situations with vehicles, or around other animals: A dog that responds to recall saves the owner a lot of headaches. At the same time, the animal has more freedom, can play with other dogs, or (where allowed) explore the surroundings off-leash. In this episode of the PETBOOK Dog School, we explain how you can teach your dog the recall in a few steps.

Preparation: Signal, Treats, Body Language

Before starting the training, it’s important to choose the right command word. Dog trainer Verena Backhaus recommends a clear “Here” or “Come to me.”

The reward awaiting the dog should also be enticing enough, such as a favorite treat. Before training can begin, the owner’s positive, inviting body language is crucial. It must not appear threatening to the dog.

Also of interest: How to Teach Your Dog to Walk Calmly on a Leash

More on the topic

Tips for the Perfect Recall Your Dog Doesn’t Come When Called? Here’s What You Might Be Doing Wrong

Petbook Dog School How to Teach Your Dog the Attention Signal

Guide: How to Teach Your Dog Recall on Command

To train your dog to recall, ideally proceed as follows:

1. Step: To train the basics of recall, you need two people and a dog. One person holds the dog while the second person, usually the owner, calls the dog to them.
   
2. Step: The owner holds a treat to the dog’s nose.
   
3. Step: The owner then runs away from the dog and simultaneously calls the chosen command, such as “Here,” with their back to the dog.
   
4. Step: At the moment the owner speaks the command, the second person releases the dog so it can follow the signal.
   
5. Step: The owner then turns around and greets the dog with the treat as a reward and a word of praise, such as “Good job.”
   
6. Step: Repeat the exercise until the dog reliably responds to the command and the recall works consistently.

Tip: The owner should quickly run away from the dog and call the command with their back to the dog. If you turn around and notice the dog hesitating, you can encourage and motivate it to come.

What to Avoid When Teaching Your Dog Recall

If you want to teach your dog recall, you should avoid the following things.

Using Different Signals for Recall

Using different signals for recall can make it so the dog cannot be reliably recalled. Instead, the animal may be confused or distracted by different signals. This way, the chosen signals are not taken seriously, and the recall does not work.

Calling the Dog’s Name

Calling the dog’s name initially gets the animal’s attention. However, relying on this for recall is uncertain. Therefore, a clear command word like “Here” should be chosen and practiced. This lays the foundation for teaching the dog recall.

Leashing or Scolding the Dog After Successful Recall

To make recall training easier, avoid immediately leashing the dog. Also, scolding the dog if it doesn’t respond quickly enough creates a negative experience in the context of recall. With sufficient rewards in the form of treats, without punishment or leashing, the dog can learn that “Here” is a positive signal it wants to follow.