How to teach a dog to come when called

Teaching your dog to come when called (known as recall training) is one of the most important skills your pet can learn.

While it’s very handy to have an obedient dog who comes when they’re called, having a strong and reliable recall is actually vital for your pup’s safety, according to Dr Katrina Warren, Australian veterinarian and TV presenter.

Good recall can help your pet avoid hazardous situations, such as traffic, venomous snakes and other wildlife, and prevent them from getting involved in situations with aggressive dogs.

But dog recall can be one of the hardest behaviours to train. It takes persistence, patience, practice and plenty of rewards for your 4-legged student.

Dr Warren has some tips to help both you and your pup succeed.

Before you teach a dog to come when called, you’ll need to make sure you have a reward on hand that is very attractive to your dog. Why? You have to make yourself the most exciting, interesting and appealing thing in the dog’s environment to make their coming back to you worthwhile for them. A good reward may be high-value treats (such as cooked chicken or a little bit of cheese) or, for dogs who aren’t food motivated, a favourite toy that only comes out during recall training.

One of the keys to setting your pup up for success is to start teaching dog recall in a distraction-free environment, such as inside the home. The fewer things to capture your dog’s attention as they learn the process, the more likely they will get it right. And, if they get it right, they get a reward, which increases their chances of performing the behaviour again.

1. First, pick a word or hand signal that means your dog has to return to you. ‘Come’ is a common option, or you can simply use your dog’s name.
2. Start off small by calling either their name or the chosen command every time they come to you for any reason. This could be when they come over to eat their dinner, or when they come to you when you offer them a toy or give them a treat.
3. Make it a game by using a squeaky toy or treats to make recall practise fun for your dog, and always encourage them with verbal praise, too.

“Coming to you should always be a pleasant experience,” says Dr Warren.

4. Gradually increase the distance by moving backwards and squeaking a toy or offering a treat. As soon as your dog follows, say their command or their name.
5. “Once you get confident with the basics, start to add in distractions and practise recall in different locations,” says Dr Warren. It’s important you know how to train dog recall in different environments because out in the big wide world there are a lot of distractions you can’t control. When you practise in new places, be sure to take lots of treats to keep your dog’s attention on you. Distractions could be other people, traffic or other dogs.

A big part of how to train dog recall is how not to do it, and there are some big no-no’s to be aware of if you want to teach a dog to come to you successfully.

When you’re teaching a pup to come to you, it’s important not to keep calling them if they’re running away. By doing this, you might inadvertently train your dog to run away from you when you call ‘come’ or call their name, rather than teaching them to return to you.

Whether teaching dog recall during a session or putting it into practise while out and about, “never punish or scream at your dog if they don’t come back to you when you call,” says Dr Warren. This will only teach them to be reluctant in the future. You want to make sure that teaching dog recall is a fun, positive experience for your pup.

If you’re teaching your pup to come when they’re still very young, keep your sessions short at around 3 to 5 minutes at a time. Pups have very short attention spans, whereas older dogs can train for 15 to 20 minutes.

When you’re feeling confident enough in your dog’s recall to take training out of the house, choose an enclosed area. This is essential for your pup’s safety. If you can’t find an enclosed area for training sessions, you might consider teaching pup to come while on a long leash until their recall is reliable.

One mistake often made when people teach a dog to come is letting them off leash in public and only recalling them to put the leash back on when it’s time to go. The dog learns that being called means the fun is over and may start ignoring the call. So, how do you teach your dog recall doesn’t necessarily mean it’s home time? Several times during play, call them over, leash them, give treats and praise, then let them go back to their fun.

Training is just one part of looking after your pup. Learn more about how to groom your dog and why it’s important for their health and happiness.