How to train a Perfect Recall
What does a “perfect recall” look like?
It likely looks a bit different to everyone, however for most of us it will look like a dog running straight back to their owner after they have given them their recall cue. This cue might be a whistle, hand signal or a word (such as ‘here’ or ‘come’) and should only need to be issued once. Finally, for a truly perfect recall, the dog will come back no matter what distractions there are in the environment.
Are perfect recalls actually possible?
With very consistent training where the dog is not given the chance to practice ignoring their owner’s cues, and when each time the dog returns they are reinforced with something high value (i.e. really worth their while)… a near perfect recall is very possible. I will never say that a dog can have truly bombproof, absolutely perfect recall however because, well, they are a living breathing animal with an independent mind. It would be unrealistic and unfair to expect that no matter what was happening in their environment they will reliably come back to us. For example if there is a sudden thunder storm with booms of thunder above you, would your dog who is scared of fireworks come back when called - or would it be justified if they bolted and ran for home or your car? Or what if you are walking along a wooded path and a rabbit pops out just in front of your dog and then darts away into the bushes - is this not a huge ask for your dog to completely ignore? Finally, what if another dog runs over and acts in a way that terrifies your dog - would you not think it is more realistic for them to turn tail and run away, as opposed to trot back to your side? We need to think about these possibilites when letting our dogs off lead and not get frustrated when their recall falters. They are just animals, with their own brains and instincts and desires. All we can do is teach them that coming when called is highly motivating and rewarding for them, hopefully more so than any alternatives that present themselves (including chasing prey or sniffing some exciting smell in the bushes).
So how do we train the near perfect recall?
1) If your dog currently does not respond to your recall cue on the first call (i.e. you find yourself regularly shouting ‘Lola come! Lola… Come! LOLA, COME HERE! LOLA - HERE NOW PLEASE’ etc.) then you really should only be letting your dog off in private, secure locations. At this stage of your training I would HIGHLY recommend seeking out a good, comfortable long line and harness to aid in your training.
2) At home, with no distractions, chop some high value food into small pieces (such as chicken, hot dogs, beef, blueberries, cheese - whatever your dog enjoys) and start paying them for checking in with you. You can do this on walks as well, but it is always good to start at home. A check in is any time your dog looks directly at you - you can wait for ‘automatic’ or unprompted check ins, otherwise you can make a noise or say your dogs name to get them started. Ideally we want them doing it automatically - looking at my owner means good things follow.
3) Next (still at home) when your dog looks at you take a few step backwards (ideally with some energy, if you want them to be running back to you as opposed to walking). If you use a recall world (i.e. come, here or a whistle) then you can add this in as you move backwards and your dog starts moving to follow you. The moment they get to you, you are going to pay them with their high value treat. On some occasions it would be beneficial to throw this treat to the side of you, or through your legs (if your dog is small enough) or behind you - this adds in movement and keeps the game going! Lots of fun is VERY GOOD in recall training. You can even add in toys if you want to!
4) Keep playing these check in and short recall games at home, in the garden and on walks (but keep your lead short). Remember - during this stage DO NOT let your dog off lead anywhere not secure. In areas where you are secure DO NOT use your recall cue unless you know for certain they will come back (i.e. they are already moving towards you or they are on a long line).
5) Once your dog is nailing the short recalls, showing enthusiasm and engagement; automatically checking in with you on walks regularly, you can start practising in more distracting areas. This could be the edge of a dog park or on rural walks with lots of sniffs - anywhere your dog might get distracted, but ideally not completely overwhelmed.
6) Build upon this training in different environments and start to incorporate long lines. Remember to use those games of throwing the treat away from you or through your legs, as well as just straight feeding when they get to you - and keep that reinforcer at high value. With recall it pays to reward your dog heavily, every time.
7) When you think you are ready you can start dropping the long line - but only if your dog is reliably coming back every time you say their recall cue ONCE and with lots of enthusiasm.
8) The biggest tip is to have fun! Your training should be enjoyable for both of you, especially with recall - if you aren’t fun to hang out with and come back to, why would your dog ignore all the fun distractions when you call them.
If you would like more guidance on recall training please do get in touch as we can provide 1 to 1 advice specifically tailored to you and your dog. Otherwise have a look at our instagram and facebook page for videos on this, and other, topics that we regularly post!
