This February is all about recall! Our Total Recall Challenge – a series of fun recall games and training activities – will run throughout the month and has been carefully designed to help you strengthen one of the most important life skills your dog will ever learn.
Whether you’re exploring the coast or out and about in the countryside, having a dog who reliably comes back when called keeps adventures safe, fun, and stress‑free.
In this blog, Rachael from Goodall Dog Training shares her top five recall training tips. Rachael is an experienced, accredited trainer and an expert in her field, so you can trust that her top tips are tried, tested and top quality.
Don’t be stingy with rewards
“It’s not gold in your pocket, it’s chicken, so be generous when your dog recalls. No boring old bits of kibble, bring out the cheese, hot dogs, liver paste – whatever your dog really loves!”
Mix up your treats
“Have you ever told your mum that you like a certain dinner, and then had it for the next 10 years every time you see her? Keep the rewards valuable by using them sparingly and mixing them up.
Sometimes it’s cheese, sometimes it’s chicken, sometimes it’s an awesome new tug toy or their favourite ball in the world! Sometimes, it’s access to jumping in a stinky bog, or running over to see their mate. Access to something in the environment might be the most valuable reward you can offer in that moment.”
Start in the house
“We’re building a default behaviour here, so when your dog hears their recall cue, their muscle memory kicks in, and they can’t help but spin on a dime and run in your direction.
To do this, we start in the house not outside. They don’t even need to be in another room. Start with them six inches away from you and build up your distance over time. You know when you say to your dog “dinner time”, and they always get excited? That’s because every time you say “dinner time” a delicious bowl of dinner appears – do the same for your recall.”
Don’t throw your recall to the wind
“During the early stages of teaching your dog recall, do not call them unless you are 99.99% sure they are going to come! If they’re sniffing a bush, playing with their mate or having the time of their life in a muddy muddle, DO NOT call them. They will not come and you’ll have wasted your recall.
Only use your precious recall cue when you are confident that they will respond to it – this is how we build a rock-solid response! In the meantime, if your dog is busy doing something, go and get them rather than spoil your recall cue.”
Use a long line
“A long line bridges the gap between on and off lead freedom for your dog. By having a long, five metre length lead you can allow your dog to feel off lead, while still maintaining that safety net. As your dog’s recall gets better and better, you can start dropping the longline and allowing it to trail behind them until you’re confident they can be fully off lead.”
If you’d like more pro-tips to help you with recall training, our Total Recall Challenge is full of them! Find out more and take part with your dog.
