How Do I Train My Dog to Come When Called?
vShort answer, a reliable recall is built by making coming to you the best decision your dog can make, every single time. It is one of the most useful things you can teach, and it is very trainable with the right steps. Here is how to build it.
Why won’t my dog come when called?
Usually because coming back has not paid off, or the word has been poisoned. If “come” has ever meant the fun ends, the leash goes on, or a scolding follows, your dog learns to hesitate. The fix is making the recall the most rewarding word your dog knows.
How do I start teaching recall?
Start indoors with no distractions. Say your dog’s name and your recall word once, in a happy voice, then reward big the moment they come. Keep sessions short and win often. You are teaching that the word always predicts something great.
What reward works best?
The one your dog would cross the room for. High value food, a favorite toy, or a burst of play. Recall is not the place to be stingy. Pay well early and often, and your dog builds a habit of turning on a dime when they hear the word.
How do I add distance and distractions?
Slowly. Once recall is solid inside, move to the yard, then a quiet park on a long line. Add one new distraction at a time. If your dog blows you off, you moved too fast. Back up a step, make it easier, and rebuild.
What should I never do?
Never call your dog to punish them, and never repeat the word over and over while they ignore it. Both teach the recall means less than it should. If your dog will not come, go get them calmly, then make the next rep easier.
Can a class help?
A lot. A structured program builds recall around real distractions with a trainer watching your timing. Our Day School and Stay and Train programs in Boston work on recall and everyday manners in the middle of the exact distractions dogs struggle with, other dogs, noise, and movement.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to train a dog to come when called?
A basic indoor recall can click in a week or two of short daily sessions. A recall that holds up outdoors around distractions takes months of steady practice on a long line.
What word should I use for recall?
Any word you can say happily and keep clean. “Come” or “here” both work. The key is that the word always pays off and is never used to end fun or to scold.
Why does my dog come at home but not at the park?
The park is full of competition. Your reward has to beat the environment. Go back to a long line, raise the value of your reward, and add distractions gradually.