Puppy Recall Training: Teaching Your Puppy Reliable Recall

What Are the Building Recall Foundations Indoors?

Begin recall training in your home where distractions are minimal. Wait for a moment when your puppy is nearby but not looking at you, then say their name followed by your recall word (such as come or here) in a bright, enthusiastic tone. As they move towards you, encourage them with happy body language, crouching down and opening your arms. The instant they reach you, give several high-value treats in a row and praise enthusiastically.

Repeat this 10 to 15 times per day in different rooms and at different times. Your puppy should quickly learn that the recall word predicts wonderful things. Use the best treats you have, not their regular kibble. Small pieces of cooked chicken, cheese, or hot dog sausage are high enough value to compete with environmental distractions later. The recall word should become the most powerful word in your puppy’s vocabulary.

A common indoor game is restrained recalls. Have one person gently hold your puppy while you move a few metres away, show a treat, and call the recall word. When released, the puppy sprints towards you for the reward. The restraint builds excitement and anticipation. This game can involve multiple family members taking turns being the caller, teaching your puppy that recall from anyone in the family is rewarding. See our socialisation guide for building confidence that supports recall.

How Should You Progres to Garden and Outdoor Recall?

Once your puppy responds reliably indoors, move to your garden where there are slightly more distractions (smells, birds, outdoor sounds). Use the same technique: call the recall word, reward generously when they come. If your puppy does not respond immediately in the garden, avoid repeating the word. Instead, make yourself more exciting by moving away from them, making high-pitched noises, or producing a squeaky toy. Running away from your puppy almost always triggers a chase response.

For public spaces, always use a long line (5 to 10 metre training lead) until recall is thoroughly reliable. A long line gives your puppy a sense of freedom to explore while you maintain safety and control. Let the line trail on the ground and only pick it up if needed. Practice recalls on the long line in parks, fields, and other outdoor locations, always rewarding generously.

The long line stage should last several weeks or even months, depending on your puppy’s breed and individual temperament. Breeds with high prey drive (terriers, sighthounds, spaniels) typically need longer on the long line than breeds bred for close work with handlers (collies, retrievers). Do not rush to off-lead; a single bad experience of your puppy running off and not returning can set training back significantly. Our walking schedule guide covers structured walk routines.

How Should You Proofe Recall Around Distractions?

Proofing means teaching your puppy to respond to recall even when competing distractions are present. Start with mild distractions (a toy on the ground, another person standing still) and gradually increase difficulty (other dogs at a distance, wildlife scents, running children). At each level, your puppy should respond to the recall word at least 8 out of 10 times before increasing difficulty.

The key principle is that you must be more rewarding than the distraction. If your puppy finds other dogs more exciting than your treats, you need either better treats, more exciting delivery (tossing treats, playing tug as a reward), or to reduce the distraction level. Recall is not about control; it is about being the best option available. A puppy that genuinely wants to come back to you because wonderful things happen will recall reliably.

Practice surprise recalls during walks by occasionally calling your puppy back from something interesting, rewarding massively, then releasing them to go back to what they were doing. This teaches your puppy that recall does not mean the fun ends. If recall always means being put on the lead and going home, your puppy learns to avoid coming back. Mix recall with immediate release so they never know whether recall means the walk continues or a jackpot reward is coming.

What Is the Recall Games That Build Speed and Reliability?

Recall games make training fun for both you and your puppy. The ping-pong game involves two people standing 5 to 10 metres apart, taking turns calling the puppy between them. Each person rewards generously when the puppy arrives. This builds speed, enthusiasm, and the habit of recalling from different directions. As the puppy improves, increase the distance and add mild distractions.

Hide and seek is excellent for building recall drive. Have someone hold your puppy while you hide behind a tree, bush, or piece of furniture. Call the recall word and let your puppy find you. The excitement of the search combined with the reward of finding you creates powerful positive associations with the recall word. This game also teaches your puppy to use their nose to locate you, which is useful in real-world situations.

The emergency recall is a separate, high-intensity recall word reserved for genuine emergencies. Choose a word you never use in normal conversation. Practice it rarely (once or twice per week) but always follow it with the most extraordinary reward: a handful of their favourite treats, a special toy, or an exciting game. The emergency recall should predict something so amazing that your puppy drops everything to respond. This is your safety backup when a standard recall might not be enough.

What Are the Common Recall Mistakes and How to Fix Them?

The most damaging recall mistake is punishing or scolding your puppy when they return to you, even if they took 10 minutes to come back. From your puppy’s perspective, punishment happens at the moment of return, teaching them that coming back to you has negative consequences. Always reward the return, regardless of how long it took. You can prevent future slow returns by improving your training, not by punishing slow ones.

Repeating the recall word multiple times (come, come, COME, COME HERE) teaches your puppy to ignore the first several repetitions because you always say it again. If your puppy does not respond to the first call, do not repeat it. Instead, use movement (running away), sound (squeaky toy, kisses), or go and collect them using the long line. Protect the value of your recall word by never using it when you cannot reinforce it.

Recalling your puppy only when something boring or unpleasant follows (going home, having a bath, going to the vet) teaches them to avoid recall. Use recall frequently throughout walks for treats and immediate release. Call your puppy, reward them, and let them go play again. This randomness means your puppy never knows whether recall means the walk continues or ends, keeping them willing to respond every time. For additional training support, see our behaviour development timeline.