Come - Recall

This is a formal command to have the dog come to you and sit-stay. Being able to call your dog to you is one of the most important commands to learn.

You can also teach a less strict recall that I call a Change Direction cue. It has the dog come check in with you and if you are moving, continue in your direction. It’s best to teach both.

Recall Rules

1. This command is sacred! There needs to be zero failure to comply. Use it wisely!

2. Every recall must be a successful one. You only say “Come” once and then you must enforce it. Do not use this formal recall if you’re not sure if they will come and you can’t enforce it (with a leash). Instead use an informal recall like their name or “Over here buddy, come on pal”. They don’t need to obey informal recalls and you don’t need to enforce them. 

3. Never use recall and then follow it up with something unpleasant like nail clipping or scolding. Always be super excited when they get to you.

Steps

Phase 1 - Acquisition (Learning and Luring)

1. You’ll be using both hands in front of you and close to your body and low. One hand will have a lot of treats and the other hand will be the delivery hand.

2. Start by getting your dog to sit in front of you looking up. (not commanded, just lured into position).

3. Get them looking up at you from right in front of you and mark and reward a few times. Building engagement.

4. Then we’ll start doing the backwards follow. With your hands over your chest, lower them down and start walking backwards and lure and reward the dog for following along. Reward from up against your body/legs, you want your dog as close to you as possible. Continually reward. You don’t have to use your markers here but you can. When they eat a treat out of your hand use your other hand with lots of treats to drop a new one into your empty hand and let them eat that. Repeat until they have no problem following you as you move backwards.

5. Now you’ll start building the auto-sit when you come to a stop. Continue to do the backwards follow and when you come to a stop lift your hands up slowly, luring them to a sit front position. Mark and reward them for sitting with multiple rewards and then release with “OK.”

6. Continue to present your hand in front of your legs, step back a few steps, dog follows lure, reward continually, then stop moving and start to raise your hands up so the dog stays centered on you and performs a sit. Mark and reward and release.

7. Fade out feeding treats as you move backwards to only rewarding them after they sit when you come to a stop. If they sit too far away or need help simply lower your hands and back up a little, this is simply resetting to help them figure it out.

8. When they start moving after you lower your hand and sit in front of you when you stop then you are ready to advance.

Phase 2 - Automatic (Motivation)

1. Adding the command: Starting in front of your dog like before, say “Come” THEN lower hands and start walking backwards again with your hands low just like in Step 7. After a few steps, stop and raise your hand to get them into the sit. Mark and reward and release. Multiple rewards help this become a valuable task!

2. Once they are responding to the verbal command, you can take a step back to create some space. Repeat step 1. Everything has the same order of operations, you’re just adding in a little distance between you and your dog. 

3. Continue creating more distance. You may need to go back a step or create less space. You can also move backwards quickly to create some speed and fun for the dog. 

4. The dog should be coming when called with little to no hand signals from you now. Continue to increase your distance from where you are in relation to the dog before giving the command. Also start asking them to come when they aren’t paying attention to you. Always move backwards. 

• At this point the dog should know the verbal command “Come” so if you say it once and they don’t come after a second or so then say your non-reinforcement marker “Nope” THEN apply gentle leash pressure towards you. Once they start moving in the right direction, release the leash pressure and encourage them to keep coming. If you find you need to use the leash more than once, then go back to a shorter distance and reintroduce your hand cues. 

• Once your dog is responding to “Come” without the need of hand signals or leash pressure in a low distraction environment every time then you can move onto Phase 3. 

*Always have your dog come to you after you say the command once. Always reward. Always release them after. 

Phase 3 - Generalization (Distractions)

1. Practice Phase 1 and 2 in new areas. Ensuring that you reinforce the command every time. 

2. Start practicing with a longer leash and when your dog is distracted. Most recalls are going to be used when your dog isn’t just sitting in front of you waiting for you to tell them something.

3. Practice with a partner distracting them by either petting them or holding treats.

4. With your dog on a long leash and a harness, throw a toy away from you. As they are running to get it, say “Come”, if they don’t change their direction say “Nope” and then turn on leash pressure. Remove the leash pressure when they start coming back to you and encourage them to keep coming. Reward them when they sit in front of you. Do this randomly and not a bunch in a row, the dog will catch on and stop running towards the toy, meaning you can’t get anymore distraction training in.

5. Practice this on walks and when they notice something like another dog or squirrel.