In Practice
A real recall session
Recall is safety-critical. It's the one skill that could save your dog's life. But most recall training looks nothing like the polished videos you see online. In our garden, it looks like a puppy who comes sometimes, gets distracted by a leaf, sniffs something, and eventually makes her way back. And that's fine at 12 weeks. We're building the muscle, not testing it. Every successful recall at this age is a deposit in the bank.
Step by step
Start in the most boring environment possible. The garden with nothing happening. Not the park. Not the front yard. Boring is where you build the foundation.
Wait for a natural moment when the puppy is already heading your way. Say their name. Mark it the instant they commit to coming. Reward big.
Use the best treats you have. Recall gets the good stuff. Cheese, chicken, whatever they'll sell their soul for. This is not the time for kibble.
Keep it short. 2-3 recalls per session maximum at this age. End before they lose interest. Quit while you're ahead.
Never call them for something they won't like. If you need to put them in the crate or end playtime, go and get them. Don't poison the recall cue by using it for things they don't want.
Practice on a long line in new environments before you trust it off-lead. The long line is your safety net and your puppy's freedom to explore without risk.
What to watch for
If they don't come, don't repeat the cue. Go and get them, reset, try again when conditions are easier. Repeating a failed cue teaches them to ignore it.
Don't call them when they're locked onto something. If another dog, a squirrel, or a really good smell has their attention, they physically cannot respond. Wait for the focus to break.
Celebrate every recall like they just won the lottery. Yes, even the slow ones. Yes, even the ones where they stopped to sniff on the way. They came. That's what matters.
It's a lifelong skill. Adolescence will test it. Environmental distractions will test it. Keep practising, keep rewarding, keep the bank account full.
Key terms
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Real life
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