A rock-solid recall — your dog coming when called — is one of the most important (and lifesaving!) skills you can teach. But like any skill, it doesn’t happen overnight. Building a reliable recall starts with using simple, fun games that set your dog up for success from the get-go.
Like any behavior, a strong recall starts small — and grows as your dog builds skill and confidence.
Here are three foundation recall games you can play with dogs of any age and training capability. These games teach the bones of the behavior, but the real power of a strong recall shines once we start proofing our recall.
Call & Step (Runaway Game)
This is the most basic game that builds off of our puppy’s natural desire to hang out where good stuff appears.
- Standing in front of your dog, give them a few free cookies.
- Say “Puppy, come!”
- Take one step back.
- When they follow you, say “Yes!” and treat.
As they get good at this, you can start taking more steps away. Puppies who love to chase usually love this game – feel free to capitalize on that and add some speed! (Remember: these are games, have some fun!)
Call & Toss (“Get it!” Game)
Call & Toss or “Get it!” Game is one of my favorite games to play to build focus, attention, and engagement. It’s a great warm-up for training sessions, and a great way to teach your dog what “Come!” means.
- Standing in an open area, give them a few free cookies.
- Say “Get it!” and toss a treat for your dog a few feet away.
- After your dog eats it, say “Puppy, come!”
- When they return to you, “Yes!” and treat.
It’s important that your dog is able to quickly find the treat you toss – choose your treats and your location to support this! Contrasting colors, hard surfaces, and few distractions will set you up for success.
Ping-Pong (With a Partner!)
- In a hallway or an open area, stand a few steps apart from your training partner. Both of you should have a handful of the same treats.
- Have your training partner give your dog a few free participation treats, then put their hands behind their back and ignore your dog. When your dog has eaten their treats, call “Puppy, come!”
- As soon as your dog turns toward you, mark “Yes!” and reward them when they reach you.
- After your dog finishes eating, it’s your partner’s turn!
- Take turns calling your dog back and forth. As your dog is successful, you can take steps back so your dog must go further and further for their reward.
If your dog finds this game too hard, help them out by making it easier. Consider standing closer together or using better treats. As your dog gets good at this, start only marking “Yes!” after your dog has successfully arrived at their destination.
Tips for Success
- Recall should always be something your dog looks forward to! Keep sessions short & sweet, and play at a difficulty that your dog enjoys. Some dogs like a challenge, while other dogs may prefer if things are a little easier.
- NEVER recall your dog to something less than amazing. Recall should never mean “time to leave the park” or “bath time”
- To practice recalling out of fun situations (like at the dog park), make sure “Recall = come get free food, no strings attached“. Practice recalling your dog away from play, feeding, then releasing them right back to play time.
- Use a variety of high-value rewards to make sure this behavior is valuable for your dog.
- Every so often, give your dog a jackpot! Throw them a puppy party – treats, toys, praise, the works. We want coming when called to feel like hitting the jackpot — always worth it, and sometimes unbelievably exciting!
- Always start foundations in a calm, low-distraction environment. When your dog is reliable 10 out of 10 times, you can start Proofing!
With a strong foundation built through games, and smart practice as you add challenges, you’ll have a recall you can trust — and your dog will love answering the call!
