How to Teach a Dog Recall: Building Confidence and Connection

Intro

Are you feeling stuck and worried about your dog’s recall? Unsure where to even start? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. In this post, I’ll walk you through how to teach a dog recall that actually works. I’ll help you understand the role of handler confidence and share practical exercises to make recall fun and reliable.

I recently worked with a client who felt completely defeated. Her Collie wouldn’t come back when called. After one particularly stressful walk, where another dog owner shouted at her, she felt like a failure. She even questioned whether she should have a dog at all.

When we began working together, I focused on her confidence first. Until a handler takes the pressure off themselves, it’s hard for the dog to make progress. Once we found what motivated her Collie and turned recall into a game, everything changed. With patience, practice, and the right plan, her confidence grew. Now, her Collie has a fantastic recall, even around distractions!

Why Confidence Matters When Teaching Recall

If you’re wondering how to teach a dog recall, the answer doesn’t just lie in cues and rewards. It starts with your mindset. Social media can be both inspiring and damaging when it comes to dog training. You’ll often see videos claiming things like “teach a 100% recall in 5 minutes,” but let’s be honest, that’s just not realistic.

Dogs have emotions, instincts, and unique personalities. You can build a reliable recall, but not a guaranteed one. Teaching recall takes time, consistency, and understanding your individual dog. Too many owners lose confidence after watching others online or trying unrealistic methods. Remember, no trainer posts every mistake they make. Building trust and confidence creates long-lasting success.

If you’re struggling with confidence, you don’t have to do it alone. Working with a trainer who supports both you and your dog can make a world of difference. Book a 1–2–1 session here.

Using the 4 D’s in Recall Training

When learning how to teach a dog recall, it helps to understand the 4 D’s — Distance, Duration, Distraction, and Difficulty. These are the pillars of building reliable behaviour. The key is to change only one D at a time. Start small and progress gradually.

For example, if your dog can recall from a short distance in a quiet field, don’t suddenly try it in a busy park. Instead, increase the distance slightly while keeping distractions low. Build each D slowly and celebrate small wins — progress is progress!

Step-by-Step: How to Teach a Dog Recall

Teaching a reliable recall takes patience, practice, and positivity. Start by choosing your recall cue, a consistent word or whistle, and use it the same way every time. Begin training somewhere quiet, like your house or garden, where distractions are minimal. When your dog comes to you, reward generously with something they love. This could be a tasty treat, their favourite toy, or a big fuss.

Keep your sessions short and enjoyable, and always end on a success. As your dog improves, gradually increase one of the 4 D’s, perhaps more distance or slightly more distraction.

To understand just how challenging communication can be, play a game with a friend. Give them a task to complete, but you can only use gibberish sounds — no words or gestures. It’s a great reminder of how patient we need to be while our dogs learn what our cues mean.

If your dog loves playtime, bring that energy into training! Tug toys are brilliant for recall games that build excitement and engagement. Check out my favourite Tug-E-Nuff toys here.

My Dog Never Listens

If you’ve ever said, “my dog never listens to me,” you’re not alone. The first thing to ask yourself is, “Is my dog deaf?” If not, they can listen; they just might not yet understand or value the cue you’re using.

Dogs often ignore recall cues because they’ve been used inconsistently or without reward. Sometimes the cue becomes “poisoned,” meaning it’s lost its meaning. I’ve seen clients call, “Come!”, then “Here!”, then “What’s this?”, followed by “Biscuit!” and finally, “Teddy, will you just come here?” Sound familiar?

Using multiple cues confuses your dog. Choose one recall cue, teach it clearly, and stick with it. Once your dog understands that cue means good things, they’ll start choosing you over distractions.

Need help rebuilding your recall cue? Book a 1–2–1 session and we’ll create a plan that suits your dog’s personality and motivation.

My Dog Chases Everything

If your dog chases squirrels, bikes, or other dogs, it’s not bad behaviour; it’s instinct. The key is to channel that drive into something productive. Start recall training in low distraction areas or use a long line for safety. Use high-value rewards or a favourite toy. Practise breed-specific games. These behaviours don't just disappear; the dog gets a big dopamine hit from this and will keep looking to get more.

If this feels overwhelming, you’re not alone. Join one of my group classes where we work on recall and focus around real-life distractions, or book a 1-2-1 session.

My Dog Is Great Until They See Another Dog

Many owners tell me, “My dog is great until they see another dog!” It’s one of the most common recall challenges. Usually, this means the distractions became too big too soon. Go back a step and practise recall where you can control the distance from other dogs. Reward calm behaviour before asking for recall and gradually move closer over time. Remember, slow and steady progress builds lasting results. Every dog learns at their own pace.

Building a Stronger Bond with Your Dog

Teaching recall is not just about obedience; it’s about building a strong bond with your dog. When you train together, you create shared experiences that deepen your connection. This connection makes your dog more likely to respond to you, even in challenging situations.

Make training a part of your daily routine. Short, fun sessions can be more effective than long, drawn-out ones. Incorporate recall into playtime. Call your dog back to you during walks, and reward them when they come. This reinforces the idea that returning to you is a positive experience.

Wrapping Up

Learning how to teach a dog recall is a journey, not a race. It’s about connection, communication, and confidence. When you build trust, stay consistent, and keep training fun, your dog will want to come back to you, no matter what’s happening around them.

If you’d like more support, I’d love to help. Book a 1–2–1 recall session for personalised guidance. You can also join my group classes to practise recall around other dogs, or browse my favourite Tug-E-Nuff toys to make recall games even more exciting.

DM Dog Training – The dog’s nose knows best.