Teaching your dog to come when called—also known as a recall—is one of the most important skills any dog guardian can master with their pup. A reliable recall makes is a crucial safety measure in potentially dangerous situations. However, many well-meaning dog families inadvertently make mistakes that hinder their dog’s progress or create confusion during recall training.

If you’ve been struggling to get your dog to come back reliably, you might be falling victim to some common missteps. Here are three big mistakes people make when teaching a recall—and information on how you can avoid them to help your dog excel!

teach dog recall

1. Using Punishment

One of the most common mistakes is inadvertently associating recall with negative experiences. It might seem obvious not to shout or punish your dog, but many people unintentionally send mixed signals that discourage their dog from reliably returning.

For instance, imagine you’re at the park and your dog ignores you the first few times you call them (note: this is a clear indication that your dog is not yet ready for off leash recall practice). Once they finally come, you angrily scold them for taking too long or grab them roughly to leash them up. While this might relieve your immediate frustration, it’s counterproductive in the long run. Dogs associate your reaction with their last action; in this case, coming back to you. If returning to you feels punitive, they’ll be less likely to do it next time. The other danger here is that it risks deteriorating your relationship with your dog.

How to Avoid This: Always make coming to you a positive experience, even if it wasn’t instantaneous. Reinforce your dog with praise, treats, or play every time they respond to your call. As you improve you’ll want to change your criteria to set your dog up to come quickly and to reinforce only these fast, fluent responses. By ensuring that recall is tied to good things, your dog will be more enthusiastic about responding to your cue.

2. Calling Your Dog Only When Something ‘Bad’ Happens

Another frequent mistake is calling your dog exclusively in situations they perceive as undesirable. For example, many owners call their dogs only to end playtime, put on a leash, give medication, or leave a fun environment. Over time, your dog learns to associate the recall cue (example: “come!” or their name) with the end of enjoyment—and naturally, they start avoiding it or ignoring your call.

Imagine being at a party and someone repeatedly approaches to interrupt your fun and drag you home. That’s how it feels for your dog if the recall cue always signals the end of play or freedom.

How to Avoid This: Call your dog to you often during positive, low-pressure situations. During playtime, call them periodically, reinforce them generously when they come, and then let them go back to playing. This teaches your dog that responding to you doesn’t always mean the fun is over. Mix recall into their daily routine in neutral or happy circumstances, so they don’t begin associating it solely with unwelcome results.

3. Moving Too Quickly in Training

Training a solid recall doesn’t happen overnight. Unfortunately, many pet owners expect their dog to become proficient at the skill too quickly, progressing to challenging environments before the behavior is fully fluent. Recall requires consistency, repetition, and gradual exposure to distance and (separately) distractions.

For example, if you’ve only practiced recall at home, it’s unrealistic to expect your dog to come back reliably at a busy off-leash park filled with other dogs, squirrels, and unfamiliar smells. Skipping steps in the training process leads to confusion or failure, which can hurt your dog’s confidence and make the behavior less reliable.

How to Avoid This: Break recall training into manageable stages and gradually increase difficulty and (separately) distance. Start in a quiet, distraction-free environment like your living room or fenced backyard. Once your dog responds reliably there, begin practicing in settings with mild distractions, such as a quiet park on a leash or long line. Slowly work up to more challenging scenarios, like areas with other dogs or off-leash situations, but only when you’re confident your dog is ready. Remember also to only raise one criteria at a time. Focus either on distance (how far you are from your dog when you call) or distractions (competition with environmental reinforcers–aka the great outdoors, and/or anything distracting inside like food, other pets, company, novel sounds or smells)/ Be patient—it’s better to take your time and build a strong foundation than rush the process and risk setbacks.

Tips for Teaching a Reliable Recall

Now that you know some of the most common mistakes, here are a few general tips to help you succeed in teaching recall:

1. Use High-Value Rewards: For recall training, use treats or reinforcers that your dog absolutely loves—something special that they’ll only get for coming when called.
2. Make It a Game: Dogs love having fun. Turn recall into an exciting game by calling your dog in an enthusiastic tone, running away to encourage them to chase you, or mixing in a playful gesture. This helps build a positive association with the cue. Alternatively you toss a treat away and as your dog starts coming back to you give your recall cue. This way you begin to associate the cue with the recall behavior.
3. Be Consistent: Always use the same cue  (e.g., “here!”), and avoid calling your dog when you’re uncertain if they’ll respond. Calling them repeatedly without reinforcement only serves to weaken the cue.
4. Set Them Up for Success: Avoid practicing recall in situations where you know your dog is likely to fail, like a crowded park. Build their skills incrementally, just like any other training behavior. Start working indoors, then graduate to outside on a long leash (biothane is recommend and avoid retractable leashes!). Practice in sets of 3-5 and always (always!) reinforce your dog coming to you!

Conclusion

Teaching your dog to come when called is a vital skill that requires patience, consistency, and understanding of how dogs learn. By avoiding common mistakes—such as using punishment, turning recall into a negative experience, or rushing the training process—you’ll set your dog up for success and create a stronger bond in the process. Remember, recall isn’t just about “blind obedience”; it’s about trust and communication and enhancing your relationship with your dog!

With the right approach, your dog will eagerly come running every time you call—tail wagging and ready for whatever comes next. After all, who wouldn’t want that? Happy training!