Having a dog that comes when called is every owner’s dream. But if you’ve ever found yourself at the park, calling your dog over and over as they disappear into the distance, you’ll know just how elusive reliable recall can feel.

The truth is, recall doesn’t start when you blow a whistle or call your dog’s name; it starts long before that. It’s built through trust, practice, and making yourself truly worth running to. Let’s explore how you can transform your dog’s recall and build a bond that lasts, even with distractions around.

Why Is Recall So Hard?

Recall can be difficult because it often goes against what your dog naturally wants to do in the moment... chase that squirrel, play with another dog, or explore an exciting scent. It also often happens when we are frustrated or in a rush, which doesn’t make coming back feel like much fun.

In the sections below, we’ll look at three reasons your dog may not be coming back, and how to make coming back a behaviour your dog loves. If your dog’s recall is currently a bit hit-or-miss, start with whichever area feels most manageable. Build from there, and soon you’ll see progress.

Reason 1: Lack of Motivation to Return

We often want our dogs to come back from a world of fun things (sniffs, games, things to forage and more) to receive either a titbit or a bit of praise from us. Whilst your dog loves food and praise at home, that's not what they are usually looking for when they have that rare hour of freedom each day. They are looking to run and play, and our recall is stopping that freedom instead of accentuating it.

To your dog, coming back to you needs to be more rewarding than what they’re doing instead. We can achieve this by building a history of recall = playtime.

Start at home, where the distractions are low:

• Play daily recall games in the house or garden. Hide behind a door or tree and call your dog excitedly. When they find you, reward them with a jackpot of treats or a game. If your dog isn't a fan of hide and seek, try the Counting Game, or something you know your dog loves.
• Use cheerful voices and movement. Make silly noises, run away a little, or drop to the ground; dogs often love to chase or investigate a sudden change.

Initially, whilst you build up their recall response, they will need to be on lead, longline or in enclosed fields for walks. When you think they're ready for off-lead again, ensure you don’t only recall to end their fun. Call your dog over during a walk, reward them, and then release them to go play again. This helps break the link between ‘come back’ and ‘all the fun stops’.

Think about what your dog loves most: food, toys, fuss, freedom, or even sniffing. Use that as their recall training reward.

By practising recall in low-stress moments and making it joyful, you’ll build a habit that sticks even in more distracting environments.

Reason 2: Poor Association with the Cue

As you may have spotted in the section above, many dogs learn that the whistle or “come” means the lead goes on and the walk ends. If recall always signals the end of freedom, your dog is understandably reluctant.

Instead:

• Use your recall cue regularly in neutral settings, not just emergencies.
• Pair it with positive outcomes, like treats, games, or being released again.
• Don’t call your dog if you aren’t ready to reward them or if they’re unlikely to listen, that only weakens the cue. If this keeps happening, then your dog isn't ready to be off-lead yet - look at the section above to build their cue.

If you’ve used your current recall word so much that it’s become background noise or a signal that there's a distraction to look for, consider teaching a new one. Words like “here”, “this way”, or a whistle work, as long as they’re used consistently and paired with high-value rewards.

Reason 3: Distractions Are Too Big, Too Soon

Building a new behaviour is like a building a muscle; you wouldn’t expect a child to concentrate on their times table in a toy shop after only practising in a classroom; and it’s the same for dogs. Building recall around distractions takes time.

Here’s how to work up gradually:

• Start with quiet locations like your garden or a local field at off-peak hours.
• Practise recall with a longline attached so you can reinforce the cue if needed, but your dog still feels some freedom.
• When your dog succeeds in these settings, slowly introduce more distractions: other dogs at a distance, joggers, birds, etc.
• Always aim to set your dog up for success. If they’re overwhelmed or too excited, take a step back to an easier level.

You can also play games that build focus around distractions. Try calling your dog when there’s a mild distraction, like a child playing on the swings. Reward heavily if they come to you instead of watching the park. Over time, this teaches them that you’re more rewarding than the environment.

 When Recall Fails

Even the best recall-trained dogs can have a bad day. If your dog runs off:

• Don’t chase as this often triggers flight, or even a game of “keep away”.
• Avoid shouting angrily. This will make them hesitant to return.
• If they glance at you, drop to the ground or run in the opposite direction depending on what your dog finds more fun. Try and make yourself more interesting than whatever they’re doing.
• When they do come back, no matter how long it takes, always reward them so they are more likely to come back next time.

If your dog has gone missing, then have someone they know stay in the last spot they were seen, someone else they know stationed at home, and put out an alert with a photo on local social media pages asking people to report sightings but to not chase your dog. 

Final Thoughts

Recall is ultimately about relationship. If your dog trusts you, enjoys being with you, and regularly earns good things for checking in, they’ll be far more likely to return when it really matters.

Until you're getting this, use sniffy lead walks, longline walks, or enclosed private fields to give your dog their free time.