Dog Recall Training Tips

Some people train a backup recall cue. The purpose of this cue is to have another tool for absolute emergencies-if your dog is heading toward a busy highway, for example, or a potentially dangerous wild animal. It works a lot like saying, “Cookies!” or, Dinnertime!” - only you set it up deliberately as a backup recall cue.

First, pick a word that you seldom use in normal conversation, like “Eureka.” Then, several times a week, say that word, and when you do, give your dog a really fabulous food reward. The food should be high value (something the dog really loves) and there should be enough of it that it takes your dog thirty seconds or so to eat it all.

Finally, never, ever use the word without pairing it with this extra special treat - unless it is a real emergency and you don’t happen to have extra special treats with you.