Recall (Come)
Teaching Bryn to come reliably when called — the most important safety skill you'll teach.
Adolescent Note
Recall is THE skill that regresses hardest in adolescence. Bryn's brain is literally rewiring to prioritize novelty and independence. Over-proof, over-reward, and never punish a recall — even if it took 5 minutes. Every punished recall teaches her that coming to you has a cost.
Training Stages
Build the recall cue at very short distances with zero distractions.
- Wait for Bryn to be 3–5 feet away and mildly disengaged (sniffing, looking around).
- Say her name + "come!" in a bright, inviting tone. Say it once.
- The moment she orients toward you, mark it ("yes!" or click).
- Reward generously at your feet — treat party. Feed 5–6 treats one at a time to make it feel like a jackpot.
Advance When
Bryn responds 8 out of 10 times within 2 seconds at 5 feet with no meaningful distractions.
Watch Out
Repeating the cue — say it once, then help her succeed (kissy noises, crouch down, back away).
Calling her for things she dislikes (nail trims, crate, leaving the park). The recall cue must always predict good things.
Tips
Always make coming to you the best thing that happened all day.
If she doesn't come, don't chase. Make yourself more interesting — run the other way, make exciting noises.
Gradually extend the recall distance using a long line for safety.
- Move to a low-distraction outdoor area. Attach the long line.
- Let Bryn wander out to 10–15 feet.
- Call once with enthusiasm. Use her name + the cue.
- Mark and reward heavily the moment she arrives. Treat party every time at this stage.
Advance When
Bryn responds 8 out of 10 times at 15–20 feet in a low-distraction outdoor environment.
Watch Out
Jumping to too much distance too fast. If she fails twice in a row, you've moved too fast.
Using the long line to reel her in — it's a safety net, not a fishing rod. If she doesn't respond, shorten the distance.
Tips
Practice in boring environments first, then gradually add interest.
Run backward as you call to build excitement and speed.
Proof the recall against real-world temptations while maintaining the long line.
- Choose environments with mild distractions (a quiet park, a friend's yard).
- Keep the long line on. Let Bryn engage with the environment.
- Wait for a moment of mild distraction (sniffing something interesting, watching a bird).
- Call once. Mark and jackpot reward when she arrives.
- If she doesn't respond, use the line to gently prevent her from self-rewarding, move closer, and try again.
Advance When
Bryn recalls reliably around mild-to-moderate distractions on a long line. You trust the behavior enough that the line is rarely taut.
Watch Out
Testing against distractions that are too intense too soon (dog parks, squirrels). Build up gradually.
Forgetting to make the reward match the difficulty. Leaving a fascinating smell to come to you deserves the good stuff.
Tips
Keep a long line on for months. There's no rush to go off-leash.
Practice 'surprise recalls' — call when she doesn't expect it, not just when you're ready to leave.
Proofing — The 3 Ds
⏱
Duration
Recall is a momentary behavior — focus on speed of response rather than duration.
📏
Distance
Progress through: 5 ft → 15 ft → 30 ft → across the yard → across the park (always on long line until rock-solid).
🐿️
Distraction
Low (quiet room) → medium (backyard with squirrel history) → moderate (quiet park) → high (other dogs visible, on long line).
Generalization
Practice in at least 5 different locations before considering it reliable anywhere. Change your body position (standing, sitting, kneeling, back turned). Have different family members call. Practice indoors, in the yard, on walks, at friends' houses.
Troubleshooting
Bryn comes halfway then veers off
You're advancing too fast. Drop back to shorter distances with less distraction. Run backward to build momentum toward you. Make the reward bigger.
Bryn ignores the cue entirely
The cue may be 'poisoned' from past negative associations or overuse. Consider retraining with a fresh word ("here!" or a whistle instead of "come"). Go back to Stage 1 distance with the new cue.
Bryn comes but runs past or plays keep-away
Reward delivery matters — always feed at your feet or between your knees, not while she's still at a distance. Practice having her arrive into a hand touch or sit.
Related Skills
Name/Focus (Watch Me)
Teaching Bryn to look at you when she hears her name — the gateway to every other skill.
Leave It
Teaching Bryn to disengage from something tempting on cue — a critical safety skill and impulse control builder.