What is a Recall Cue?

Recall is just a fancy word for the way that you call your dog. So "Recall Cues" are the words, sounds, or other ways you use to call your dog.

Many people have dozens of recall cues without even realizing it, however, most people are using their recall cues wrong and therefore making their dog's come less reliable.

So tell me, what words do you use to call your dog?

Examples:

• Come
• Come here
• Come on
• Let's go
• Here
• Dog's Name
• Whistle
• Clapping

and so on....

Now if you think about it, you probably use at least one if not all of these recall cues. There is nothing wrong with having several recall cues, but if you can't easily describe what each cue means to you, how can you expect your dog to know exactly what is expected of them when you use a recall cue?

Before we dissect each cue and their meanings, I want to go over the rules of come.

Rules of Come when Called

1. Every time you call your dog, you need to reward them.
2. Never call your dog for punishment or something your dog dislikes
3. Always follow-through with your recall.

Some of these rules might sound unrealistic, but it is possible by using different recall cues.

Rule 1: You don't need to use food every time you call your dog. You can reward come with praise, attention, or anything that your dog enjoys.

Rule 2: If you need to give your dog a bath, do not call them. Guide them to where you want them to go and use words other than ones you want them to come to. Don't make the mistake of punishing your dog after coming.

Rule 3: Utilize a long leash when you think your dog won't come. If you don't have a long leash, walk up to your dog and then run away from them, this will encourage them to chase you.

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Now that we've gone over the musts of come when called, let's talk about our cues.

When you want a rock-solid recall, it's crucial that you don't overuse your recall cues. If you find yourself using your dog's name when you call them but also use their name all throughout the day, this can be very confusing for your dog. This is why I am going to give you examples of what my recall cues mean and I hope that you will make this change in your training. In order for our dogs to be successful, we need to set them up for success and make things as clear as possible for them.

Here are what my recall cues are:

• Come - come over to me when you can
• Dog's name - pay attention to me
• Let's go - walk in the same direction as me
• Come touch - come touch my hand
• Over here - head in my direction
• Whistle - come quickly

Here (sounds more like "HEREEEE!!) - come right now

It is CRUCIAL that YOU understand the exact meaning of your recall cues before you start expecting your dog to understand. Most people overuse their recall cues and so if you're hoping your dog will come running to you as soon as you call them, you might want to use a very specific cue for that. If you find yourself overusing their name or the word come, clear up the communication for your dog and don't have high expectations when using those cues. Make it easier for your dog to understand by first writing out what you use, what you want to use, and how you would like your dog to respond.

If you have any questions or would like suggestions on what recall cues to use for your dog, PLEASE ask. This is a really important step (that is frequently overlooked) of having an engaged dog and a rock-solid recall.