Part 1: Recall - A Step-by-Step Guide

A reliable recall is one of the most important skills you can teach a gun dog. It gives you a way to bring your dog back from distractions, regain control in the field, and prevent a dangerous situation from developing.

Recall is also the first step in a larger communication system. Before a dog can learn to move with you, heel beside you, or stand still at a distance, it must understand how to turn toward you and return when called.

At Best Gun Dogs, we begin building recall with young puppies through food and play. As the dog matures, we introduce the leather training collar and check cord so the same response can be reinforced around greater distance and distraction.

The goal is not simply to make the dog come back. The goal is to make returning to the handler a clear, confident, and dependable response.

What Does Recall Mean?

A finished recall has several parts. When called, the dog should:

• Stop moving away

• Turn toward the handler

• Return without unnecessary delay

• Come all the way within reach

• Remain with the handler until released

Choose one recall cue, such as “come” or “here,” and use it consistently. Avoid repeating the cue when the dog does not respond. Repetition can teach the dog that the first command is optional.

Recall is different from the directional cue used during the “Come, Go With Me” drill. Recall means return directly to the handler. A directional cue means turn and continue moving with the handler.

When Should Recall Training Begin?

Recall training can begin as soon as a puppy is comfortable in its new home. At this stage, the lesson should feel like a game rather than formal obedience.

Young puppies naturally want food, affection, and interaction. Use that motivation to establish the habit of moving toward you before the puppy develops a history of ignoring the command.

Formal check-cord work can begin when the dog is comfortable wearing the equipment and confident enough to explore a controlled outdoor area.

Do not rush from easy puppy games into difficult field recalls. Progress when the dog’s response shows that it is ready.

Equipment for Recall Training

Depending on the dog’s age and training stage, you may need:

• Food from the puppy’s normal meal

• A properly fitted Leather Training Collar

• A check cord or long line appropriate for the training area

• A quiet indoor space, fenced yard, or open field

• Calm praise, food, or another reward your dog values

Inspect the collar, cord, and hardware before every session. Keep the cord away from roads, fences, brush, and objects that could cause it to snag.

Never wrap a check cord around your hand or allow a dog to hit the end of it at full speed. Do not leave a dog unattended while dragging a cord.

Step 1: Make Returning to You Rewarding

Begin in the house with two people positioned several feet apart. Each person should have part of the puppy’s normal meal.

One person calls the puppy once in an upbeat voice. When the puppy arrives, reward it with a piece of food and calm affection. The other person then calls the puppy back.

This creates a simple back-and-forth game in which the puppy repeatedly practices:

1. Hearing the cue

2. Turning toward the caller

3. Moving directly to that person

4. Receiving a reward

Keep the game short and end before the puppy loses interest.

Step 2: Reward the Complete Recall

Do not reward the puppy while it remains several feet away. Encourage it to come close enough that you can gently touch its collar.

This prevents a common problem in which the dog returns but stays just outside the handler’s reach.

When the puppy arrives:

• Reach calmly rather than grabbing

• Touch or briefly hold the collar

• Deliver the reward close to your body

• Release the puppy deliberately

The dog should learn that being within reach is safe and rewarding.

Step 3: Introduce the Leather Training Collar and Check Cord

Once the dog is comfortable outdoors, introduce the leather training collar and cord in a quiet, controlled area.

Allow the dog to move a short distance away. Before it becomes completely distracted, give the recall cue once and begin moving backward.

Your movement encourages the dog to follow. If the dog turns and comes willingly, let the cord remain loose and reward the response.

At this stage, concentrate on successful repetitions rather than testing how much distraction the dog can ignore.

Step 4: Use the Cord to Reinforce the Cue

If the dog hears the recall cue but does not turn, use the cord to provide light guidance toward you. Release the pressure as soon as the dog commits to returning.

Avoid dragging the dog all the way back. The cord should help initiate the correct response, while your movement and encouragement bring the dog the rest of the way.

The sequence should remain consistent:

1. Give the recall cue once.

2. Allow the dog a moment to respond.

3. Use light cord guidance if needed.

4. Release the pressure when the dog turns.

5. Reward the dog when it reaches you.

Clear timing teaches more than greater force.

Step 5: Build Distance Gradually

Increase distance only after the dog is returning reliably at a shorter range.

Move from a few feet to the length of the check cord in small increments. Mix easy recalls with more challenging ones so the dog does not experience constant difficulty.

Do not wait until the dog is completely absorbed in a scent, another animal, or distant activity before calling. Early training should create a pattern of success.

Step 6: Add Mild Distractions

Once the dog is reliable in a quiet area, introduce controlled distractions such as:

• A person standing at a distance

• Training equipment placed nearby

• Mild environmental sounds

• Another dog working far away

• A new but quiet training field

Begin far enough from the distraction that your dog can still respond. Reduce the distance gradually as reliability improves.

If the dog repeatedly fails, the environment is too difficult. Increase your distance from the distraction or return to a simpler location.

Step 7: Connect Recall to “Come, Go With Me”

As your dog learns to return through the check cord, begin incorporating recall into movement exercises.

During the “Come, Go With Me” drill, the dog learns to watch your direction while moving in front of you. Recall remains distinct: it brings the dog directly back to you instead of merely turning it with your movement.

Teaching both responses creates a more complete communication system:

• Recall brings the dog to the handler.

• “Come, Go With Me” keeps the dog moving in partnership with the handler.

• Heel positions the dog at the handler’s side.

• Stand teaches the dog to remain stationary.

Step 8: Reduce Dependence on the Cord

Do not remove the cord simply because the dog succeeded several times in one place. First, practice in multiple locations and around controlled distractions.

As the response improves, allow the cord to remain loose and use it less frequently. You may eventually allow the dog to drag the cord under safe conditions before transitioning to greater freedom.

Only remove it in a secure environment where failure will not place the dog, wildlife, or other people at risk.

Common Recall Problems

My dog ignores the first command

Avoid repeating the cue. Return to a shorter distance, reduce distractions, and use the cord to make the first command meaningful.

My dog comes back but stays out of reach

Reward close to your body and calmly touch the collar before every release. Never chase the dog or turn the final approach into a grabbing contest.

My dog returns slowly

Make your movement more inviting by backing away. Use a better reward and practice when the dog is engaged rather than mentally exhausted.

My dog runs away after I reach for the collar

Practice gentle collar touches separately from recall. Touch the collar, reward the dog, and release it without ending every enjoyable activity.

My dog recalls at home but not in the field

The dog has not yet generalized the behavior. Return to the check cord and rebuild the response in each new environment.

My dog avoids me after being called

Never punish the dog after it returns, even if it was slow. Punishment at the handler can make the next recall less reliable.

When Should an E-Collar Be Introduced?

An e-collar should not be used to teach a recall the dog does not understand. The dog should first learn the complete behavior through food, movement, the leather training collar, and check-cord guidance.

Any later layering of electronic reinforcement requires correct conditioning and precise timing. Owners unfamiliar with that process should follow a structured program or work directly with an experienced trainer.

The Best Gun Dogs Training Course demonstrates how tools are introduced progressively rather than used as shortcuts.

Recall Is the Beginning of the Training System

A reliable recall is built through many successful repetitions. Begin with food and play, add the leather training collar and check cord, increase distance gradually, and introduce distractions only after the foundation is solid.

Once your dog understands how to return, the next step is teaching it to follow changes in your movement without requiring constant verbal commands. That lesson begins with the “Come, Go With Me” drill.

For detailed demonstrations of recall, check-cord handling, and the complete progression from puppy work to advanced field training, explore the Best Gun Dogs Virtual Training Course. Pair the course with our handcrafted Leather Training Collar to follow the system with the equipment used throughout the program.