5 Tips For A Rocket Recall
Picture this:
Kids hear the ice cream truck. Suddenly they’re shrieking like they’re on a game show, sprinting with Olympic-level determination, waving crumpled dollar bills they found in couch cushions. That, my friends, is Pavlov. Not the drooling dog poster from Psych 101 — the science behind why the ice cream truck jingle causes immediate sugar coated chaos.
The ice cream truck = good vibes + high-value treats
Now imagine if the ice cream truck handed out a choco taco…and then forced kids to dig ditches for an hour. Do we think those kids would still sprint toward the sound? Absolutely not.
➡️ That’s what many people accidentally do with their dog’s recall.
They call their dog, they may treat them but then…
• they leave the dog park
• they clip nails
• they go in the crate
• they take a bath
• they give up the dead squirrel they proudly found
…aaand then wonder why their dog suddenly goes deaf when they yell “COME!!!”
The Rule:
A recall should feel like the ice cream truck — no strings attached.
9.9 out of 10 recalls should be nothing but free love + ridiculous food + “hey, go back to what you were doing, champ!”
Your dog should hear their recall cue and think:
“JACKPOT! I WIN! I am the greatest creature alive!”
When Practicing Recall, Remember These 5 Tips
1️⃣ Think DD: Distance + Distractions
Start easy. Inside. In calm environments.
Increase distance a little.
Increase distractions a little.
But not both at once until they’re ready.
If they fail? That’s training feedback, not stubbornness.
Adjust → try again → make success easy.
Don’t skip this step and don’t stop practicing and reinforcing the “easy” recalls, even when you’ve advanced to “harder” ones.
2️⃣ Pay Well (Like… REALLY Well)
Hot dogs. Chicken. Steak. A buffet that says:
“Drop the squirrels. My snacks are better.”
A recall reward should last 5–10 seconds of nonstop “OMG YOU’RE A GENIUS” food rain + happy praise.
No kibble. Kibble is a participation trophy.
3️⃣ Always Let Them Go Back
Come when called = quick treat explosion = freedom resumes.
This keeps recall FAST. JOYFUL. AUTOMATIC.
4️⃣ Practice Everywhere
Don’t wait for emergencies.
Make recall a lifestyle:
✔️ Every room of the house
✔️ When they’re busy — chewing, sniffing, staring suspiciously at the mail carrier
✔️ Fenced yards with small distractions → bigger distractions
The more reps, the stronger the response.
5️⃣ If They Don’t Come? Here’s Why
It’s not personal. They aren’t flipping you off, even if it feels that way.
Common reasons:
• The recall cue has been poisoned by negative outcomes or they are getting more reinforcement when they don’t come to you (think chasing squirrels, eating gross things, rolling in gross things, greeting your neighbor)
• The difficulty was too high too fast
• Your rewards haven’t been worth ditching the fun
Solution:
✔️ Practice
✔️ Make success easier
✔️ Upgrade the rewards
✔️ Call a positive reinforcement trainer if you’re stuck (ummm, hello 👋)
Amazing Reward Ideas
(You can’t have too many)
Chicken, turkey, roast beef, pork
Deli meats, pepperoni, bacon, sausage
Cheese
Popcorn
Peanut butter
Tripe
Or… mix them all into a glorious meat trail mix medley
🎉 Inspirational Thoughts:
Your recall cue should have the same energy as a kid hearing the ice cream truck — zero hesitation, full sprinting, pure joy.
Make it valuable.
Make it the beginning of something amazing, not the end.
Make it fun.
Make it something your dog wants to do — not something they have to do.
If you want help building a recall that would make even the squirrels jealous, you know where to find me. 🐾
Sara Sokol is owner of Mr. Dog Training in Brunswick Maine; A positive reinforcement dog training facility, offering both virtual and in person classes, that has been voted best training in Maine.
