Why does recall feel impossible? What to do help to get reliable recall.

Summary

Recall is one of the most rewarding things to train in my opinion for any dog owner. There is nothing quite like watching your dog, fully absorbed in the joy of running off lead, choose you over everything else and come sprinting back with their whole body smiling. That feeling is a rush every single time.

But recall is also one of the most challenging skills we ask of our dogs. We’re competing with scent trails, wildlife, other dogs, sounds, and a world of environmental distractions. For many dogs, that’s a lot to ignore.

For me, having the confidence that I could safely recall my dog was the goal that kept me going. I was determined to find ways that were kind, fun, and realistic for both of us — training that felt good in my dog’s body and good in my gut.

This blog is about why recall can feel almost impossible at times, and why it’s so worth the effort. When you and your dog finally crack it together, it’s one of the most rewarding parts of your relationship.

You called. they didn't come.

You're at the park. Your dog catches a scent, their head drops, and they're off. You call their name - once, twice, five times. Nothing.

It doesn't feel like a training failure in the moment. It feels personal.

If you've stood in a field calling your dog's name while they trot or run further and further away, you're not alone. And here's the thing - it's not because your dog doesn't love you. It's because a reliable recall is one of the hardest skills we ever ask a dog to perform.

Why reliable recall feels so hard (it's not what you think)

Most of us assume recall is a simple word or cue. You say 'come', dog comes. But for a dog who is deep in a predatory state - scenting, stalking, or chasing - coming back to you requires them to override a flood of brain chemistry.

When your dog is hunting:

• Dopamine is firing, giving them laser focus and motivation.

• Endorphins are flooding their system - it feels incredible.

• Their arousal is climbing - their nervous system is fully lit up.

Asking them to come back in that moment is a bit like asking someone to leave a rollercoaster mid-ride because dinner's ready. Their brain literally cannot prioritise your voice above the reward they're already experiencing.

This isn't defiance. It's neuroscience.

The problem with how we usually teach recall

Here's where most recall training goes wrong: we practise when it doesn't matter, then rely on it when it really does.

We call our dogs in from the garden. We call them for their dinner. We call them when they're already trotting back anyway. And then - in the middle of the woods, at high arousal, surrounded by wildlife - we expect that same word to work.

It rarely does. And every time we call and they don't come, we're actually training the word to mean less, think of it like losing battery power in your mobile phone each time you call and they don’t return.

Rethinking Reliable Recall: The Orientation Game

Before we can reliably call a dog back from high distraction, we need to build something more fundamental: the habit of checking in with us.

The Orientation Game is exactly that. It teaches your dog that orienting towards you - just turning their head and making eye contact - leads to something brilliant. Not a command, not a cue. Just a glance at you.

How to play:

• Stand still in a low-distraction space

• Wait quietly - do not call your dog or use their name

• Mark the moment they glance at you with a calm 'yes' or 'good' - then reward generously with high-value treats or a big burst of praise

• Repeat, gradually increasing distraction as they get the idea

• Over time, this becomes a reflex. Your dog begins to check in with you voluntarily, because good things happen when they do. That glance becomes the foundation of a reliable recall that actually works.

Building recall when your dog is calm

The golden rule of reliable recall: practise it when your dog has the capacity to respond.

• High-arousal moments - during play, chasing wildlife, high excitement - are not the time to train recall from scratch. Instead:

• Practise recall at home, in the garden, on quiet walks

• Use a variety of words - this helps if they don't respond when they have  already heard 100 times to no effect - a back-up plan!

• When they return to you, make it the best thing that has ever happened to them - treats, fuss, a little dance of joy!

• Never follow the recall with something they dislike (like ending a walk, putting a lead on them without a game first or going in the car if they're anxious)

• We want 'come' to mean 'this is where the party is.'

For guidance on when not to use your recall cue and how to use a long line safely, handout here.

A note on high-prey dogs

If your dog has a strong predatory drive - a sighthound, a spaniel, a collie, a terrier - reliable recall around wildlife may always require more management than a single word.

That's not a failure. That's understanding your dog's biology and their needs.

What Predation Substitute Training (PST) helps with is building your place in their world, so that even when the pull of the environment is strong, you're still in the picture. You're part of their experience, not just the voice trying to pull them out of it.

If you missed Blog 1 on predatory drive and why your dog's instincts are something to work with rather than against, it's a great place to start.

When that shift happens - when they look to you mid-walk instead of away - recall becomes part of a relationship, not just a command.

Game to Try: The Bowling Game

This builds a positive, joyful association with returning to you - especially for dogs who love to chase.

What you need:

Somewhere with space - corridor/hallway if indoors or outside in the garden,

A handful of small, high-value treats ideally ones that will roll!

How to play:

• Say 'Bowling!' and roll a treat away from you along the ground like a bowling ball, so your dog chases after it

• As they finish eating and turn back towards you, say 'Bowling!' again and roll another treat in a different direction

• Repeat several times - your dog is learning that coming back to you is what triggers the next fun thing

• Keep sessions short - 2 to 3 minutes maximum

This game isn't about perfect recall mechanics. It's about teaching your dog that hanging out near you is fun, unpredictable in the best way, and always worth it. It's one of the foundation games that everything else builds on.

“One of my favourite messages from client Veronica summed it up perfectly:

‘Had Mr P off the lead today. Although he ran into bushes (which I expected), he was keen to come back and responded to every recall perfectly. He was a very happy hound.’

That’s what recall training is really about — giving your dog the freedom to explore, with the confidence that they can and will come back to you.”

Mr P about to play a game

One of my favourite messages from a client, Veronica summed it up perfectly:

‘Had Mr P off the lead today. Although he ran into bushes (which I expected), he was keen to come back and responded to every recall perfectly. He was a very happy hound.’

That’s what recall training is really about — giving your dog the freedom to explore, with the confidence that they can and will come back to you.

Ready to work on reliable recall together?

If recall is something you're really struggling with - or if your dog's prey drive makes every walk feel stressful - a 1:1 session could help.

Together, we'll look at where in the predatory sequence your dog gets 'lost', build a reliable recall foundation that works for your individual dog, and create a walk plan that feels calm, connected, and safe.

Get in touch at hello@barkshiredogtraining.com to find out about 1:1 recall training sessions.

Next in the series: Blog 3: Too Stimulated to Settle - Helping Your Dog