Build a fast, happy recall by making coming to you the best part of the game. Use small, high-value treats and keep sessions short and upbeat.
Treat Scatter & Run
1. Scatter a few treats on the ground for your dog to find.
2. While your dog is eating, run about 15 feet away.
3. Call your dog enthusiastically.
4. When they arrive, scatter more treats at your feet.
5. Repeat, repeat, repeat!
Goal: Your dog learns that hearing their recall cue means racing to you leads to something wonderful.
Through-the-Legs Recall
1. Scatter treats behind you.
2. Call your dog to come between and underneath your legs.
3. Reward them with a treat, then scatter treats in front of you.
4. Scatter treats behind you again.
5. Call your dog back through your legs and reward.
6. Keep alternating treats in front and behind you.
Tip: This creates a fun back-and-forth recall game while teaching your dog to come all the way in close.
Play “Bop It”
Instead of giving your dog a treat immediately when they arrive, teach them to gently bop your hand with their nose. Instead of always handing your dog a treat from your fingers, make the reward move!
1. Call your dog to you.
2. When they arrive, put a flat hand out for them to “Bop!”
3. When the Bop It, scatter treats on the floor in front of you.
4. Let your dog chase and find them.
5. Reset and play again.
Why it works: Your dog earns the reward for bopping your hand with their nose—not simply for arriving. This adds focus and engagement to the recall, while the treat scatter keeps the game active and fun.
Training Reminders
Never call your dog for something they dislike—such as ending all fun, a bath, or nail trims—unless you can follow it with an excellent, high value reward.
Practice games like these often so “Come!” always predicts fun things happen when they come to you.
Tossing or scattering the reward turns recall practice into a game and helps keep your dog engaged, excited, and quick to return.
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