How do recall games improve reliability?
Written by
David Smith
Reviewed by
Prof. David Walsh, Ph.D.Recall games make training an enjoyable match, making your dog more reliable. Your dog will then form strong positive associations with returning to you, along with a stronger natural orientation instinct in general, through play. Dogs respond more quickly because they are being rewarded with fun, not just sitting as you requested!
Engagement Building
- Games create excitement around the recall process
- Dogs actively participate rather than passively obey
- Playful anticipation overcomes environmental distractions
Skill Reinforcement
- Strengthens natural orientation toward the handler
- Develops faster response times through repetition
- Builds focus maintenance despite competing stimuli
Positive Association
- Creates joyful connections with returning behavior
- Uses play rewards instead of only food motivation
- Prevents negative associations with formal commands
Games enable the development of orientation skills not achieved through more formal training. Take Hide-and-Seek, for example, where dogs learn to spot you at a distance. Or use a Treasure Hunt to strengthen your dog's scent tracking skills and progress toward your goal. These natural skills spur faster, more instinctive responses when called.
Specific game cues stop confusion with important commands. By using "Find it!" for Treasure Hunt, we keep it away from "Come". This helps keep the seriousness of emergency recalls intact while still playing practical jokes with your dog(s). They seem to understand what is 'safe' to do with their different cues.
Progression follows a linear pathway to enhance effectiveness. You start indoors on a short-distance pathway with few distractions. You will then advance to gardens with mild environmental sound. Finally, you will practice in parks where people may be distant, which adds an element of control to the distractions.
Safety requires the use of appropriate equipment for all game sessions. Always use a well-fitted harness instead of a collar. Check the areas for hazards before playing. Your dog should have you in their line of sight the entire time. By following these precautions, you aim for your games to be positive.
The bond is nurtured through positive shared experiences. Your dog learns that returning guarantees good things, connection, and fun. This willingness to cooperate becomes the foundation of your bond, as trust runs deeper than obedience. Your dog reliably comes back, simply because he wants to be with you.
Read the full article: Dog Recall Training: Essential Guide
