Glossary

Recall

A dog's trained response to turn and come straight to its owner when called, one of the most important safety behaviors.

Also called: come when called, coming when called, come command, emergency recall

A recall is a dog's trained response of coming to the owner when called, ideally right away and from any distraction. Trainers build it by making coming to the owner the best thing in the dog's day, using excellent treats and games, and by practicing first at short distances where there is little to compete.

Many owners ruin a recall by calling the dog and then doing something it dislikes, such as ending the walk, or by scolding a dog that comes late. Dogs that are never called back for fun often learn to ignore the cue. Some trainers keep a special cue for emergencies and reward it lavishly every time.

A recall is never fully certain, so off-leash time belongs in safely fenced areas or on a long line until the behavior is dependable.

Last reviewed November 8, 2026

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Related terms

Loose-leash walking Walking with a dog beside or near the handler on a slack leash, without the dog pulling. Leave it A cue that tells a dog to stop paying attention to something, such as food on the ground, and turn away from it. High-value treat A food reward the dog finds especially tempting, such as cooked chicken or cheese, saved for difficult training moments. Basic obedience The core manners most pet dogs are taught, usually sit, down, stay, come, walking nicely on a leash and leave it.