Training the recall command is an important step in any training protocol. You can have a dog that is obedient on leash and greets strangers well but if you skip training a dog to come, you will never be able to feel confident with your dog off leash. This is an important lesson in how to train a dog. When the recall is solid, you can take a deep breath and know that your dog is under control even when running free.

When starting out with recall training you need to make sure that the pup is under control at all times. A long line or leash should be kept on you dog at all times. Until they are reliable with the recall many pups will check in and check out. The pup thinks it has completed the task and is off to see what other stuff it can find. Maintaining a connection to the dog is imperative. The best place to work on training a dog to come is inside or in a fenced area.

Find some treats that the pup likes, they need to be small and soft so that you can dispense them quickly and the pup won't spend a lot of time chewing. I use microwaved hot dogs cut into strips and zapped until they are the consistency of jerky.

Get a helper to hold the pup. Position the pup on your left side and holding a treat where it can lick it, take off the lead and put it in your pocket. Lift the treat away from the pup's nose and tell it firmly to stay. Use a nice low and firm voice ( have your helper hold the pup if it doesn't stay well yet) and walk away about 10 feet. Before you turn around stop and count to 5. Turn around slowly and look over the pups head. Looking at the pup will make it hard for it to sit and wait until called. Kneel down and sit way back on your heels, put a treat in the middle of your chest and call the pup. At this point you just want the pup to come in to you as close as possible. Treat it when it gets to you and get hold of its collar. Put the leash on, get another treat, and release the pup with an OKay or Yay or something exciting as a release. Treat liberally. Repeat this for a week.

Structure is important. Do the same thing every time, make a big deal when the pup gets to you and use lots of treats. This should be the best thing in the world for the pup.

For the second week stay on the floor but make the pup sit in front of you (between your knees). The third week, stand up to call the pup. Get it to sit with its feet almost touching yours. Leaning over when the pup gets to you will cause it to sit away from you so stand up straight. If the pup sits away from you, with the treat at you belt buckle, take a couple of steps back and call it again.

After the third week, you will have completed the first phase of training a dog to come. Repeat the process in various locations, call the dog from a concealed location and make it come to find you. Add lots of variation to your training. Vary the distance etc. If the pup gets away from you and doesn't want to come back, no matter how frustrated you are when you get it, make it a happy occasion. Never punish the dog for coming to you. This is a major tenant in how to train a dog. Make it fun and you will have a long and happy relationship with your dog.