Understanding Rewards In Recall Training

A reliable recall is built by making coming back to you rewarding. Every dog is different, so it is important to understand what motivates your individual dog and use those rewards effectively.

Rewards are not just about food. Your dog may find different things rewarding depending on their personality, breed traits and the situation you are training in.

Types of Rewards

Your rewards can include:

A. Treats

Food is often a powerful motivator and can be used to reinforce the behaviour you want.

B. Fuss & Praise

For some dogs, your attention, enthusiasm and approval are a valuable reward. Remember that praise does not always need to be high energy — calm praise can also reinforce the behaviour you want.

C. Eye Contact

A dog choosing to look back at you and engage with you is a reward in itself and helps build the connection between you.

D. Balls & Toys

For dogs that love to chase, retrieve or play, toys can be a fantastic reward for a successful recall.

E. Activities Your Dog Loves

Sometimes the best reward is allowing your dog access to something they enjoy, such as hunting, chasing, tug or continuing an activity they love.

Understanding what motivates your dog allows you to make recall training more effective and enjoyable.

Food-Based Rewards

If you are using food rewards, it is useful to have different levels depending on the difficulty of the recall.

Basic Treats

These are suitable for easier recalls and everyday training.

Examples:

• Small cubes of cheese
• Liver cake
• Kibble
• Small dog or field treats

Premium Treats

Use these when you need a little more motivation.

Examples:

• Small pieces of chicken
• Warm sausage

Super High-Value Treats

These can be used for more challenging situations where you need your dog to make a great choice.

Examples:

• Cat food from a pouch
• Sardines
• Warm fatty chicken chunks

You can also use a gambling effect by occasionally giving a bigger or more exciting reward. This keeps your dog motivated and interested because they never know when the bigger reward might appear.

How Long Should You Train?

Recall training does not need to take up a large amount of time. Short, successful sessions are much more effective.

Aim for:

• Up to 5 minutes
• 3 or 4 times a day
• Practise consistently

Remember, quality is more important than quantity.

Keep Training Fun

The best recalls are built when your dog enjoys coming back to you.

Keep your training positive, varied and rewarding. Make yourself exciting, celebrate the successes and create a dog that believes returning to you is always worthwhile.