A common mistake with recall training

Dogs are incredibly pattern-oriented learners. This is one of the reasons they pick up new skills so quickly—but it can also work against us if we’re not careful. The patterns we create in training can unintentionally teach our dogs shortcuts that undermine our long-term goals.

Recall training - teaching a dog to come when called - is one of the first commands many owners hope their dog will learn. However, many owners start teaching recall by placing their dog in a stay or place command and then calling them to come. While this may seem harmless, it actually creates a pattern that can cause trouble later:

• The dog begins to anticipate being called off place.

• They learn the “quickest path to reward” is to break the stay.

• Your dog’s stay/place command weakens over time because recall becomes tied to it.

The result? A dog that’s less reliable both in recall and staying put when needed.

How to train recall without weakening the place command

The key is to separate your recall training from your place training. Here’s how:

Build Recall in Real-Life Scenarios

• Toss food for your dog to chase. As they finish eating, call them to you and reward when they arrive.

• This better mimics real life—when your dog is distracted, moving away, or engaged with something else.

👉 Pro tip: Always keep a leash on your dog during these sessions so you can guide and reinforce the behavior if needed.

Strengthen the Stay/Place Command

• Put your dog on place or in a stay.

• Walk a few feet away.

• If they break, calmly return them.

• If they hold the command, mark with “good” and return to reward them on place.

• Repeat until your dog learns that staying put brings the reward.

Separating recall and place training ensures your dog doesn’t get confused or cut corners. You end up with:

• A stronger recall (your dog comes when called, no matter the distraction).

• A more reliable place/stay (your dog understands holding position leads to reward).

As a bonus, recall training is a simple, structured way to mentally and physically tire out your dog—especially when you incorporate it into mealtime.

Give it a try

Next time you’re working on training, be mindful of the patterns you create. By teaching recall and place separately, you’ll build a more reliable, well-rounded dog who understands the difference between the two commands. Give it a try, and let us know how it works for you and your pup!

For more training tips from Beyond Behavior K9 Training follow us @bbk9.training