26/08/2026
On all the posts I’ve done on emergency recall recently, there’s been a consistent question that’s come up: why not just have one recall that works?
And I think that’s a reasonable pushback. But everyday recall gets used for all sorts of things your dog would rather be doing, coming away from play, back on the lead, time to go home. Emergency recall stays clean because it only ever means something brilliant is about to happen, and that’s why it holds up when you genuinely need it.
How to build it:
One, pick a word you never use otherwise. Not their name, not “come”. Something like “cheese” or a whistle pattern works well. I use ‘Jackpot’.
Two, pick a reward they never get any other time. Roast chicken, squeezy cheese, or a mad game with a tug toy they only ever see for this.
Three, start in the kitchen with no distractions. Say the word, then deliver the reward. You’re not asking them to do anything yet, you’re just teaching them the word predicts the good stuff. Ten or so repetitions a session, for a few sessions.
Four, add a little distance. Say it from across the room, pay them the moment they arrive. Then the garden, then a quiet field on a long line, then busier places.
Five, use it daily if you can. It takes 5 seconds, and every single time it happens, they get paid, no exceptions.
Hopefully you’ll never need it. But if you do, you’ll be glad you put the work in.
