A reliable recall in 2 minutes a day — here’s the plan

Why 2 minutes is enough

Long training sessions kill recall. Here’s why: recall training requires maximum enthusiasm from your dog. After 2–3 minutes, enthusiasm drops. After 5 minutes, you’re teaching your dog that coming to you is boring. Two minutes keeps every rep high-value.

It also makes it easy to be consistent. You can find 2 minutes before breakfast, during a commercial break, or right before dinner. Consistency beats duration every single time in recall training.

The recall game: name → treat → release

This is the core exercise. You’ll do it every day. It takes about 90 seconds and you’ll use 10–15 small treats.

• Wait until your dog is a few feet away and mildly distracted (sniffing, looking around).
• Say your recall cue once. Use their name or a dedicated word like "come" or "here." Pick one and stick with it.
• The instant they look at you, mark ("yes!") and reward with a high-value treat. Chicken, cheese, hot dog — not kibble.
• Then release them. Say "go play" or "free" and let them wander off again. The release is critical — it teaches them that coming to you doesn’t end the fun.
• Repeat 5–10 times. Stop while your dog is still enthusiastic — always leave them wanting more.

The sequence matters: cue → attention → mark → reward → release. Never call your dog to end play, go inside, or do something they don’t like. That poisons the cue.

Week 1: Indoor foundation

Start inside where there are almost no distractions. Your dog needs a 100% success rate before you move outdoors.

• Days 1–2: Play the recall game in your living room. Call your dog from 5–10 feet away. Use their name once, not repeatedly.
• Days 3–4: Add a second room. Call from the kitchen while your dog is in the living room. When they come running, jackpot reward (3–5 treats, not just one).
• Days 5–7: Practice from different rooms, different positions (sitting, standing, lying down). Add a second session each day — still 2 minutes each.

By the end of week 1, your dog should whip their head around the instant they hear your recall cue. If they don’t, stay indoors for another few days before moving on.

Weeks 2–4: Outdoors with a long line

Moving outside is the hardest jump in recall training. The distractions multiply by a factor of ten. A long line keeps your dog safe while you proof the behavior.

• Use a 15–30 foot long line (biothane or lightweight nylon, not retractable). Attach it to a harness, not a collar.
• Start in a low-distraction outdoor area: your backyard or a quiet field. Play the recall game at 10–15 feet.
• Gradually increase difficulty: busier parks, more dogs visible, closer to squirrels. But only when the previous level is solid.
• If your dog doesn’t respond to the cue, don’t repeat it. Gently guide them in with the long line, reward, and lower the difficulty for the next rep.
• Never reel your dog in with the long line as punishment. It’s a safety tool, not a correction tool.

Proofing against real-world distractions

A recall that only works in your backyard isn’t a recall. Proofing means systematically testing against harder and harder scenarios. Here’s the distraction ladder:

• Level 1: Quiet room, no distractions (where you started).
• Level 2: Backyard, mild distractions (birds, wind, outdoor smells).
• Level 3: Quiet park, other dogs at a distance (50+ feet).
• Level 4: Busier park, dogs at medium distance, people walking by.
• Level 5: High-distraction environment — dog park perimeter, beach, trail with wildlife.

Don’t skip levels. If your dog fails twice at the same level, drop back one level for a session. Bubbas tracks which distraction level your dog is working at and adjusts automatically.

The one rule: never poison the recall cue

This is the most important rule in recall training, and the one most people break. Poisoning the cue means calling your dog and then doing something they don’t like: ending the walk, giving a bath, clipping nails, going to the vet.

Every time you call your dog for something unpleasant, you weaken the cue. Eventually, your dog hears "come" and thinks "that means fun is over" — so they stop coming.

• Never use your recall cue to end play. Walk over and leash them instead.
• Never call your dog for baths, nail trims, or crating. Go get them.
• If you need to bring your dog inside, use a different word ("inside" or "let’s go") or just walk to them.
• Your recall cue should predict one thing only: something amazing is about to happen.
• If you’ve already poisoned your cue (most people have), pick a brand-new word and start fresh. "Here," "to me," or a whistle all work.