Recall training: teaching the recall pips

Why it matters

A strong recall on the whistle is the backbone of safe, off lead gundog work. Teaching it early, in a low distraction garden with brilliant rewards, sets the pattern the dog will rely on for life.

Set up

• Choose a food or toy reward the puppy finds genuinely exciting.
• Attach a long line if there is any risk the puppy will run off.

Run the drill

1. 1Give a series of short pips on the whistle, then immediately call the puppy's name in a happy voice.
2. 2Crouch down and encourage the puppy to come to you.
3. 3Reward big when it arrives, then release it to go and play again.

Make it harder

• Call the puppy away from mild distractions such as a sniffed patch of grass.
• Practise at greater distances in a securely fenced field.
• Recall the puppy away from another familiar, calm dog.

Common mistakes

• Only calling the puppy when the fun is about to end: recall often just to reward and release again, so coming back is never a bad thing.
• Weak or inconsistent whistle pips: keep the pattern the same every time so it becomes a clear signal.
• Punishing a slow recall: always reward the dog for arriving, however long it took, then work on speed separately.