Core Obedience
Come (Recall)
A life-saving command that should be practiced in progressive environments.
Recall should be the highest-value cue in your system and must always predict good outcomes.
Never punish after recall, even if delayed; punishment erodes reliability exactly when safety matters.
What this command is
Dog turns and returns to handler promptly when cued.
Estimated time: 2-6 weeks
Why it matters: Recall is one of the most safety-critical behaviors in daily life.
Public training steps
Build value at short range
Cue recall from a few feet and reward heavily on arrival.
Success: Dog returns quickly in easy setups.
Typical time: 3-6 sessions
Expand distance and distractions
Use long line in gradually harder contexts while maintaining reward quality.
Success: Dog recalls reliably despite mild distractions.
Typical time: 8-20 sessions