Professional dog trainer Karen Miller offers these suggestions.

The most important behavior you can teach your dog is to come to you in an emergency. These are the steps I have used to teach my students an emergency recall. They have changed over the years, and I would like to acknowledge those whose ideas have contributed to this current version of the Emergency Recall – Leslie Nelson (Really Reliable Recall), Dr. Ian Dunbar (Gotcha), Suzanne Clothier, Sassy Joires, and Janet Newcomer CPDT-KA.

EMERGENCY RECALL - 1
Have multiple small, easy-to-chew treats prepared in advance for this exercise. The treats should be of very “high value” – like leftover turkey or steak from a previous meal. You will be using approximately 20 treats for each set, 3 sets a day – for a total of about 60 treats a day.

Choose a special cue word for this behavior – it should be a novel word that your dog will not hear in any other circumstances. It could be something like “mayday”, “presto”, “stat”.

Practice this exercise only when you are certain she will come to you:
1) From 10 to 15 feet away, say <dog’s name>, <cue word>, move backwards and kneel down.
2) As soon as your dog turns her head towards you, start to praise her.
3) Continue praising her as she comes to you.
4) When she gets to you – start to parcel out treats, one at a time – one for every second - for 20 seconds.
5) “Have a party” as you feed her fabulous treats. Praise your dog with at least 5 different phrases!

Practice: 3 emergency recalls, at random times, every day, VERY heavily paid (20 small pieces of food). Practice in your home. On day 3 – start calling her (with your emergency recall word) from another room.

“GOTCHA” - 1
1) Gently grab your dog’s collar (under her chin).
2) Give 3 treats.
Practice: 3 times a day.

EMERGENCY RECALL – 2
1) From another room in the house, say <dog’s name> <cue word> loudly.
2) When she gets to you, gently grab her collar and parcel out treats, one at a time – one for every second – for about 5 seconds.
3) Let go of her collar, and continue praising and feeding her treats for another 15 seconds.
4) “Have a party” as you feed her fabulous treats. Praise your dog with at least 5 different phrases!

Practice: 2 emergency recalls, at random times during the day, every day this week.

EMERGENCY RECALL – 3
Add Distraction

With a helper:
1) You are a distance from your dog. You do not have treats in your hand.
2) A member of your household is holding treats near your dog’s face in a closed hand.
3) Say <dog’s name> <cue word> loudly and with super-high energy.
4) When your dog gets to you, your partner will immediately give you the dog treats to feed your dog. Feed for 20 seconds.
Practice: 2 emergency recalls, at random times during the day, every day this week.

EMERGENCY RECALL – 4
Add Distraction

With a helper:
1) You are a distance from your dog.
2) A member of your household will either squeak a squeaky toy, or bounce a ball at the side of your dog’s head.
3) Say <dog’s name> <cue word> loudly and with super-high energy.
4) When she gets to you, praise and feed for 20 seconds – you may throw her the toy as an additional positive reinforcer.

Practice: 2 emergency recalls, at random times during the day, every day this week.

When ready: Make it harder. For example - practice all the above outside in your back yard, or front yard, or just down the street,

EMERGENCY RECALL - 5
Make It Even Harder
1) Practice outdoors (in a safe area).
2) With a helper holding your dog on a “long-line” (a 15 foot leash) – practice in a shopping mall parking lot – far away from parked cars and traffic. And/or practice near a park, close enough to enough distractions to make it a little difficult, but far enough away from those distractions that your dog can be successful.
Practice: 2 emergency recalls, at random times during the day, 3 times this week.

EMERGENCY RECALL - 6
Ongoing
Practice: 2 times a week, at random times, in random places, for the rest of your dog’s life. One day you might be very glad you did!

Last updated on March 9, 2011 by Marianne Ahern