The Real Reliable Recall
Friends of the Dog
Friends of the Dog
This recall method was originally developed by Leslie Nelson of Tails-U-Win (Manchester, Connecticut and presented at APDT conferences. I first received it about 15 years ago and have used it successfully with hundreds of client dogs.
I’ve kept the method true to the original, while tidying the language and making it easier for everyday dog owners to follow.
It really works—but only if you practice it until it’s solid, then continue to reinforce it regularly. With my own dogs, I still reinforce this daily. I usually call them once a day using the special recall cue ("Akee"), and at other times I casually use their name with “here” or “come.” Every correct response is rewarded.
Enjoy!
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Why Most Recalls Fail
Most dog owners have an unreliable recall. We call, “Fido, come!” and the dog ignores us. We repeat it louder. Still nothing. That cue has become meaningless—or worse, optional.
This program builds a brand-new recall cue that your dog never ignores because it is always associated with fantastic rewards.
Ground Rules (Very Important!)1. Choose a Brand-New Word - Pick a word that:
A popular choice is “AQUI!” (pronounced ah-kee), which means “here” in Spanish and Portuguese. It’s high-pitched, cheerful, and easy to stretch out if needed: Akeeeee!
Always say the word in a happy, upbeat voice. This recall always results in praise and food.
Use AMAZING Rewards
This recall is powered by motivation. Use treats that your dog absolutely loves—smelly, tasty, and exciting.
You can use part of your dog’s daily food allowance, but only after the recall is well established. In the beginning, use truly special treats.
Great treat ideas include:
Treat pieces should be tiny, so your dog can swallow quickly and stay engaged.
Repetition Is the Key
Practice this exercise twice a day, for 5–10 minutes each time.
Yes—repetition matters. A lot. - Gary Player, the Golfer, once said "the more I practice, the luckier I become!
The Method
Start indoors or in a quiet area with zero distractions
Quick Review:
Structured Practice Sessions
Session 1 (5 minutes)Indoors or in your yard, repeat short-distance recalls with high rewards.
Session 2 (5 minutes)Put your dog on a 6-foot leash (do not tug—this is just for safety).
Repeat this daily for 7 days:
Taking the Recall on the Road
Dogs don’t automatically understand that a cue applies everywhere. To truly generalize this recall, you must practice it in at least 10 different locations, gradually increasing distractions.
Start again at close distances in each new place and slowly build up.
Training location ideas:
Important Reminders
Paw Note
Every dog learns at a different pace. Some will progress quickly; others need more time. That’s perfectly normal.
Be consistent, work at your dog’s speed, and continue to reinforce this recall regularly. I still practice it daily—sometimes easy, sometimes more challenging (even when my dogs are chewing on a favorite toy).
A reliable recall can save your dog’s life. It’s worth every repetition.
I’ve kept the method true to the original, while tidying the language and making it easier for everyday dog owners to follow.
It really works—but only if you practice it until it’s solid, then continue to reinforce it regularly. With my own dogs, I still reinforce this daily. I usually call them once a day using the special recall cue ("Akee"), and at other times I casually use their name with “here” or “come.” Every correct response is rewarded.
Enjoy!
........................................................................................................................................................................................
Why Most Recalls Fail
Most dog owners have an unreliable recall. We call, “Fido, come!” and the dog ignores us. We repeat it louder. Still nothing. That cue has become meaningless—or worse, optional.
This program builds a brand-new recall cue that your dog never ignores because it is always associated with fantastic rewards.
Ground Rules (Very Important!)1. Choose a Brand-New Word - Pick a word that:
- Is not used in everyday conversation
- Has never been used with your dog before
- Will be used only for this recall exercise
A popular choice is “AQUI!” (pronounced ah-kee), which means “here” in Spanish and Portuguese. It’s high-pitched, cheerful, and easy to stretch out if needed: Akeeeee!
Always say the word in a happy, upbeat voice. This recall always results in praise and food.
Use AMAZING Rewards
This recall is powered by motivation. Use treats that your dog absolutely loves—smelly, tasty, and exciting.
You can use part of your dog’s daily food allowance, but only after the recall is well established. In the beginning, use truly special treats.
Great treat ideas include:
- Hot dogs (chicken or turkey work well), sliced small
- Cooked chicken or turkey
- Small bits of steak
- String cheese or mozzarella, diced
- Freeze-dried liver or liver bread
- Cheerios mixed with crumbled bacon or liver (store in freezer)
- Any food your dog goes crazy for
Treat pieces should be tiny, so your dog can swallow quickly and stay engaged.
Repetition Is the Key
Practice this exercise twice a day, for 5–10 minutes each time.
Yes—repetition matters. A lot. - Gary Player, the Golfer, once said "the more I practice, the luckier I become!
The Method
Start indoors or in a quiet area with zero distractions
- Stand very close to your dog (about 2 feet).
- Say your new recall word once: “AQUI!”
- When your dog comes to you, immediate Praise enthusiastically and feed treats continuously for 20 full seconds. That 20 seconds of reward is critical. This is how your dog learns that this word predicts amazing things.
- Gradually increase distance: 2 feet → 3 feet → 4 feet → farther, but only after your dog is successful at each distance.
- If your dog doesn’t respond, you’ve gone too far too fast. Shorten the distance and set your dog up to succeed.
Quick Review:
- New word
- Fantastic treats
- 20 seconds of praise
- Repeat, repeat, repeat
- Gradually build distance
Structured Practice Sessions
Session 1 (5 minutes)Indoors or in your yard, repeat short-distance recalls with high rewards.
Session 2 (5 minutes)Put your dog on a 6-foot leash (do not tug—this is just for safety).
- Do 50 recalls just outside the front door
- Do 50 recalls just outside the back door
- Go onto the pavement outside your home and do 50 recalls
Repeat this daily for 7 days:
- 300 recalls per day
- 2,100 recalls in one week
Taking the Recall on the Road
Dogs don’t automatically understand that a cue applies everywhere. To truly generalize this recall, you must practice it in at least 10 different locations, gradually increasing distractions.
Start again at close distances in each new place and slowly build up.
Training location ideas:
- Inside your home
- Garden or driveway (great for escape artists)
- Quiet parks
- Sidewalks
- Outside hardware stores
- Pet stores or feed stores
- Near schools (start during class time, then later during playtime)
- Downtown areas
- Nature trails or greenways (follow leash laws)
- The beach
Important Reminders
- There are no wrong choices in this training—only rewards when the dog comes
- This is positive conditioning, not correction-based training
- You are building a reflex, not testing obedience
Paw Note
Every dog learns at a different pace. Some will progress quickly; others need more time. That’s perfectly normal.
Be consistent, work at your dog’s speed, and continue to reinforce this recall regularly. I still practice it daily—sometimes easy, sometimes more challenging (even when my dogs are chewing on a favorite toy).
A reliable recall can save your dog’s life. It’s worth every repetition.
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