If your dog has a “selective” recall—brilliant in the kitchen, mysteriously deaf in the park—this is for you. It’s also for the keen spaniel or retriever who’s all in on scent, cover, birds, or movement and finds a standard “come = biscuit” deal a bit underwhelming.
The good news: you don’t need to out-shout the environment, or “win” a battle. You can make recall the gateway to more freedom.
What is the Premack Recall?
The Premack Principle is simple:
A behaviour your dog really wants to do (sniffing, running, hunting) can be used to reinforce a behaviour they’re less keen on (coming back to you).
In plain English: your dog comes back… and you immediately send them back to the good stuff. Coming when called stops being “the end of fun” and becomes “how I earn more fun”.
Why this works for both pet and working dogs
- Pet dogs: the walk stays enjoyable (less lead time, fewer arguments).
- Working gundogs: you’re building control without killing drive—recall becomes part of the job, not a punishment for being keen.
The mindset shift: stop “ending the walk” with your recall
Most recall problems are accidental training. If “COME!” usually means lead on, fun stops, or you clip them and march home… your dog isn’t being “stubborn”. They’re being logical.
With Premack recall, you aim for this ratio at the start:
9 out of 10 recalls = return to freedom
1 out of 10 recalls = lead on / move on / end session (but paid well)
Step-by-step: teach the Premack Recall
1) Choose your release cue (this matters)
Pick one clear word that always means “go and do dog stuff”. Common choices:
- “Free”
- “Go sniff”
- “Hunt on” (nice for working/spaniel context)
Use the same cue consistently.
2) Start easy (garden, quiet field edge, long line)
Clip a long line on for safety and success. Let them start sniffing.
3) Call once, then become worth returning to
- Call your recall cue (or whistle).
- As they turn back, praise softly (calm, not frantic).
- When they reach you: mark (“Yes!”) and give a small reward (treat, toy, or a quick fuss if that’s their thing).
- Then—this is the magic—release back to sniffing: “Free!” / “Go sniff!”
You’re teaching: Coming back doesn’t lose access to the environment. It earns it.
4) Repeat little and often
Do 5–10 reps, then stop. You’re building a habit, not drilling obedience until everyone is bored.
Three “Premack” recalls to use on real walks
A) The Sniff Recall (most dogs’ favourite)
Call them off a sniff. Reward. Release straight back to the same patch. Yes—the same patch. It feels counterintuitive, but it’s powerful.
B) The Run Recall (for dogs who love movement)
Call them in. Reward. Then say “Free!” and move with them—jog a few steps, toss a treat to chase, or release them to sprint ahead. This is great for young spaniels and athletic retrievers.
C) The Social Recall (only if safe and welcomed)
Call them away from greeting. Reward. Release to greet again if the other dog/person is happy. Over time, your dog learns they don’t need to “ignore you” to keep access.
Make it stick: the rules that keep this force-free and effective
- Don’t repeat the cue. One cue, then help them succeed (long line, distance, fewer distractions).
- Recall before they “leave the chat”. If they’re escalating into full hunt mode, you’re late.
- Pay at the handler, then pay with the environment. The release is the jackpot, but the “check-in” still needs value.
- Don’t grab and end the fun every time. If you must clip on, do it sometimes, reward, then release again.
Troubleshooting (common snags)
“My dog comes… then instantly legs it again”
That’s often a sign the recall has become a “near miss”. Add a tiny moment of connection before release:
- Touch your hand (hand target)
- Collar touch (taught kindly)
- One-second pause, then “Free!”
Keep it light—this isn’t about restraint, it’s about habit.
“They ignore me when it really matters”
That’s a difficulty jump. Go back a step:
- More distance from distractions
- Higher rate of reinforcement
- Long line for guaranteed follow-through
- Shorter sessions
“But I can’t always release them—sometimes I need the lead on”
Absolutely. Just make those moments worth it: bigger reward, calm praise, then walk on. If 9/10 recalls still lead back to freedom, your dog won’t dread the 1/10.
A simple 10-minute Premack session you can do today
- Long line on, in a low-distraction area.
- Let them sniff for 20–30 seconds.
- Recall once → mark → treat.
- Release: “Go sniff!” back to the same area.
- Repeat 6–10 times, then finish with an easy win.
If you do this 3–5 times a week, you’ll usually notice your dog starting to snap back to you much more quickly on real walks.
Final thought
The Premack recall isn’t a trick. It’s a relationship strategy: you stop competing with the environment and start using it. Your dog learns that responding to you is how they keep their freedom—whether that freedom is a Sunday sniffari, or proper work in cover.
If you want, come share how it’s going in the Gundog Community on Skool (wins, wobbles, video feedback, and training challenges). You can find it here: Gundog Skool (replace with your community link).
More training help on the blog: https://gundog.blog/
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