Recall Training for Dogs: The Treat Ranking
In recall training with your dog, the reward often decides whether they come back or keep sniffing. The best treats for the recall are especially high-value, soft and smelly rewards that your dog only gets for this signal – such as small pieces of sausage, soft meat cubes or fish snacks. In this guide you will find a ranking of rewards, a step-by-step training plan and answers to the most common questions.
Content: Recall Training for Dogs: The Treat Ranking
- Why the reward matters so much in recall training
- The ranking of rewards for the recall
- Which treats are best for the recall?
- Building recall training step by step
- How often should I reward the recall?
- Frequently asked questions about recall training
- Conclusion: A reliable recall with the right ranking
High-value rewards for a reliable recall:
Why the reward matters so much in recall training
The reward matters so much for the recall because in that moment your dog has to give up something exciting – a scent trail, another dog or a game – and the reward should be more attractive than the distraction.
Competing with the environment
In the living room, a piece of dry food is often enough. In a meadow full of wildlife scents, other dogs and fluttering birds, things look very different. Dogs learn through consequences: if coming back pays off, the behaviour becomes more likely. If it doesn't, the signal loses its power. That's why the rule for the recall is: the bigger the distraction, the more valuable the reward.
One signal with an exclusive reward
Many trainers recommend reserving a reward for the recall that your dog never gets otherwise. This way your dog links the recall signal – whether a word or a whistle – with something special. If you work with a whistle, our article on the dog whistle has helpful tips for building it up. You can read the basics of using treats in training in Treats and snacks in dog training.
The ranking of rewards for the recall
The best reward for the recall is the one your dog loves most – usually soft, strongly scented meat or fish snacks, followed by dried meat cubes and training snacks; ordinary food comes last.
Every dog has its own preferences. The following ranking is therefore a guide that you can adapt to your dog with a small test.
Rank 1: Jackpot treats
At the top are soft, juicy snacks with an intense smell: small slices of sausage, soft meat cubes or fish. They can be eaten quickly, so your dog doesn't have to chew for long and is immediately ready for the next cue. Good options are, for example, Mini Chicken Sausages or snacks from our mini sausages category.
Rank 2: Dried mini meat cubes
Dried meat cubes are very popular, easy to portion and simple to carry in your pocket. In the mini meat cubes category you will find many types of meat and fish, such as Mini horse meat cubes or Trout cubes mini.
Rank 3: Training snacks and softies
Small sticks and soft training bites are well suited to many repetitions in everyday life. You will find a selection among our training snacks and softies.
Rank 4: Dry food from the daily ration
For most dogs, ordinary food is the weakest reward. It is still practical for easy recalls at home or in the garden – and it doesn't add extra calories.
How to find your dog's favourites
- Make a selection: Prepare three to four different snacks.
- Offer them in pairs: Hold two snacks in separate hands and see which one your dog takes first.
- Repeat: Test on several days, because daily form plays a role.
- Write down the ranking: The winner becomes your recall jackpot.
Which treats are best for the recall?
The best treats for the recall are small, soft, quickly eaten and especially coveted by your dog – ideally from a well-tolerated protein source.
| Property | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Small (about pea-sized) | Many repetitions without too many calories |
| Soft or easy to chew | Your dog is quickly ready for the next cue |
| Intense smell | Makes it more attractive than distractions |
| Well tolerated | Important for sensitive stomachs or allergies |
| Low in crumbs | Easy to carry in a pocket or treat pouch |
How to choose training treats in general is explained in our guide Training snacks for dog training.
Small, soft snacks for many repetitions:
Building recall training step by step
A reliable recall develops when you first build the signal without distractions, link it to a high-value reward and increase the difficulty only slowly.
The training plan in five stages
- Charge the signal: Say your recall word in a calm environment and immediately give a jackpot treat – even if your dog is already standing next to you.
- Short distances: Call your dog from a few metres away indoors and reward generously.
- Garden or quiet meadow: Practise with few distractions, ideally on a long line.
- Increase distractions gradually: First mild stimuli, later more exciting situations – always on a long line.
- Off-lead in everyday life: Only when the recall works at every stage do you use it off-lead.
Avoiding typical mistakes
- Calling when it won't work anyway: Only call when you are fairly sure your dog will come.
- Punishing the return: Never scold your dog for coming back late – otherwise they learn that coming back is unpleasant.
- Recall only for putting the lead on: Call in between, reward and send your dog off again.
- Repeating the signal: Calling several times weakens the signal. Better to call once, clearly.
A marker signal such as a click or a short "yes" helps you catch exactly the right moment – for example when your dog turns towards you.
How often should I reward the recall?
At the beginning you should reward every single recall, and very often later on too – many trainers reward a successful recall permanently because it is one of the most important signals of all.
Building phase: every time
While your dog is learning the signal, every return earns a reward. For especially good responses – for example when your dog breaks away from an exciting distraction – a "jackpot" of several treats in a row is a great idea.
Later: variable but generous
Once the recall is solid, you can vary the type of reward: sometimes a treat, sometimes a game, sometimes a search game with thrown snacks. But don't give up food rewards completely, so that the signal stays reliable.
Keeping an eye on calories
Lots of rewards add up. According to the widely used 10 percent rule, treats should make up no more than about a tenth of daily energy. You can read how to calculate this in How many treats per day?. For small dogs, extra-small pieces help.
Variety for your reward ranking:
Frequently asked questions about recall training
Which treat is best for the recall?
The best treat is the one your dog loves most. Usually that means soft, smelly snacks such as small pieces of sausage, soft meat cubes or fish. If possible, reserve this reward for the recall only.
How do I train a reliable recall?
Build the signal in a calm environment, link it to a high-value reward and increase distractions slowly. A long line ensures that your dog doesn't learn to ignore the signal during the practice phase.
How often should I reward the recall?
Every time during the building phase. Later on, a successful recall should still be rewarded often and generously, alternating with play or praise if you like.
What do I do if my dog won't take the treat outside?
Then the environment is too exciting for the current level of training. Take a step back, increase the distance to the distraction and test an even more attractive reward.
How long does it take for the recall to be reliable?
That varies greatly and depends on age, breed, hunting drive and how diligently you practise. Expect weeks to months rather than days, and practise regularly in short sessions.
Conclusion: A reliable recall with the right ranking
A reliable recall is no coincidence but the result of good training and the right reward. Find out which treats are at the top of your dog's ranking, reserve them for the recall and reward generously. Small, soft snacks from our training snacks or mini meat cubes make training easy. If you are unsure or have a dog with a strong hunting drive, an experienced dog trainer can also help.
Further reading on this topic:
- Training snacks for dog training
- The dog whistle - what it is good for and how to use it correctly
- Treats and snacks in dog training
This post was created with the help of AI
