How to Improve Recall in a Dog with a High Prey Drive

A dog that comes back reliably in the garden may appear to forget everything when a squirrel, rabbit, bird or fast-moving cyclist enters the picture. That does not necessarily mean the dog is stubborn. Chasing can be highly rewarding in its own right, and an excited dog may find it much harder to listen or make a different choice.

Recall can still be improved, but the safest approach combines training with sensible management. The aim is not to keep testing your dog until they fail. It is to prevent unsafe chasing, make returning to you genuinely worthwhile and increase distractions gradually.

Can a dog with a high prey drive learn recall?

Many dogs with a strong urge to chase can develop much better recall. However, no training method or piece of equipment can guarantee that every dog will return in every situation. Some dogs will continue to need a lead or long line around wildlife, livestock, roads and other high-risk distractions.

It is also worth remembering that not every chase is caused by prey drive. Dogs may chase through play, excitement, fear, frustration or because they have repeatedly practised the behaviour. Watch what happens before the chase and seek qualified help if you are unsure what is driving it.

Start with management, not an off-lead test

Training is far easier when your dog cannot repeatedly rehearse running away. Until recall is dependable in the environment you are using, work in a securely enclosed area or use a suitable long training line attached to a well-fitted harness.

• Choose quieter routes and times when chase triggers are less likely.
• Keep enough distance for your dog to notice a distraction without becoming completely fixated.
• Do not allow a long line to become tangled around people, dogs or obstacles.
• Never wrap the line around your hand, and follow the equipment maker’s handling instructions.
• Keep your dog on a normal lead where local rules require it and around livestock or traffic.

Browse our dog collars, leads and harnesses for secure everyday walking equipment. Check the individual product information carefully; an ordinary walking lead is not a substitute for a purpose-designed long training line.

Find out what your dog values most

The best recall reward is the one your dog wants in that moment. For some dogs this is food. For others it may be a favourite toy, a short game of tug, the chance to chase a toy in a safe direction, praise or permission to return to sniffing.

Try making a simple reward list:

• Everyday rewards: ordinary treats, praise or a brief sniff.
• High-value rewards: especially tasty treats or a favourite toy reserved for harder recalls.
• Jackpot rewards: several treats in succession or a particularly exciting game after an excellent response.

Small, easy-to-deliver rewards are useful during repeated practice. Explore our dog treats and remember to account for training treats within your dog’s overall daily food intake.

Teach the cue somewhere easy

Begin indoors or in a secure garden, where there is little competition for your dog’s attention.

1. Wait until your dog is only a short distance away.
2. Say their name, followed by one clear recall word such as “come” or “here”.
3. Move backwards a step or two and use friendly, inviting body language.
4. Reward as soon as your dog reaches you.
5. Gently touch the harness or collar, reward again and then release your dog.

Keep sessions short and finish while your dog is still engaged. Our general dog-training tips cover the same useful foundations: start in a calm place, be consistent and keep training enjoyable.

Use safe chase and play as a reward

If movement is more exciting to your dog than food, you can make play part of the reward. After your dog responds to the recall cue, mark the correct choice with praise and invite them to chase a toy moving away from the original distraction. A short tug or fetch game can then make returning to you the start of something enjoyable rather than the end of all fun.

Use toys in a secure area and choose a size and design suitable for your dog. Teach a reliable release cue, include calm breaks and stop if your dog becomes over-aroused. Our dog toys and training aids include options for fetch, play and reward-based training.

Increase distractions one step at a time

A recall learned in the kitchen is not automatically ready for a busy field. Dogs often need to relearn the same behaviour in each new environment.

Build difficulty gradually:

1. Practise indoors.
2. Move to a secure garden.
3. Use a quiet enclosed field.
4. Practise outside on a harness and long line with mild distractions at a distance.
5. Reduce the distance only when your dog can remain calm and respond consistently.

Change one thing at a time. A new location, greater distance and a moving distraction all make the exercise harder. If your dog cannot respond, increase the distance from the trigger or return to an easier stage rather than repeating the cue.

Reward the choice to check in

Do not wait for a difficult recall to be the only time your dog earns something worthwhile. Reward voluntary check-ins during walks: a glance towards you, turning back, choosing not to chase or moving away from a distraction.

These small successes build the habit of keeping track of you. Sometimes you can reward your dog and then release them to continue sniffing. This helps prevent the recall cue from always predicting that the lead goes on and the enjoyable part of the walk ends.

Common recall mistakes

Repeating the cue

Saying “come” again and again can teach your dog that the first cue does not matter. Use it once when you have a reasonable chance of success, then calmly manage the situation if your dog cannot respond.

Calling when your dog is already overwhelmed

A dog staring intensely, leaning forward or straining towards a trigger may be too aroused to learn. Create more distance before trying again.

Telling the dog off for returning slowly

From the dog’s point of view, anger happens when they finally reach you. Stay calm and reward the return, then make the next repetition easier.

Using recall only to end something enjoyable

Practise calling, rewarding and releasing your dog again. This makes returning less likely to predict the immediate end of play or exploration.

Removing the safety line too quickly

Success in several easy sessions does not prove that recall will hold around wildlife. Continue using safe management while you build reliability in different places and at different levels of distraction.

A simple five-minute recall session

1. Choose a secure, low-distraction location.
2. Prepare a favourite food reward or toy before starting.
3. Allow your dog to move a short distance away.
4. Give the recall cue once and move away invitingly.
5. Reward generously when your dog reaches you.
6. Release them to sniff or begin a brief game.
7. Repeat only a few times, then finish successfully.

Several short, successful sessions are usually more useful than one long session in which attention and motivation fade.

When to ask for professional help

Speak to a qualified reward-based trainer or clinical animal behaviourist if your dog chases traffic, livestock, people or other dogs; cannot disengage even at a substantial distance; has injured another animal; or becomes fearful, frustrated or aggressive around triggers. A professional can help identify the reason for the behaviour and create a safer individual plan.

Frequently asked questions

Should I use treats or a toy for recall?

Use whichever reward your dog values most in that environment. Food is convenient for rapid repetitions, while toy-driven dogs may respond more enthusiastically to a short chase, tug or fetch game. Many owners use both.

Can I use a whistle instead of a word?

Yes. A whistle can provide a consistent sound over distance, but it still needs to be introduced carefully and paired repeatedly with a worthwhile reward. Do not assume the whistle will work around strong distractions before it has been practised in easier settings.

How long does recall training take?

There is no fixed timetable. Age, previous learning, motivation, environment and the strength of the chase behaviour all matter. Measure progress by the situations in which your dog can respond calmly and consistently, not simply by the number of days trained.

Will chase games make prey drive worse?

Structured play in a safe area can give many dogs an appropriate outlet for chasing and can provide a powerful training reward. It does not remove the need for leads, long lines, secure spaces and careful distance from real animals or traffic.

Build recall without gambling with safety

For dogs that love to chase, better recall comes from making the right choice easier and more rewarding. Prevent unsafe practice, begin in simple environments, use food or play that genuinely matters to your dog and progress gradually. Management is not a failure: for some dogs, a secure field, harness and long line will remain the responsible choice in high-risk places.

For further guidance, see the recall and chasing advice from Dogs Trust, Dogs Trust chasing guidance and The Royal Kennel Club.