Recall or Chase?

There’s a brief second when you realize your puppy is about to run—and that second feels like the longest moment in the world. You call their name, but you already know how this plays out.

You’ve seen it before. The ears flick back, acknowledging you, but the legs keep moving. It’s not disobedience. It’s instinct. The rabbit, bird, or blowing leaf is simply more exciting than whatever you’re offering in return.

That split-second decision isn’t about whether they know “come” or not. It’s impulse versus control.

And in that moment, impulse almost always wins.

Recall works perfectly in the backyard or at home, but the second a real-world distraction enters the picture, it can feel like all their training disappears. And it’s frustrating—because you know they know it.

But recall isn’t about whether they understand the cue. It’s about how valuable you are compared to the thing pulling them away.

You notice it most when they’re off-leash, but recall starts long before the leash ever comes off. It begins with the little decisions they make daily—the ones we miss because they seem unimportant at the time.

When your puppy looks at a squirrel but chooses to stay at your side, that’s recall.

When they hesitate at the end of the leash before stepping toward another dog, that’s recall.

It’s not about coming back from far away. It’s about deciding not to leave in the first place.

Most people only reward recall when the puppy returns. But the truth is, the most important recall happens quietly—when they decide to stay close before you even have to ask.

It’s easy to miss those moments. They aren’t flashy. Sometimes it’s as small as a head turn or a flick of the ears. But those little choices are what shape how they respond in bigger, more tempting situations.

If you’ve ever wondered why your puppy can recall perfectly indoors but struggles outside, that’s why.

Inside, the distractions are manageable. Outside, the entire world feels like an invitation to explore.

Impulse control isn’t about stopping that urge to run. It’s about teaching your puppy to pause and choose you first.

The first time they pick you over chasing something, it feels small. But it’s not. It’s a glimpse into how recall actually works.

Not as a command, but as a habit.

It doesn’t happen in one breakthrough moment—it builds slowly. Each time they stay close without realizing it, the bond tightens. Recall becomes less about forcing them to come back and more about never losing the connection in the first place.

The shift feels subtle at first. But one day, something clicks. A bird flies by, and instead of sprinting, they look at you.

Not because they couldn’t chase it, but because they didn’t need to.