The Prey Game Recall: The Recall Your Dog Doesn't Know They're Doing

This activity was provided by Celina del Amo, a veterinarian with a specialization in behavioral medicine and therapy. Celina is a published author and a highly regarded speaker in the dog training and behavior community. We're honored to share her work — and grateful that she brought her expertise to such an important topic.

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A reliable recall is one of the most important training goals for any dog given the freedom to enjoy off-leash time. But even for dogs who are leashed most or all of the time — whether due to specific situations, age-related conditions like canine cognitive dysfunction, physical limitations, or legal requirements — a well-built recall cue still makes navigating everyday challenges significantly easier.

The good news: thoughtful recall training is neither difficult nor a chore. Quite the opposite. Dogs love it. They get to earn high-value rewards and put their natural talents to work.

In the Prey Game Recall, we're going to tap into one of those talents: the nose. And we're going to use it strategically. Scent is one of the most common reasons recalls fail — dogs get drawn away by food, wildlife, other dogs, or any number of scent-loaded stimuli that hold high value for them. Rather than fighting that instinct, we're going to harness it.

The Core Idea

Not everything needs to be spelled out — especially to your dog.

The Prey Game Recall is built on a simple concept: we convince the dog that we've just discovered something incredibly exciting for them — a scent-based foraging game right at our feet. The dog doesn't need to know that the point of the exercise is a recall. Their job is simply to enjoy the search.

What the cue means to the dog: "There's prey here." More specifically: "You can work this spot right now, find everything that's here, and keep all of it — no need to check back with me."

The recall element lies in the fact that we are the ones who set up the search area. We control the location. The dog doesn't need to be aware of that dynamic — their focus should be entirely on the game.

Important: Unlike most recall exercises, the Prey Game Recall does not require the dog to give you attention or eye contact. Once the dog understands the cue, they should come running in with nose to the ground and begin searching immediately — no checking in, no waiting for further direction. That's exactly the behavior the cue is built to signal. Keep this in mind, because there's a common tendency to "helpfully" talk the dog through the exercise once they've already understood it. Resist that urge entirely.

Setting Up for Success

Stay at the center. Always position yourself as the center of the search area, and keep that area within arm's reach. This ensures natural, close proximity between you and your dog — which means you can easily take hold of the collar or clip the leash whenever the situation calls for it, without any extra steps.

Tip for shy or hand-sensitive dogs: Work on relaxed collar grabs and leash attachment separately, but don't link that practice too closely in time to the Prey Game Recall — at least not in the early stages.

Reward value matters — a lot. The more valuable the "prey" (i.e., the treats), the stronger the association and the more enthusiastic the dog's engagement. Use only genuinely high-value treats that the dog loves and tolerates well. Have enough prepared before you begin.

Step-by-Step Training

Step 1 — Build the Foundation

Let your dog watch as you place a single high-value treat directly at or between your feet. Then, with a small gesture (keep it subtle from the start, since you'll be fading it quickly) and your chosen cue word (e.g., "Find it!"), invite them to get it.

From the very next repetitions, shift emphasis onto the verbal cue and begin removing any physical prompts entirely. You'll know the dog has understood the basic exercise when they immediately move toward your feet with nose down the moment the cue is given.

Once that's solid, introduce a small variation: instead of one treat, scatter 2–5 in the same tight area, giving the dog a little more to search for right at your feet. Practice this version at least 10 times.

Strict rule throughout: Food goes down first — then the cue. Always in that order.

Step 2 — Remove the Preview

Now change the setup: place 1–5 high-value treats near your feet without the dog watching. Then give the cue.

Practice until the dog responds promptly — immediately running to you and beginning to search — for 10 consecutive repetitions. Train indoors and outdoors, though outdoors, keep distractions minimal at first.

Step 3 — Build Fluency and Distraction Resistance

Now it's time to raise the difficulty and build the behavior so it holds up in the real world. The key to this step: both the value of the "prey" and the searching itself must remain genuinely enjoyable for the dog.

At this stage, don't use the Prey Game Recall cue casually in everyday situations yet — the behavior isn't solid enough, and errors can easily creep in.

To increase the challenge, begin hiding treats so they're not immediately visible: in grass, under leaves, in snow, or against a visually similar surface. The dog should feel challenged — that's the goal. But the proximity rule stays firm: treats must remain within arm's reach of you.

Practice daily, primarily outdoors where you have more options for concealment (simple visible-treat reps indoors are fine too). Move to Step 4 only when, across multiple days, you've completed at least 100 repetitions (ideally 200–300) with consistently prompt, enthusiastic responses. Multiple reps per walk or session are encouraged — and since distance isn't a factor, this exercise can be practiced on leash as well.

Important: The dog must always find something. The Prey Game Recall cue is a promise — you are telling the dog that there is prey at a specific location, and that they have permission to search for and eat it immediately. If they search and find nothing, you undermine your own reliability as a training partner. Don't let that happen.

Step 4 — Proofing and Refinement

By now the dog has a strong, reliable understanding of the Prey Game Recall cue. They know it signals a foraging opportunity — and that contract doesn't change, not now, not ever.

The refinement at this stage is about applying the cue in increasingly realistic conditions: greater distance, higher distractions, or when the dog is already engaged with something else. Start by picking moments where success is likely, then gradually work into more challenging contexts until the cue holds under real-world conditions.

Variations and Extensions

Adding a check-in after the search: Use the Prey Game Recall, let the dog search freely, and when they finish and offer eye contact, reward that moment with an additional treat (doesn't need to be high-value, but should be something the dog enjoys). This naturally sets up the dog to stay engaged with you after the recall, making it easier to transition into other exercises.

Adding a collar/harness touch: Extend the above variation: reward the eye contact, then calmly reach for the collar or harness (from below, non-confrontationally) and give one more treat. Occasionally follow through and clip the leash, walk a few steps, then release back to off-leash if the situation allows. This prevents the dog from learning that collar grabs always mean the fun is over.

Adding a retrieve: Once the dog has a solid Prey Game Recall and a reliable retrieve, try this variation: place one treat near your feet plus a toy or familiar object. The dog can solve it either way — eat the treat first, or pick up the object first. Dogs who are particularly object-motivated will often skip the food entirely and go straight for the retrieve. Both are equally valid. Reward whichever choice the dog makes with a high-quality reinforcer.

Food dummy version: For dogs who love both retrieving and food: use a food-filled dummy. The dog finds it at your feet, picks it up, brings it to your hand, and receives the food reward upon delivery. Practice the hand delivery separately from the Prey Game Recall first. The key shift here is that the reinforcement no longer ends with the search itself — the reward is now tied to the act of delivering the dummy to your hand.

Toy-motivated dogs: If your dog is significantly more motivated by play than food, substitute their favorite toy for treats. The dog searches for it, picks it up, and presents it for a tug game. Use a clear play-start cue to keep things structured. End the tug session calmly with a release cue, reinforced by something the dog values. Watch the game in action — the video includes German subtitles, but the setup is easy to follow regardless.

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