A reliable recall does not begin by standing across the room and repeatedly saying, “Come.” It begins before the formal call word is ever introduced. First, we help the puppy discover that noticing us, following our movement, and choosing to come toward us are rewarding behaviors. Once the puppy is predictably offering those behaviors, we can begin attaching a word to something they already understand. This order matters because a puppy does not automatically know what “come”

Before a clicker can mark a puppy’s behavior, the sound must first mean something. Learn how click-and-reward pairings create the foundation for clearer training.