Recall is your dog's ability to come back to you as soon as you say their recall word, no matter what they're doing. It's the most important behaviour for their safety: it can keep them away from a street, a wild animal or a dangerous situation. At the Tanzo Academy, we teach it with positive reinforcement: every return pays off for the dog.

Start somewhere calm, where your dog succeeds every time: say your recall word once, mark with a “YES!” the exact moment they commit to coming toward you, then give a high-value treat when they arrive. Then increase the difficulty gradually, with a long line attached to a harness when you practise outdoors. The complete 4-stage progression, in the right order, is in the lesson.

As soon as your puppy comes home, around 8 weeks old, gently. At that age they naturally want to follow you: it's the perfect time to link their recall word to something amazing. Short sessions, lots of success, and keep it fun.

Yes, at any age. A rescue dog may have learned that “come” means something unpleasant (the end of play, a punishment, a bath). In that case, start over with a brand-new word with no bad memories, and make it pay off from day one.

It depends on your dog's age, temperament, instincts and history. Expect a few weeks for solid basics at home, and several months for a reliable recall around big distractions. Consistency matters more than length: a few minutes a day works better than one long session a week.

Several mini-sessions of 2 to 5 minutes, with 5 to 10 recalls each, beat one long session. Always end on a success, while your dog still wants more. Add spontaneous recalls at any moment of the day too: whenever you have a reward on hand, seize the chance. At Tanzo, we never miss one.

A unique word, used only for recall, that makes sense to you but that you don't use in everyday life, like “Pronto!”, “Over here!” or “Hop hop!”. Every time you say it, you pay: so it has to stay rare and valuable. Avoid “come” and your dog's name: you say them all day long without rewarding, and they lose their value.

Yes, it's possible: a whistle carries far, sounds the same whatever your mood, and many people use one. But at Tanzo, we chose not to. Why? We explain it in the lesson.

The exact moment your dog commits to you: they leave what they're doing, turn and start running your way. That commitment is what you mark, not the arrival. The high-value treat is given when they reach you, so they come all the way. It's also what positive reinforcement professionals recommend: mark the commitment, pay on arrival.

A high-value treat: much more exciting than their usual food, small, soft and quick to eat. For example: cooked chicken, cheese or small pieces of dried meat. Simple rule: the bigger the distraction, the higher the pay. Your dog should feel that coming back to you is the best deal in the park.

Yes: every return gets paid. Always. That's what keeps your recall word valuable and your dog motivated to drop everything for you. How to adjust the pay over time without losing your recall is covered in the lesson.

Often the environment is too exciting for their current level, or the treat isn't valuable enough. Try a higher-value reward, practise before meals and choose a calmer spot. A dog who refuses all food outside may also be stressed: if so, get professional support.

It's often a sign the reward isn't worth the trip, or that things moved too fast. The lesson shows you how to get back on track. If it continues, our free referral service helps you find the right professional.

It's not stubbornness: the distraction is simply too strong for their current level. Go back to an easier situation (more distance, less stimulation), keep the long line on, and raise the difficulty one step at a time. The difficulty ladders in the lesson tell you what to change, and when.

Don't chase them: to your dog, it becomes a game of chase, and they'll win. Instead, move away while encouraging them in a happy voice, or crouch down: most dogs come over to see. When they arrive, pay them before reaching for the harness. If they run away out of fear, get professional support.

No. The word has probably lost its value: repeated over and over, used without pay, or only to announce the end of fun. The simplest fix: choose a new word and start from scratch, paying every return as if it were the first.

Never. Even if they took their time, when they come back, you celebrate. Punishing a return teaches your dog that coming back to you is unpleasant, and they'll come back even less next time. At the Tanzo Academy, we work exclusively with positive reinforcement.

A dog who panics, bolts or becomes uncontrollable around dogs, people or bikes needs more than recall. Work with a dog professional who uses positive reinforcement: our free referral service helps you find the right one, anywhere in Canada.

To start, a 20-foot long line with a handle is easy to manage. For wide-open spaces, the 38.5-foot recall line has no handle, so it won't snag on branches. All Tanzo long lines are handmade in Canada, from waterproof Biothane: they don't soak up water or mud, rinse clean in seconds and don't hold odours.

Always a harness, never a collar. On a long line, your dog can build up a lot of speed before the line goes tight: on a collar, the whole impact hits their neck. A well-fitted harness spreads the force across the chest and protects the neck.

Never wrap it around your hand or fingers: if your dog bolts, you can get hurt. Hold it in loose loops, wear gloves with a big dog, and let it slide rather than stopping it dead. In a safe, fenced area, you can also let it drag on the ground and step on it if needed.

What the rule says: leash rules vary by province and city. In Québec, for example, in a public place, a dog must be on a leash no longer than 1.85 m, except in a dog park or during a canine activity. Dogs 20 kg and over must wear a harness or head halter attached to the leash, and your municipality may be stricter. Elsewhere in Canada, check your city’s bylaws. Our honest view: a dog on a long line, on a harness, under their human's control and training for a 100% recall is a safety choice. If we're stopped, we explain that our dog is in recall training, in case they ever get away. And if it ends in a fine, we'd rather that than a dog who doesn't come back the day it counts. That's our opinion: the choice is yours. If you practise in a public place, pick a quiet time, shorten the line as soon as someone approaches, and always be courteous. Safety includes everyone else's too.

At Tanzo, our position is clear: a dog without a 100% reliable recall should never be off leash. And for us, the long line stays. Attached to a harness, it lets your dog explore, run and have fun safely, wherever you are. Recall before freedom. And safety above all.

Not at all. Some dogs will never be able to go off leash, and that should be normal: it doesn't make you a lesser guardian. A long line gives them freedom safely. And if they ever get away, a dog trailing nearly 40 feet of line is much easier to catch.

Dogs with strong hunting, scenting or running instincts (huskies, beagles, hunting breeds, sighthounds) are often known to find recall harder. But it's not impossible: with commitment, most of them get there. It just takes more patience, consistency and higher pay. Support from a professional can make all the difference, and our free referral service helps you find a positive reinforcement dog professional.

The Tanzo Academy offers a free referral service: tell us about your dog and your situation, and we'll point you to a positive reinforcement dog professional in your area, or to a short video call with a professional. Our referral is free; the professional's services are at your expense, at their rates.

The complete recall lesson costs $29.99. If you add it when buying the Biothane recall long line, it's $14.99 (the discount applies automatically in your cart). Already own the long line? The $14.99 price applies to you too: log in or use the same email as your previous order. Get the lesson.

The Tanzo Academy is the education branch of Créations Tanzo, a company from Mascouche, Canada, that has been handcrafting Biothane dog gear since 2020. It's backed by professionals: our lessons are developed with the help of professional dog trainers and behaviour practitioners, tested and validated with them, and always based on positive reinforcement. And when a situation goes beyond what a lesson can do, we refer you to professionals. Our referral is free; the professionals' services are at your expense.