Puppy Recall
The Power of “Puppy, Puppy, Puppy!”
At Spartan Rottweilers, I start imprinting every puppy with a special recall phrase before they ever leave me:
“Puppy, puppy, puppy!”
This isn't your puppy's everyday Come command.
And it isn't something I want you using all day long.
This is a special recall phrase that I want your puppy to associate with one thing:
RUN TO MY PERSON—something REALLY good is waiting for me!
I've already started building that association.
Now your job is to protect it.
This Is Different From “Come”
Your puppy still needs to learn Come as an everyday command.
You'll use Come during normal training and everyday life.
“Puppy, puppy, puppy!” is different.
We keep this phrase special. We practice it occasionally, reward it BIG,
and never use it negatively.
Practice Twice a Week
I recommend practicing “Puppy, puppy, puppy!” about twice a week.
That's it.
Use something your puppy considers really special—something better than their ordinary training treats.
A tiny piece of chicken, cheese or another puppy-safe favorite works great.
Once your puppy understands the game, wait until they're distracted and not already focused on you.
Then happily and excitedly call:
“Puppy, puppy, puppy!”
When that puppy comes running—
THROW THE BIGGEST PUPPY PARTY EVER.
Treats. Praise. Love. Excitement.
Make them think:
“WOW. I need to remember THAT!”
And that's it.
You don't need to practice it ten more times.
One really good repetition is enough.
Never Use It Negatively
This is probably the most important rule on this entire page.
Never call “Puppy, puppy, puppy!” and then punish your dog.
Don't use it because you're angry.
Don't call them with it for a correction.
And don't routinely use it when you're about to do something your puppy considers unpleasant.
The phrase should always predict:
Something GOOD is waiting for me when I get there.
Even if your puppy has just done something they weren't supposed to do,
if you use this special recall and they come to you:
Celebrate the recall.
Deal with whatever else happened separately.
Don't Use It to End All the Fun
Be careful about repeatedly using your special recall for things like:
“Puppy, puppy, puppy!” → Playtime is over.
“Puppy, puppy, puppy!” → You're going in the kennel.
“Puppy, puppy, puppy!” → We're leaving the yard.
Your puppy is smart.
If those words repeatedly mean “everything fun ends now,”
eventually they're going to think twice about running to you.
Sometimes call them, reward them BIG—
and let them go right back to what they were doing.
Coming to you shouldn't always end the fun.
Don't Overuse It
This isn't the command you use because your puppy is twelve feet away and you'd rather not walk over there. 😂
Use your regular Come command for everyday recall.
Save “Puppy, puppy, puppy!” for your twice-weekly practice and those rare situations when
you really need your dog to come to you.
If you say it constantly, it becomes background noise.
We want these words to stay valuable.
Practice in the Real World—Safely
Once your puppy is doing beautifully in an easy environment, you can gradually add distractions.
You might practice:
- Inside the house
- In your fenced yard
- With another person nearby
- While your puppy is sniffing something
- Eventually, around more interesting distractions
For outdoor practice where your puppy isn't safely enclosed, use a long line so you have a backup.
A long line is a safety backup
—not something you use to drag your puppy to you after you've given the special recall.
Remember what we're trying to accomplish:
Set your puppy up to succeed.
Don't deliberately create the hardest situation you can think of just to see whether the recall works.
We're building a habit—not giving a final exam.
Let Them Come All the Way to You
When you call your puppy, let them come all the way in.
Don't throw the treat toward them when they're still several feet away.
Let them reach you.
Praise them.
Touch them.
Reward them.
We don't just want:
“Run somewhere in my person's general direction.” 😂
We want:
“Run TO my person.”
That's an important difference.
Keep It Going for Life
This isn't something you practice for three months and then forget.
Continue practicing “Puppy, puppy, puppy!” about twice a week throughout your dog's life.
It only takes one good repetition.
Keep it rare.
Keep it exciting.
And always make it worth coming to you.
Remember What Makes It Work
The words themselves aren't magic.
The history you've built behind those words is what makes them powerful.
Every time your puppy hears:
“Puppy, puppy, puppy!”
and runs to you...
and something wonderful happens...
you're strengthening that history.
That's why we don't overuse it.
That's why we don't punish after it.
That's why we don't turn it into an everyday command.
And that's why we keep practicing it.
I've started the imprint.
You keep it special.
