Recall is when you’re off by yourself, usually following some amazing scent and they blow the whistle or call your name or some other sound they use just for this. Now my lot are cunning – they use the same sound when they feed me as when they want me to come back. Even when I don’t want to go, my tummy and brain trick me into running at that sound – it’s often worth it though. Like all wise humans, mine keep the best treats for recall.
My advice? – follow your own gut feel on this one, but remember to take the temperament of your humans into account. My main female is tough, so if I don’t come back when she calls, I’ll end up on the lead all the time. My male, you can get away with a bit occasionally, but he gets impatient. Once or twice he even chased me like a dog chases a sheep so I couldn’t spend ages on any single smell. Watch them, they’re tricky and remember – they all have personalities just like we do. You need to take that into account too!