23/06/2025
Say Cheese 🧀
Recall has never been about shouting a dog’s name louder and louder and hoping for the best.
For Brie—the tiniest, boldest, little spaniel in the pack—I don’t even use her name. I just say one word: cheese.
That’s it.
“Cheese!”
And like clockwork, I get the full-speed spaniel sprint, ears flapping, eyes locked on mine, paws barely touching the ground.
Why?
Because every single time she hears that word and comes running, something amazing happens. She gets a piece of cheese. Or a chunk of duck pate. Or something equally worth her while. It’s predictable, consistent, and totally worth the effort in her eyes.
She doesn’t come back because she should.
She comes back because she wants to.
And honestly, isn’t that the kind of relationship we’re all aiming for with our dogs?
It’s not about dominance or demand. It’s about trust, clarity, and a bit of cheddar.
So if you see me in a field shouting “CHEESE!” and a tiny white rocket shoots back toward me, now you know. Brie’s on her way—and she knows good things happen when she gets there.
And it’s not always cheese. Sometimes it’s a toy—but the kind of toy she likes, in the way she likes to play. For Brie, that might mean a quick tug or a chance to carry it like she’s just made the greatest retrieve of her life.
The point is: recall works best when it’s powered by joy.
Not “be a good dog,” but “this is so worth your while.”
Find what your dog actually loves. Use it well. Keep it consistent. And never be afraid to look a little silly in the process. That’s where the magic is.
