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Does your Belgian Malinois have selective hearing?

Don’t worry, they’re notorious for tuning out verbal cues when in drive.

Here's the 4-phase training system to build bulletproof recall—even around distractions. 👇️

Weekly Bite

This week’s guide is dedicated to more than 100 of you who mentioned recall challenges in our onboarding survey.

You’re not alone, I learned this the hard way with Aki last summer.

He got loose during a game of tug and sprinted away with the tug-toy in his mouth.

I tried recalling him but he completely ignored me.

But I couldn’t blame him for it since I didn’t teach him the fourth phase of recall training.

So how do you build bulletproof recall that works even when they're locked in drive?

By systematically setting them up for success through a 4-phased approach, instead of jumping straight to the hardest scenarios.

4 Phases of Recall Training

Here's the systematic approach that builds bulletproof recall:

1️⃣ Build the foundation with restrained recalls

Restrained recalls are powerful ways to motivate your malinois to come to you.

If you’ve never seen a restrained recall, here’s a demo from Michael Ellis.👇️

1. Start in a secure enclosure with zero distractions

2. Have a helper restrain them on a harness or rigid collar

3. Draw your dog's attention by backing up (triggers prey drive) and making exciting noises

4. When they're motivated and pulling toward you, say "Here" and have the helper release

5. When they're a few feet away, mark with "Yes!" and back up while rewarding to absorb their momentum

6. 🔁 until your dog reliably responds to "Here" in this controlled environment

2️⃣ Add low-value competing motivators to your restrained recalls

Competing motivators are distractions that your dog finds rewarding, like food and toys.

Here’s a helpful demo from Michael Ellis on how to introduce competing motivators to your restrained recalls. 👇️ 

1. Stay in your secure area, but introduce distractions

2. Have a helper lure your dog away with food (actually let them feed your dog)

3. Call "Here"—if they don't respond immediately, helper stops providing food

4. If they still don't come, use movement and sounds to draw their attention back

5. Mark and reward when they reach you

6. 🔁 Repeat until your dog reliably responds to "Here" even when food is available

This teaches them that ignoring you means losing access to good things.

But losing access to good things isn’t enough to create a reliable behavior.

Would you trust a recall built on treats alone?

3️⃣ Introduce pressure to your recalls

DISCLAIMER: Make sure that your dog understands how to escape and avoid pressure before introducing pressure in recalls. Here’s my step-by-step guide if they don’t know. 👇️ 

1. Take them out for a walk on a prong collar and long-line

2. When they're at the end of the line, call "Here" and apply light leash pressure pops toward you if needed

3. 🔁 10 times to teach them that failure to recall has consequences

Once they understand leash pressure, layer in the e-collar:

4. Attach an e-collar alongside the prong collar and long-line

5. Call "Here" and apply light e-collar stimulation if they don't respond immediately

6. Release pressure the moment they turn toward you

7. 🔁 until they respond to the recall command before any pressure is needed

4️⃣ Generalize and proof the recall to make it reliable

The key to bulletproof recall is intentionally setting up scenarios where your dog will likely fail because the distractions are more motivating than your voice and rewards.

If you haven't read my guide on 🔑 How To Get Reliable Obedience, I highly recommend reviewing it to learn about the 3 D's (duration, distractions, and distance).

Here's Michael Ellis demonstrating how to proof recall around high-value distractions.👇

1. Set up situations with high-arousal distractions (other dogs playing, wildlife, interesting scents, or toys)

2. Call your dog when they're focused/engaged with the distraction

3. If they ignore you, apply pressure (leash pops or e-collar) to guide them back

4. When they choose you over the distraction, provide high-value rewards

5. Practice in different locations with different competing motivators

6. Progress from moderate to extreme distractions as success rate improves

7. 🔁 Repeat until your dog reliably responds to "Here" even during high-arousal distractions

The systematic approach works because each phase builds on the last.

You're not setting them up to fail—you're building their success rate to 100% before adding variables. Skip phases, and you'll end up like I did with Aki, standing helplessly while your dog chooses a toy over your voice.

Remember the golden rule: Never use your formal recall command unless you can control the consequence. Save "Here" for when compliance is mandatory. Use their name or "let's go" for casual situations.

TL;DR: Build bulletproof recall by progressing through 4 phases: (1) Restrained recalls in controlled environments, (2) Add low-value distractions like food, (3) Introduce pressure consequences, (4) Proof with high-value distractions. Never use your formal recall command unless you can enforce it. Master each phase before progressing.

Tail End

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Until next Thursday, ✌️

Sam