This is an adaption of Sarah Stremming’s “Cowbell Protocol,” as described on her podcast, Cog Dog Radio. Thank you to Sarah for sharing so much of her experience and wisdom!

This is a technique for teaching a dog to come running into the house (from either the backyard or out front), based in classical conditioning and following a few simple rules for the owner. It can be used to retrain dogs who prefer spending time in the yard rather than coming inside, or for dogs who have a history of bolting out the door.

Before you start

Before you begin training, you must first prevent your dog from continuing to ignore you when you call them inside. If you don’t stop them from continuing that bad habit, it will be much more difficult to teach a newer, more appealing one.

If your dog doesn’t like to come in from the fenced yard, then attach a drag line to their harness (recommended) or collar before you let them out. When it’s time for them to come back in, go out and pick up the end of the drag line, and simply lead your dog back indoors. Don’t call them when you know that they will ignore you, and don’t get into a game of chase.
If your dog likes to bolt out the door, create an “air lock” with an exercise pen or baby gate that will allow you to open the front door without the dog being able to get out. The pen or gate should always be closed before the front door is opened, and the front door must always be closed before you open the gate/pen.

You don’t need to use a literal cowbell, but you do need to use something that will make a loud and distinct noise*. You want this to sound very different from how you usually call your dog (you know, the words that they’ve already learned to ignore, like “come!”). You could use a whistle or a loud rattle, for example. Keep this item near the door that your dog doesn’t want to enter through.

*Note that if your dog is sound-sensitive, you will want to start off with softly making the noise, and make it louder when your dog needs to hear it from farther away.

You will also need lots of high value treats for your dog. Use their very favorite foods. For most dogs, that means meats (eg, rotisserie chicken, hot dogs, meatballs, deli ham), cheeses (like string cheese), or organ meats (freeze-dried beef liver, chicken hearts).

Making the cowbell important

Get 5 pieces of your high value treats without your dog noticing. This may mean getting them out while the dog is in another room or on a walk. If they catch you getting the food ready, put it into a bowl and place it out of reach, and wait for your dog to give up and get distracted.
While your dog is indoors, in earshot but not looking right at you, ring the cowbell. Immediately after the noise, you will drop those 5 treats onto a spot near the doorway, inside the house. You will use this same spot every single time. (Use a spot by the back door if your dog has problems with the backyard, and a spot by the front door if your dog runs out front.)
Encourage your dog to find the treats if needed, and excitedly praise them as they eat.
Let your dog go back about his day.

Practicing success

Repeat the steps above at least 20 times while your dog is in the house. This should be spaced out over several days. Do not continue to the next step until they come zooming in from another room every time you ring the cowbell.
Now practice while the dog is in the backyard but not engaged in any exciting behaviors. For example, your dog is sunbathing, or just sitting and watching birds fly by. They are not barking at the neighbor, digging a hole, chasing another animal, or eating poop. Let them return to the backyard after their treats. Repeat at least 50 times, over several days. Do not continue to the next step until they come zooming in from the backyard when you ring the cowbell.
If your dog has trouble with bolting outside, then put them on a long leash or tether (at least 10’) and hang out by the front door as your dog goes out. Wait for your dog to be done with their initial excited sniffing and wandering. Then ring the bell and practice as above. Let your dog go back into the front yard on their long leash or tether after their treats. Repeat at least 50 times, over several days. Do not continue to the next step until they come zooming in from out front when you ring the cowbell.

Remember that during this process, your dog is not loose in the backyard without a way for you to easily bring them indoors without calling them. They also are prevented from bolting out the front door by the air lock.

Testing and troubleshooting

Once you’ve completed the steps above, you can test your dog’s response. Don’t get the treats out beforehand, but do still use the drag line or long leash just in case.

In the backyard, wait for your dog to be engaged in an exciting activity, like barking, digging, or chasing. Ring the bell. When your dog comes in, close the door and then run and get the treats! Bring them back to the special spot and drop 5 treats like usual.
Attach your dog’s harness/collar to the long leash or tether as they’re still in the house, then leave the front door open and walk away. Right after they go outside, ring the bell. When your dog comes in, close the door and then run and get the treats! Bring them back to the special spot and drop 5 treats like usual.

If your dog doesn’t come zooming inside, bring them in using your line. Thank goodness you had it on just in case, right? Go back to practicing success another 50 times, then test again.

Remember that during training, you should have the treats ready to drop, but your dog should not see or hear you getting them ready. To make it easier, you can prep a few rounds of treats and leave them in a bowl near the door, but out of the dog’s reach. Then you can easily grab them as you practice throughout the day.

Integrating into daily life

Follow these rules to make sure that your training stays strong:

You will need to continue practicing, using the line as a back up, for an extended period of time. This includes practicing out front, for dogs who bolt.
- You might be thinking, “If the dog always has a line or tether on as a back up, won’t they know that they don’t need to come back if they actually get loose one day?” The answer is practice, practice, practice! You want the dog to be so used to turning and running inside as soon as they hear the cowbell, that they don’t stop and think about it - it’s automatic.
You should be allowing your dog to go back outside after they get their treats at least 80% of the time.
- If you switch to frequently calling them, then closing the door and ending all their fun, they may decide that the treats aren’t worth it after all.
You should also continue to use the high value treats at least 80% of the time.
- You can occasionally substitute other rewards, but if you switch to frequently using “ho hum” treats or none at all, they may decide that it’s not worth it after all.

When you get to the point that you would be willing to bet $100 that your dog will come zooming in even if they didn’t have their safety line on, you can start to relax on the rules. Add them back in if your dog starts to regress.