Dog Won't Come When Called? - Try These Easy Methods

Dog Training Guide

Our dog training guide will provide everything from tips for training a reliable recall to tips for training an aggressive dog. 

Your dog’s behaviour lies hand in hand with its well-being. A dog that is responsive to you and has learned some basic commands will be one that can enjoy exploring new environments with its owner safely.

It is important to teach your furbaby some basic commands and the best way to do this is to know their instincts and behaviours. 

A dog behaviour guide looks at how a healthy dog generally reacts to situations and provides ways to support and guide a dog into exhibiting appropriate responses. 

Reliable Recall and Training Recall

When you’re training your dog to walk with you off their lead, the most important factor is knowing that your dog is going to return to you when you call them. 

A dog behaviour training guide helps you to easily cement this reliable recall behaviour quickly so that you can go and enjoy those walks out in public settings without worry. 

A reliable recall is when you call your dog and expect them to respond to you 99.99% of the time. Dogs are not robots and we cannot ever expect them to respond the same every time, but through your training, you can teach your dog to know they need to return to you.

Through patience, practice and positivity, you can train your furbaby to have a reliable recall. Games and rewards are great tools to begin training, where you can play catch me, using the cue ‘come’ when they chase you and reward them when they reach you.

Be mindful to not poison your cue or the gains you have made in your training. Try to avoid calling your dog and immediately leashing them to return home. They will be more disinclined to obey next time. 

A poisoned cue is where you find yourself repeating your cue, usually ‘come’, over and over again to no avail. Find out why they refuse to come when called next.

Why Does Your Dog Not Come When Called?

Ahh, the frustration and helplessness I feel when my dog won't come when I call!

When your dog won’t come inside when called or return to you when you’re in a public setting, you’re exposing them and others to potentially dangerous situations. 

Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why your dog might not come when called. 

Your dog is apprehensive

Your dog might be afraid of you from something you’ve done in the past. Have you called them to punish them, put them on the lead and drag them back home? Tips to train anxious dogs will help you to mend your relationship.

Does not find it relevant

Your dog may understand what you want them to do, but they simply don’t see the point. Unless you can provide a sense of excitement and urgency through praise, reward or reason, then the longer they choose to ignore you, the more their disobedience is reinforced. 

Disobedience

Active disobedience is when a dog runs off when being called. Blatantly ignoring you is a serious problem and you need to get the situation under control. Be sure to read these tips to stop your dog from biting as well. 

You sound angry

Your furbaby can pick up on your tone of voice and will be much less inclined to come to you if it sounds like they are going to be punished. Remaining upbeat and cheerful, even if you’re feeling frustrated.

You stopped rewarding your dog

As this command is so important and often quite a challenging one, especially if the desire to continue playing or to chase something is strong, don’t stop offering those little reward treats too soon. 

Easy Methods to Make Your Dog Come When Called

There’s a lot to teach your dog to ensure they behave safely when out in public. After training your pup to walk on a leash, which includes helpful tips to stop your dog from pulling on the lead, you might like to start exploring new environments.

But when your dog won’t come when called, you’re putting them and others at great risk. Take a look at the following methods for when your dog won’t come inside when called. 

Use treats for positive reinforcement

High-value treats that your pup doesn’t get regularly are a great way to reinforce your recall training. Cooked chicken, hot dog bites or even small bits of cheese are great special snacks. The smellier the better too!

Use non-treat related rewards

Try to associate your cue word used in recall training with fun. Call them and grab the leash, so that they quickly head over for an exciting walk time. Reward them with a walk and heaps of praise. 

Use commands instead of taking the dog's name

Using your dog’s name is a great way to get their attention, but it isn’t good for training. When starting indoors, people often make the mistake of just using their dog’s name to get them to come, but this isn’t telling them what to do. 

Choose a cue word

By using the cue word ‘come’ or ‘here’, then you’re telling your dog what to do. This is a more effective training method.

Your tone of voice is also very important. Say it as you mean it, but do not sound angry or frustrated, even if you are. Your dog is less likely to respond positively to anger. 

Add distractions

Just like the tips to prevent your dog from jumping & biting on walks, distraction is your friend. Once you have mastered getting your dog to come on command indoors, start adding distractions before taking them outside, which will be full of them!

Train your dog outdoors

Start in your backyard if you can before moving to the park or somewhere close to home. Try to pick a suitable time of the day. Increase the distance between you and your dog very gradually until you feel confident that they have learned reliable recall.  

Take Home Message

Teaching your dog to recall, could be the most important command they learn, alongside potty training your pup and tips to train your dog around toddlers. 

Being able to trust that your dog will return to you when you call them means that you can keep them out of harm's way whilst allowing them to play fetch in the park or on the beach.

Training takes patience and positivity and should begin indoors before you face the wondrous distractions that the outside has to offer. 

Using cue words rather than just your dog’s name will teach them what it is you’re trying to get them to do, rather than just getting their attention and expecting them to come to you.