Do you know what DOG ESSENTIALS you are missing out? Find out now!
Zack Keithy, our author, is a certified veterinarian technician (UC Blue Ash) for over 6 years (contact him here). The articles written here are based on his expertise and experience, combined with a review by our expert vet reviewers including Dr M. Tarantino. Learn more about us here.
I’m pretty sure we’ve all been there – you’re that neighbor with the dog that gleefully ignores your calls as they go rogue, trespassing through yards and treating the street like their own personal sniffing buffet.
You know they can hear you, but they’re putting their doggy blinders on, tuning you out completely.
Teaching a reliable recall is honestly one of the toughest but most crucial things for any dog owner.
It can literally be a life-saver if your pup ever gets loose.
But getting it right takes major time, consistency and the proper positive reinforcement techniques.
Which is why so many owners end up feeling endlessly frustrated, with that problem pup who just won’t freaking come when called, no matter what.
I want to share some of my experience handling this with you. Hopefully you will turn this around sooner rather than later.
More dog training tips here if you’re keen.
Recover Your Dog First
Okay, so your fugitive pup is on the loose, completely tuning you out as they explore the neighborhood.
Getting them back obviously needs to be step one before any training can happen.
If they’re just sniffing around not getting into any real trouble, reeling them back in shouldn’t be too tough.
It’s when they’re actively evading you or heading towards danger that things get tricky.
Your first instinct will be to go chasing after them, yelling those stern “Get over here RIGHT NOW” commands.
But that’s exactly the wrong move – to a dog, you’re just initiating an amazing game of keep-away that they’re guaranteed to win with their speed.
Even if they don’t think you’re playing, they still won’t want to be caught.
The better play is to get THEM to come to YOU instead.
Obviously just calling their name isn’t cutting it at this point.
You need to get their curious little minds fully locked on you doing something totally bizarre and out of the ordinary.
I’m talking screeching like a banshee, stomping around, jumping up and down like a maniac – whatever wild, goofy scene will finally make them go “….wat?” and break off the chase to stare at you like you’ve lost your mind.
The second you have their eyes, turn and RUN away from them. Most dogs will be so intrigued that they’ll drop everything to chase you instead.
If the old reverse psychology doesn’t work, get low and make them come investigate you.
Sit or laydown, flail around, make weird noises – they’ll probably think you’re either hurt or playing an irresistible new game and have to come check it out.
Last ditch effort if they still won’t be lured?
You gotta go calmly get them, talking in a soothing voice like you’d never dream of getting after them.
Dog psychology is weird, my friend.
Making Sure It Doesn’t Happen Again
Okay, now that you’ve (hopefully) got your little escape artist back, it’s time to make sure this doesn’t become a regular occurrence.
Because every time you allow your pup to just ignore your calls and do their own thing, you’re only reinforcing that unwanted behavior.
Once the drama of the great chase is over, say bye-bye to any off-leash free-roaming time for a while.
If their recall is that unreliable, they shouldn’t be off-leash in public areas at all until it’s rock solid.
Instead, get yourself a long training lead – like 15-30 feet – and keep them securely attached to that whenever you’re out working on this.
Use a no-pull harness, never a collar, since the sudden jolt of them hitting the end of the line could seriously injure their neck.
With the long lead, when you give the recall cue and they pull their signature “la la la I can’t hear you” act, you can simply reel them in so ignoring you just isn’t an option anymore.
It takes that choice away until the behavior is learned.
Now as for why they’re blowing you off in the first place – nope, it’s not just your pup being a rebellious jerk on purpose or holding a grudge about that doggy dental cleaning.
Dogs don’t think that way.
A lot of times, they honestly just don’t understand what’s expected when you call their name.
You say it all day long without wanting anything specific, so how are they supposed to know THIS time you need them to actually come?
Gotta put in the training reps and master dog training commands, my friend.
Other times, they’re low-key suspicious of you and your intentions.
Think about the tone YOU typically use when calling them – if you sound stressed, angry, or scolding when you finally get ahold of them, you’ve basically trained them that coming = trouble.
Of course they’d rather keep chasing squirrels!
And for some stubbornly indifferent pups, the sad truth is they just don’t see any point in listening to you.
They’re not scared, not running away necessarily, but also not feeling any real motivation to drop what they’re doing and come when called.
Solving all those recall problems boils down to dedicating time to solid training using positive reinforcement techniques.
Improve Their Behavior
Okay, it’s time to actually work on fixing this whole unreliable recall thing.
But hold up – the “fix” isn’t really a quick correction, it’s an overall change in your training approach.
Because teaching a bombproof recall is a process that happens in stages using positive reinforcement methods.
Here’s what to do:
First, ditch any ideas about punishing or scolding them when they finally come.
The reason that negative reinforcement just doesn’t work for recall training is the delay – by the time you’ve caught up to them, way too much time has passed for them to connect any punishment with their original ignoring of your cue.
In their mind, they’re just being punished for finally coming to you.
Instead, the second you get your hands on them, shower them with praise, treats, and affection like they’re the goodest pup ever.
I know, I know, you’re probably fuming inside after That Great Chase.
But letting them see any anger or frustration will just ensure they try even harder to avoid you next time.
Speaking of rewards, this is where high-value positive reinforcement becomes your new best friend.
The moment they actually do recall properly should be the most incredibly amazing, mind-blowingly exciting time of their life.
I’m talking a jackpot of their most motivating, dog-crack level treats and praise.
Sliced chicken, cheese, jerky – whatever makes your pup’s eyes go nuclear.
If food’s not their thing, find their very favorite toy or game to break out.
The point is, you want that recall cue to become their favorite thing on earth.
As they start getting better at it, you can phase out carrying food rewards everywhere.
But that persistent, intense positive reinforcement when they get it right is what’s gonna rebuild a reliable recall from the ground up.
The Best Solution If You Don’t Want To Do This Alone
All these recall training tips are solid starting points for sure.
But let’s be real – teaching an absolutely no-fail recall is one of the biggest challenges you’ll face as a dog owner.
It takes immense time, patience, and expertise to really nail it.
That’s why at a certain point, enlisting professional-level guidance is a total game-changer.
And I’m not just talking about finding a local group class, which can be helpful but also limiting with a ton of distractions.
Nope, one of the best investments any pet parent can make is an online dog training course from real certified experts.
My top recommendation? Check out the courses from SpiritDog Training.
Their comprehensive programs use positive reinforcement to tackle crucial obedience commands like recall, but also nuanced behavioral issues, puppy raising basics, you name it.
And it’s all taught via high-quality video lessons you can follow at your own pace from home.
But here’s the real key – you also get unlimited access to ask questions directly to the pro trainer instructors anytime.
So no more struggling to remember what you learned weeks later. You’ve got a virtual coach in your pocket.
If you’re someone who’s felt the frustration of a dog blowing off your recall cues one too many times, you’re way more likely to finally see success with professional help.
The programs are a small investment for a lifetime of obedience and peace of mind knowing your pup will come when called, no matter what high-value squirrel is running by.
Seriously, don’t knock it ’til you try it – these online pros are just that good.