Doesn't Come When Called

Q: We have a great dog. He listens quite well to most commands - but when we're playing in the park and it's time to go home, he will not come when he's called. It sometimes takes us quite a while to catch him, and I think it's become like a game for him even though we are quite frustrated. How can we teach him to come when he's called?"

A: Shannon Malmberg from Zen Dog responds: A good recall is one of the most important things you can teach a dog and will open up his world to him through more off-leash freedom - or make his world a danger if he doesn't come when called. It is a statement about the relationship a dog has with his owner as much as it is a training issue.



An experienced dog trainer will not allow a young dog much off-leash freedom until the dog demonstrates that he has earned it. Much of this comes through responsiveness to all commands in general (because if the dog does not listen when he is six feet away, he won't listen when he is 30 feet away); and gradually teaching the dog to filter out heavier distractions. Stepping up on all of the dog's obedience (sits, downs, leash walking) can only have a positive effective on the recall, as will proper human-canine leadership.



You need to return to some basics and teach your dog a solid recall, both from a distance and also away from heavy distractions. I would work on each separately. The quieter the environment, the more distance you can use in your distraction work - distance itself is a distraction for dogs and they need to be taught a reliable recall from a distance. Under heavier distraction, bring the dog's radius to you in closer and work him on a long drop-line with treats, recalling him back to you BEFORE you lose his attention to the surrounding.



I always make early recall training game-based to teach speed and a happy attitude. One of my favourite games starts with a hungry dog and a pocket of treats. Get your dog's attention and toss a treat away from your body. While your dog goes over to investigate, run in the other direction, calling your dog's name and COME! When your dog runs up to you, reward him with a treat and then toss another away from your body and run off in the other direction, again calling his name and to come to you. Repeat this until your dog is really getting into the game. I alway end on a high note - when the dog wants more. This builds drive in the dog and rewards for enthusiasm. With a young puppy I will play this game daily for months, imprinting the joy of the word COME.



A solid recall takes many months - or more - to perfect. If you find that your dog's recall is unraveling, you will need to scale back on the freedom you give him and step up more on his training and being able to follow through with all of your commands. Enroll him in obedience classes; teach him to work more reliably around distractions; take the time to make sure he fully understands the exercise by re-creating a solid foundation in the recall work.