Help – My Dog Doesn’t Come When He’s Called!
One of the most important things you can teach your dog is to come when he’s called. A reliable recall is critical for both their safety and your peace of mind. So, how can we get our dogs to respond to our calls? It’s not that hard to teach, but it’s a hard command to keep reliable. Why? Because we use our dog’s name all the time in other ways, so they get bored or immune to it!
Here are some points to remember for a good recall:
Be consistent – You may mix it up with, “Rover come” “Rover, here boy” “Rover, get over here.” However, these are not the same to your dog; all 3 sound like different things to him. You have to pick a phrase and use it every single time. Most people say: “Rover, come.” Keep in mind we tend to overuse our pet’s name: “Rover is so cute.” “I love you, Rover.” “Did you do that Rover?” “Rover no.” So, it doesn’t hurt to come up with something else to indicate you want him to come. We know a rescue dog that probably had bad juju associated with his name, and he wouldn’t come to it. His people decided just to say: “Treat!” Guess what? He comes every single time when they say it. If they call his name… not so much. For that reason, maybe consider something other than their name or come. (doći means come in Croatian!)
Train with High-Value Treats
Don’t use a plain old dog cookie, since they get those regularly. Make it super special, real chicken, cheese, or real jerky can be very motivating! Start calling his name (or your designated word) with him sitting in front of you. Call him and give him a treat, then move back a few inches. Call again and when they come, treat. Be sure to treat every single time. Don’t increase the distance too quickly. After you treat your dog, have a party too. Pet them and tell them how smart they are, jump around a bit. Make it fun! Remember, one day their life could depend on them responding without hesitation.
Keep it short
You’re better off to train recall 3 times a day for 2 minutes each time then to go at it for 15 minutes straight. You don’t want them to get bored with it.
Suspicion
Think about the term you use: do you ever use it and scold them, or get angry, or have stress in your voice? Do you use their recall term and grab or yank their collar? If you do these things, you won’t ever get a reliable recall because you’ve essentially trained your dog not to come!
Practice, practice, and practice some more
Practice, practice, practice, all the time even if you’re sure they have it down pat. Reinforcement is your friend. Remember – treat every time with a high-value treat. You want your dog to know that when you call them, it means food. If your dog is not food motivated, use a favorite toy that they only get to play with when training recall.
Be patient, go slowly, have fun, and soon your Rover will come running when you call him!
Why hire a local dog walking company in Washington DC and not an app or neighbor?
Pet owners may be surprised to learn that there are two types of dog walkers, hobbyists…
Can My Pet Make My Family or Me Sick?
Can My Pet Make My Family or Me Sick? The short answer is yes. However, the…
Why is my dog destroying my home?
Sooner or later most dog owners will return home and find something ruined by their beloved…
January is National Pet Eye Care Month
I Only Have Eyes For You! January is National Eye Care Month, so this is a great…
Things to Know Before You Adopt a Rescue Pet
According to the ASPCA, every year almost 8 million cats and dogs are in shelters nationwide. We hope…
7 Resolutions Your Pets Want You to Make
Uh oh, it’s that time of year again – when we set new goals and try…
Tips To Keep Your Pet’s Teeth Clean
Tips To Keep Your Pet’s Teeth Clean My 12 year old Bella recently had a dental…
Spread Holiday Cheer with Your Pet!
It’s the most wonderful time of year! Wintertime can be either a season of hunkering down…
How do cats show love?
We all know that cats are different from dogs – you know when a dog likes you (think…
All about your cat’s rough and scratchy tongue
Roughing It! If you’ve been groomed by a cat then you know their tongue is rough…
Why is my dog always barking?
Are you ready to send your dog to Barkaholics Anonymous? That title is an oxymoron, isn’t…
Nutrition Related Illnesses in Pets
Nutrition Related Illnesses in Pets Americans love their pets, so much so, that we spend more…
How to Prevent Dog Bites at Home
Let’s start here: any dog can bite. Even the most friendly and easygoing dog will bite if…