I recently told you about the various reasons your dog might not come back.
Here’s part 1 of what to do to about it.
A – Learn when NOT to call your dog. For example, avoid calling him when he’s just about to go to the toilet – perhaps he’s sniffing around or looking focused on a particular spot. Wait until after he’s performed to call him.
Avoid calling him when he’s greeting another dog, especially if it’s a stranger dog he hasn’t met before. He’ll be reluctant to break off contact until he’s sorted out who this new dog is, where he comes from, what he is, and who he knows….
Very common mistake this one – don’t call your dog if he’s having an attack of the zoomies. When dogs have that explosion of activity they often struggle to stop themselves, never mind come back to you! Wait until they stop naturally or slow down then call.
And finally, never call your dog if you’re going to then do something he dislikes – shut him away so you can go to work, give him a bath, or clip his nails. Always go and get him in those situations instead.
B – remember the differences between breeds. If your sight hound has already taken off after that rabbit, or your bloodhound has his nose glued to the ground after that scent, or your spaniel is thrashing about in the undergrowth after that bird, there is simply no point in calling them. They won’t even hear you, as all their focus is on the activity they’re engaged in. Your better bet is to put them on a lead or a long line in areas where the temptation to run off after prey or a scent is likely to be too much for them.
C- Don’t let your dog off lead if you haven’t trained him to come back when you call. Self-evident really, but it’s amazing just how many people take a “I’ll just hope and pray” attitude to their dog coming back to them. If you haven’t done the training, keep your dog on lead or long line until you have.
D- Train your dog to come back. You need to start at home, then your garden, then a quiet outside are, then busier areas…, first with no distractions then building up with different distractions… It takes practice – lots of practice. We give you all the games you need to play to teach your dog to come back at our Perfect Pet courses – but you still need to do the practice.
Keep training
Carol