We’ve all been there, shouting our dog’s name in the middle of a muddy field to no avail. Withering with embarrassment from the looks from other dog walkers and trying to ignore the faint concern that they’ve gone forever or got stuck down a rabbit hole. So why does this happen, and what can we do to stop it?
Table of contents
Teenager phase
A very common time we start to see problems with recall is in the so called “teenager phase”. This generally starts anywhere between the ages of 6 and 12 months and can end between 18 and 24 months. During this phase they are becoming less reliant on their owner and can start to push boundaries while they’re becoming more confident and interested in exploring the world. During this phase they can start to struggle with recall, even if they had a perfect recall as a puppy. This is because they are often so interested in the world around them they find this more rewarding then coming back to you.
What to do for this?
It’s recommended to try and remove your natural frustrations and go back a step. Use the same techniques you used when they were a puppy to train a solid recall, techniques such as using a long line so you can gently encourage them in the correct direction and reward. You can start even smaller if you need to, simply with rewarding your dog for giving eye contact after you call them. This can be done in a low stimulus environment such as your own home to begin with. You can also practise recall in a securely fenced area and use a high value reward until they start to remember that you are as fun and rewarding to come back to as the environment or other dog they’ve just seen.
Read more about the adolescent phase here.
Learn more about training and practising recall here.
Accidental reinforcement
Every time you call your dog, and they don’t come to you, you are accidentally reinforcing that behaviour. Dogs learn behaviours by being rewarded for them, this can be a good thing when we’re teaching them something; but inconvenient when they’re rewarding themselves for ignoring you by following a scent or chasing a squirrel.
What to do?
Set your dog up for success by only calling them when you know they’re going to come to you (within reason!). Start off small, somewhere with no distractions (this can even be in your own home). And build it up to more stimulating places, always rewarding when they get it right. If you’re not sure they will come to you, don’t call them, and wait for their focus to come back to you. You can also use a long line and give them a gentle pull in the right direction, then reward reward reward!
You’re boring!
Your dog will ignore you if you are more boring than their surroundings, or you are not as rewarding as their surroundings. So do anything to get their attention when you call them, run away, show them a toy, do something weird so they come and investigate! Don’t let them ignore you and reinforce that behaviour. Once they’ve got focus back on you, reward!
You’re not using a reward appropriate for your dog
Like people, every dog is different, and each dog will be motivated by different things. If you’re offering a reward your dog doesn’t find valuable, they’re less likely to do what you’re asking. The main two categories for rewards in dog training are food and play, a food motivated dog may not do anything for you if you’re offering them a tennis ball in return, and vice versa!
What to do?
You know your dog best, think about what they love and what they value. If your dog is obsessed with food, use their favourite food as a reward for giving their attention when you call them, and if your dog is obsessed with a ball or tug toy, play a game with them when they’ve done what you ask.
Learn more about reward based behaviour here.
You own a hound dog
Sighthound or scenthound, these breeds of dog are made to chase prey. These breeds include greyhounds, whippets, beagles and bassets. This means that they can be more difficult to train a reliable recall, as they can easily become distracted when out on a walk by a scent or the sight of a prey animal, such as a squirrel, bird or rabbit. Using the same positive reinforcement techniques as described above hound dogs can also have a good recall, be learning that you are more rewarding than their chase instinct.
To summarise, start small with a high value reward, and slowly build up. Be realistic about how good your dog’s recall is. And only only give them the opportunity to ignore you once you know that they won’t. If you’re still struggling it may be worth consulting an accredited behaviourist, a list of which can be found by following the links below, or by asking your vet for a behaviour referral.
Further reading:
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