What to Do If Your Dog Doesn’t Respond to a Recall
If your dog doesn't respond to a recall cue (such as "come") right away, the approach is slightly different from other commands like "sit" or "stay." Recall is a vital behaviour, often linked to safety, so it’s important to handle this carefully to ensure your dog learns to come back reliably.
Don’t repeat the cue: As with other commands, you should avoid repeating the recall cue multiple times. Saying "come, come, come" can teach your dog that they don’t need to respond immediately and can wait until you’ve called them several times.
Stay calm and positive: If your dog doesn’t come when called, it’s tempting to get frustrated or raise your voice. However, dogs are sensitive to tone, and sounding frustrated may make them less likely to come. Keep your tone upbeat and encouraging, as you want your dog to associate coming to you with positive experiences.
Use motivation: If your dog doesn’t respond, try using a motivating signal, like clapping your hands, whistling, or using a toy or treat to get their attention. You could also start running in the opposite direction, making it a fun game of chase. Many dogs will instinctively chase you if you move away from them.
Go and get them: If your dog is completely ignoring the recall cue, it’s best not to keep repeating it. Instead, calmly approach your dog and guide them back to where you called them from, without showing frustration. You don’t want them to associate coming to you with negativity or punishment.
Reward generously: Once your dog does come to you, always reward them, even if they were slow to respond. Recall is one of the most important behaviours for safety, so you want to make sure your dog views coming to you as a great experience. Use high-value rewards such as their favourite treats, toys, or plenty of praise and affection to reinforce the behaviour.
Preventing Recall Problems
Practice regularly: Recall is a behaviour that requires regular practice, especially in different environments and with distractions. Start training in a quiet area with few distractions, gradually increasing the difficulty as your dog becomes more reliable.
Use a long line: If your dog isn’t responding to recall in an open space, using a long training line allows you to give them more freedom while still maintaining control. When you call them, you can gently guide them back if they don’t respond on their own.
Never punish after a recall: Even if your dog comes back slowly or after exploring something else first, never punish them once they return to you. If they associate coming back with a negative experience, they will be less likely to respond next time.
Don’t always put them straight back on the lead: If every recall means the end of fun, your dog may hesitate to come back. Instead, occasionally call them, clip the lead on, then immediately release them to go play again. This keeps recall positive and prevents it from becoming a signal that fun is over.
Final Tips
Incorporating recall into everyday activities and making it fun can help strengthen the behaviour. Recall should always be worth your dog’s while—coming back to you should feel like the best part of their day! And just like with other commands, saying the recall cue once and using positive reinforcement is key to building reliable responses.