Remember, teaching a reliable recall isn’t a simple process. Except, the “correction” isn’t so much a solution to the problem as it is an overall change in what you’re doing. When you finally get your fingers on fur, you can start correcting the behavior. How are they supposed to know this time is different? Even if you add a firm “come here!” to your call, they won’t know what you want unless you’ve spent a considerable amount of time training the cue. You say their name all day long, and most of the time, you don’t expect anything from them. They Honestly Don’t Know Any Better:They might recognize their name when you’re screaming it down the street, but recognition and comprehending what’s expected of them aren’t the same. Dogs don’t think like that, but that doesn’t mean there’s not a reason behind their behavior. They’re not doing it because they’re remembering that one time you took them to the groomer’s or stole back the shoe they pilfered from your closet. No matter how it seems, your dog isn’t ignoring you out of spite. When you call them and they ignore you, you can reel them in so ignoring you isn’t an option.

Whether you’re out training or just having fun, keep your dog on the long lead. Never use a collar, because the sudden force of running, reaching the end of the line, and jolting backward can seriously hurt a dog’s neck. Most dogs will be so intrigued by your strange behavior that they’ll stop what they’re doing to chase you down.Īn alternative is to get a long training lead (15-30 feet), and attach it to your dog’s snug-fitting harness. The second you have their eyes, turn around and run in the other direction. Screech like a maniac, stomp your feet, jump up and down, do the worm dance-do anything out of the ordinary that will make your dog look at you. We already established calling their name isn’t going to work, but there are other ways to get their attention. Act a Little Crazy (or a lot)Ī better strategy is to get them to come to you. Even if they don’t think you’re playing, they still won’t want to be caught. And because four legs are almost always faster than two, you’ll lose. Some dogs love to play keep-away, and they’ll see you chasing after them as the start of a fun game. In this scenario, your instinct is wrong.

Your instinct will be to chase your dog while yelling in your no-nonsense-get-back-here-right-now voice. If that’s the case, first learn what not to do.

Stick em up dog trick