23/03/2023
Great reminders when working on COME WHEN CALLED!
ARE YOU WORTH COMING BACK TO?
There are many reasons why dogs don’t come back when you want them to. A dog’s genetics play a big role in this when an environment is far more stimulating and exciting and listening and coming back to you disappear into the background as genetic instinct takes over.
An exciting scent or seeing something to chase can all override a response to you.
Genetics aside, a common reason why dogs don’t come back when called is because it’s not a positive experience for them.
I often cringe when I watch owners trying to get their dogs to come to them when they call.
They call and call and get increasingly angry and frustrated as their dog keeps ignoring them.
When their dog eventually does come back, or has been chased and "captured” by their owner, they get screamed at, yanked about, smacked or punished in some way for taking so long and not listening. Why would a dog want to return to someone who does this to them!
Make coming back to you worth it by always making it a rewarding experience.
Have a little patience if it takes longer than you would like, let your dog finish what they’re doing before calling them, practice in different locations and environments and never reprimand or punish them for coming back.
There is never a guarantee of a perfect recall each and every time, but making it rewarding will greatly improve the rate of success.
