How do you train a dog that won't come to you?

Start teaching your dog his name by repeating it when you give him treats and praise. But technically, any verbal command that gets your dog to pay attention will work for this training. To encourage your dog to come back to you during training, you must make that experience more interesting or rewarding than anything else out there. Use the most delicious treats he loves or his most engaging toy for training. With that kind of positive reinforcement, your dog learns coming to you when he’s called usually leads to exciting things. Before you begin your first lesson, get your dog’s favorite treats or a toy and a clicker. Toss a treat to your dog, Gradually move a few steps away from your dog. Say your dog’s name and say “Come” once, Keep moving a few steps away from your dog, Lure him with a treat, Use the clicker when he approaches. When your dog comes to you, Use the clicker and praise him when he gets to you, Then, give him a treat or his favorite toy as a reward. Keep practicing, Repeat the steps above. Expand the distance slowly, Keep expanding the distance between you and your dog. Once he gets the hang of it inside, move the lesson to where there are more distractions, Expand the distance and increase the level of distractions slowly.

Teach your dog to respond to their name before adding recall, teaching your pooch their name makes it easy for you to grab their attention when you need it. Always reward your dog when they come back, start indoors, in your garden, or in another enclosed space with some tasty treats to hand. Get your dog’s attention with their name, then use your recall cue and take a step away from them, reward them with praise and a tasty treat when they come to you. If your pooch keeps darting off when you call them, stick with training on a long lead attached to a harness, and only let them off-lead in secure areas. Only let your dog off their lead in open spaces when you’re confident they’ll come back when called. If you find your dog's recall isn't quite where it should be, it might be worth enrolling in some dog training lessons. You need to teach your dog that coming back to you is always a good thing, and will result in tasty snacks, a fuss, or whatever reward they like best. Add in some distractions and increase the length of the recall distance, gradually increase the distance between you and your dog and the level of distractions you call them away from.

Use high-value rewards for positive reinforcement. Start your training with high-value treats that your dog may not get on a regular basis. A small baggie of cooked chicken or sausage bites, or perhaps cheese, can be very motivating. If it’s nice and stinky, that helps. Call your dog to you using your chosen command, and then immediately give the treat when they come all the way to you. Starting with shorter distances helps. Non-food rewards work, too. If you grab the lead, the dog knows he’s going for a walk, Tell them to come and if he obeys, then get the lead out. You can also use verbal praise and petting to reward your dog for obeying. Start slow and work your way up. If you want reliable recall at the dog park, you need to have reliable recall in the house first. Build up slowly to get your dog to come reliably. Work your way to 100% reliable in the house, and then move outdoors where there are more distractions. Make sure your dog comes all the way to you. Offer praise as your dog is coming to you—don’t wait until he makes it all the way to your feet. By telling him he’s doing the right thing, he’ll be more encouraged to come all the way. Use “here” or “come” instead of the dog’s name. You need to clearly use the command “come” or “here” and make sure your dog obeys. Keep it a fun experience, don’t punish your dog for obeying. Make sure you aren’t using the command to call your dog to you if you’re going to do something he doesn’t like.

You need an incentive to encourage your dog to come back - a really tasty treat or a fun game with a toy. Show your dog the toy or food. Run away a couple of paces then call your dog's name and say come in a friendly, exciting tone - getting down low can also encourage them to come back. As your dog comes to you, gently hold their collar and either feed them the treat or let them play with the toy. Gradually increase the distance that you are from your dog, until eventually you can call your dog in and out of the garden or from room to room. Ask a friend or partner to help take it in turns to gently hold your dog's collar whilst the other one walks a distance away and then calls the dog over. Only call when you are going to praise your dog - do not call your dog and then tell them off as it means they will be less likely to come back next time you call. Don't only call your dog to put them back on the lead - they'll soon make the association and be reluctant to come back. When practicing this command on walks, always take your dog's favourite treats and toys with you so you can continue to reward him when he comes back.

The way in which you say your dog’s name will be very different and new. Use a Distinctly Different Tone, I’d say the first syllable of the name with an upward, extended inflection. The second syllable would be a partial downward inflection: a rise and slight dip. Say his or her name in a very unique way. Do NOT say anything else; just the name, once. Repeat this several times over the course of a week or to ensure that your dog has learned to associate the name-summoning with a real meat morsel. One day, without first getting the meat, say your dog’s name in the new, unique way: the meat call. Wherever your dog is, they’ll come running to you because they’ll think you’re holding a morsel of chicken, lamb, pork, or beef. Then get the meat and reward your dog. Set your dog up in a situation for which she usually doesn’t come when first called or never comes at all. Call your dog as you normally would, if she doesn’t come, wait a few moments, then give the meat call. Your dog should be racing to you like it’s the last day on earth. If your dog just won’t come to you when you’re at the park, just give the meat call. A trained dog will forget that squirrel and come running to you.