Why does my dog ignore recall commands?
Written by
David Smith
Reviewed by
Prof. David Walsh, Ph.D.Why Dogs Ignore Recall Commands (and How You Can Fix It) - Low-value rewards and overwhelming environments are just a couple of reasons why your dog may be ignoring recall commands. Learn more about why your dog is exhibiting this behavior and what you can do to help resolve the issue.
Reward Upgrades
- Switch from kibble to premium treats like cooked liver
- Use special toys reserved only for recall success
- Rotate rewards frequently to maintain high motivation
Environmental Management
- Restart training at half the previous distance
- Use visual barriers like fences to reduce distractions
- Introduce sounds gradually starting at low volume
Cue Rehabilitation
- Replace poisoned cues with new unique recall words
- Practice without expectations for two weeks
- Pair new cues with highest-value rewards exclusively
High-value rewards can separate an ignored recall from a perfect recall. High-value rewards could be "cooked meat" or special toys. A high-value reward is something that motivates a dog to focus on you, which is paramount in a training environment where distractions are abundant. High-value rewards should only be used for training purposes to ensure they are always considered "high-value."
Environmental contingencies frequently undermine recall success. When introducing new locations, significantly reduce distances. Use long lines to avoid reinforcing ignoring commands from a distance. Focus is best developed incrementally over multiple visits, rather than being consistently expected during a single excursion.
Accidental punishment creates poisoned cues that make dogs associate recall with something not fun. If you have called your dog to the end of play before, they have made that association. This can be remedied by teaching your recall a new cue word, and only coupling that cue word with positive, pleasurable experiences.
Safety gear, such as front-clip harnesses, prevents reinforcement of ignoring. Long lines prevent dogs from learning to ignore distractions while off-leash outdoors. These tools prevent unwanted behavior while retraining is occurring, all without putting either dog in a dangerous situation.
Read the full article: Dog Recall Training: Essential Guide
