Some reasons dogs don't come when called include distraction, confusion, or fear. Gradual training and positivity are ways to help build a reliable recall so your dog will come when called.
One of the most effective ways to teach your dog to come when called is by using treats as positive reinforcement. Start by calling your pup's name and saying “come” with an upbeat tone and then reward it with a treat for coming over to you.
The reasons for this are numerous, ranging from just an age related phase, not adequate training, fear, or just simple distraction issues. The first step a frustrated owner should take is to try to assess WHY their dog is not taking a command, as the solution differs for each reason.
Start by making sure your dog can follow a command with no distractions. Then, work on the command with people in the environment talking, eating, engaging with each other. Then, work on the command out in the yard and start with minimal distractions and work up to more significant distractions.
The reasons your dog may not be listening might be medical in nature, but most often, if your dog will not come to you or ignores you completely, it is because of a training or a behavioral issue. Once you feel you have ruled out potential illness, training and conditioning your dog will improve his recall ability.
Some reasons dogs don't come when called include distraction, confusion, or fear.
Even a well-trained dog can be tempted by a cat or squirrel or startled by a loud noise. Be consistent. You or other members of your family may unintentionally be asking for the same behavior in different ways or rewarding different behaviors. As a result, your dog may seem stubborn when he's really just confused.
Punish them when they do come
If they don't understand yet, they will make a mistake at some point. When they ignore your call, it's because you haven't taken the time to train them right. If you then punish them when they finally do come, the next time you call, they'll likely avoid you or even run the other way.
While playing fetch, as they're running back with their toy, say “come” and reward with praise and another toss of their toy. Any time your dog is walking or running towards you, say “come” and reward when they get to you! You can use real-life rewards like play, praise, cuddles, or toys mixed in with training treats.
What are good recall words for dogs? The best recall words are clear and concise - with commands like 'come', 'here' and 'back' being the most popular. It's also important for your dog to be able to recognise and respond to its name.
Dogs may act out when you are on the phone at home because you are talking and no one else is around. Like Ziggy, they don't understand technology and so they may assume you are talking to them. The fact that they do not understand what you are saying or what you may want them to do makes for a stressful situation.
A stubborn dog could be one that stays standing or even lunges on the leash when asked to sit. A stubborn dog could be one that continues to sniff a flower or dig in the dirt when being called to come. Or a stubborn dog could be one that puts on the brakes, refusing to move in the direction you are trying to walk.
Like humans, dogs go through a rebellious “teenager” phase (around 5 months to 18 months).
#1 – Afghan Hound
These sighthounds needed to think for themselves to keep track of the prey instead of looking to their owner for direction. These days, those traits are displayed as being aloof and independent. They make up for their lack of obedience by being extremely affectionate and loyal.
Yelling at your dog does not work because it will just get him more stressed or it will only increase his energy level and how excited he is about the situation.
Methods such as alpha rolls and physical corrections (via the leash and a choke chain or by smacking the dog on the nose or by shaking their scruffs) were often recommended as a way for humans to establish dominance over their dogs.
Dog language is visual. They communicate volumes with their posture, their tails, their eyes, and their ears. For this reason, their first instinct when trying to figure out what we want is to watch us; not to listen to us. Our constant talking is just noise to them.
So you can still use the pronoun "it" if you don't know the gender of the dog. But if you know the gender of that DOG then that is the time you can use "She or He".
Conclusion. Dogs can know, learn, recognize, and remember their names very much the same way humans do. They understand a fair bit more language than we may think. But how well your dog responds to their name depends on their training.
When done correctly and when combined with proactive training, ignoring unwanted behavior can work. However, the time it takes depends on your dog's reinforcement history and their own personal enjoyment of the behavior. For some dogs, they get through an extinction burst quickly, while others can take quite a while.