For many, it's down to a lack of training, which you'll soon learn how to rectify. However, for other dogs, it could be due to fear or apprehensiveness. They're worried about being punished, especially if your tone of voice is even just slightly angry or annoyed.
Getting your dog to reliably come when called is known as recall, and it's important for all dog owners. 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.
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.
The fact is, dogs don't come into this world ready to respond to the word “come” by trotting to you, much less to do it joyfully or to do it every time. It takes a lot of repetition for dogs to learn what the cue means and to respond to it as we would like them to.
Conclusion: If your dog is stressed, she will often look in the opposite direction of the stressor. This can be read as “Avoidance”. If someone invades your dog's personal space, and it makes your dog uneasy, she will use a “Look Away” to communicate that.
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.
Sitting near you but with eyes turned away is a calculated choice. Dogs want to sense your location but also keep an eye on potential threats. “By lying close to the owner and facing away, dogs express a sense of loyalty and protection,” Joslin adds.
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.
Let them move away from you before using your recall cue, and use a long line attached to their harness to keep them safe during training. If they ignore you, stay calm – getting angry or shouting will make them not want to come back to you.
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.
Your dog has learned he/she does not have to obey
This is a more common reason many dogs run away when called. Many people do teach their dog the HERE or COME command, but they are inconsistent in enforcing the command.
Small screens, compressed signals, and canine nature may all affect whether a dog can identify its owner on the phone or in a video chat. Nothing hurts like your dog not taking your calls.
People are more likely to intervene because it's less common to see a roaming dog than to come across a community or outdoor cat. Lost Pet Research & Recovery indicates that 93% of lost dogs are found alive, and 20% of them return home on their own.
Use high value rewards, like boiled chicken, sausage or cheese cut up into tiny pieces. This food is quite unusual and a special treat for the dog, so they will be very eager to learn and give you their attention. Even if your dog already knows their name, it's important to start simple and progress from the beginning.
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.
There is nothing wrong with using the word “no” properly when training your dog. “No” should be said calmly and should mean, “That is not a behavior that I want.” “No” can also be a “no reward marker.” It can just mean that the dog will not get a reward for that behavior.
Arm yourself with treats and then stand a few feet away from your dog. Say your cue word and immediately praise and treat when your dog responds. If you end up ignored and your dog will not come when called, give the leash a gentle tug in your direction to encourage them over.
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.
Possible reasons why your dog sits far away from you are that it finds a particular spot comfortable it thinks you don't want it to sit with you it feels threatened it is being protective it doesn't want to be bothered or you might have inadvertently encouraged the behavior.
One reason is that they are showing trust. A dog's instinct is to respond to potential danger, positioning his body to react quickly. By sleeping with his bum facing you, he is showing you trust and letting his guard down. Another reason is that they are avoiding eye contact.
A recent study explored how the presence of a pet in bed impacted womens' sleep quality and found that it made them feel more secure and comfortable. Think about it — your dog's instinct is to protect. They will let you know immediately if anything is amiss while you are asleep.
Dogs exhibit behaviors like fearfulness, avoidance, and display body language, like avoiding eye contact, lip licking, yawning, or showing teeth if they don't like someone. Some dogs may act aggressively around the people they don't like, although that can sometimes be out of fear.
There are some behaviors you don't want to ignore, such as puppy nipping or pulling on leash. Any behavior that feels good to your dog, is naturally calming (such as licking or chewing), or is fun to do is not likely to go away when ignored.