why won't my dog come back to me?

Question

...he will come back fine when we are out in the countryside, even if there are other dogs around but when I take him to the park it is like he is deaf. I have tried treats, taking a ball or toys to play with but nothing seems to work. Help!

Answer 1

What is it at the park that he's doing that is more interesting than you? When you catch him, do you leave immediately? Perhaps you can try a "catch line" - like a leash, but it has no handle on the end, so it won't get caught in anything. Then you can reach him more easily.

Cesar recommends catching a dog by seeming to ignore it. Walk parallel to him pretending to not notice him. Soon it will drive him crazy, and he'll come to you. He is being dominant by ignoring you at the park.

Answer 2

Mine does the same, he hasn't been living with me for a while so I haven't had a chance to practice, but.. I've been watching the dog whisperer a lot lately in hopes that someone else has the same prob and I can get some free pro advise. I would say.... Be the dominant one ;) You need to be the pack leader;) (don't you love it, just cracks me up). All jokes aside.. He needs to understand that you are taking him to the park and not him taking you! Keep him on the leash and every time he tries to bolt divert his attention with a tug..

Until he stops pulling or running in the park, you can't take him off... Calm - assertive... Watch him, it really helps!

Answer 3

If you're having a difficult time at the part, try carrying your dog's very FAVORITE treat - like leftover bits of chicken and make sure you have the scent on your fingers when you start to walk him at the park. He has to feel that the best place to be is near you.....!! It's not hard to do - especially if he basically obeys you. There are times when chicken is the only thing strong enough to take away bad behavior and she gets rewarded with her favorite if she stays near me. By the way, your dog should always be on a leash.....

Answer 4

Of course treats and toys don't work!! Those only work if the dog wants the treat or toy more than he wants to do something else. That is the fundamental problem with the current fad of "bribe doggy to listen."

You have to MAKE him come even when he doesn't want to - and give him a very good reason not to disobey you.

Would you ALWAYS obey the speed limits if there was no risk of a ticket?? If you wouldn't get arrested, would you grow pt in the backyard if it made a lot of money for you?

I don't care what some self-promoting person on TV says. You NEVER ignore a dog who ignores and disobeys you. All they learn is they can ignore you.

That on-coming car is NOT going to "ignore" your dog and neither is the animal control officer.

You don't need to do the advanced methods of gaining control over a headstrong, pig-headed, I'm the boss" dog unless you are working with one - hardly the average pet except for a few breeds.

You can establish that you are the boss - the dominant one, the Alpha - by far less dramatic means than flipping the dog on its back.

Now if the dog gets loose and bolts, yell their name in a high pitched panicky voice,, run the other way and fall down. They will almost always come to see whats wrong and you can grab the beastie,


All the current fads - "postive only with treats and toys or Milan all promise the same thing - fast results with no real work. Do you see a police officer give his ptrol dog a cookie every time he obeys? Do you see the partner of a Guide Dog give the dog a cookie because it took him across the street? Watch the AKC Eukanuba Obedience Championship Competition on TV next January and see if you see a single handler give their dog a cookie? The anser to all of these is a resounding NO becaue those dogs perform to get praise in the form of pets hugs and your voice and to avoid being corrected, scolded in a deep stern voice while the handler frowns at them, and made to do properly.

Training a dog properly is WORK. W-O-R-K. It takes time, dedication, persistence and repetition. I have always said that I could teach any dog to the basics in 2 weeks - it was the owners in my classes that took the 10-12 weeks to teach them how to do it.

Here is an excerpt from the material I give clients:

Go to the hardware store. Get 3 lengths of ¼ inch to 3/8 inch soft nylon line – 20 foot, 50 foot and 100 foot. Get 3 snaps. Tie the snaps on one end and make a loop handle on the other.

Start with the 20 foot line. Use a slip collar that is fitted so there is 3 - 4 fingers of space between the dog’s neck and the collar. With a flat buckle collar, you are in a pulling match that you are going to lose with about any dog over 15-20 lbs.


Put the leash and collar on the dog. Walk off with her at your side in heel position. Go along for a distance - say 20-40 feet - and then you loosen the lead and run backwards saying "come, come" making the dog turn and come to you. Try to keep going about 15-20 feet in reverse. Make her come all the way to you by gathering in the leash. Lots of praise - pets hugs tummy rubs and voice - NOT treats.

Move on to the long line.

Hook the line on her collar. Hopefully she knows sit and wait. If not, teach it to her. If she does know sit and wait, put her in a sit, step back 2 or 3 steps and call her. If she doesn’t come, haul her in with the line.

When she comes over a distance of 5-6 feet, move back to 10-12 feet and call her.

Repeat this process until she is working on the 100 foot line.

You can also take her out on the long line and when she is happily distracted, call her and make her come.

ALWAYS ALWAYS use the dog's name " Muffy - come" The name gets their attention that you mean them and you are not just talking to someone and the word that is the command is being used in conversation. Name first - then command.

NEVER TAKE HER OUTSIDE WITHOUT A LEASH (6 ft) OR ONE OF THE LONG LINES. NEVER TURN HER LOOSE OFF LEAD AND CALL HER UNTIL SHE COMES 100% OF THE TIME ON THE 100 FOOT LINE WITH ALL KINDS OF DISTRACTIONS, IE: OTHER DOGS, KIDS PLAYING, TOYS BEING THROWN IN HER PATH AS SHE COMES, ETC.

When you say “come” and she doesn’t, haul her backside into you using the line repeating “come”, “come”. Use a STERN DEEP voice that brooks no argument about the matter if the dog already knows the command 'come' and is choosing to disobey.

Whatever you do , don't let your voice slide upwards into high tones unless you are giving praise. When you give a command, used an authoritative voice and sound like you mean it - and not "would you please 'come'-if you happen to feel like it of course."

When she gets to you – willingly or unwillingly, praise and pet and make a big fuss and tell her that she is such a good girl.

Never ever ever call a dog to you to punish or correct them once they get to you. Ignoring you and not coming makes you growl at them (the stern voice insisting they obey) just like the boss dog would do. Getting to you (no matter whether voluntarily or involuntary) is a good thing and gets rewarded.

Using treats is silly because one day you will start to forget the treats or not have them or something, and the next time you call her, she'll remember not getting the treat and figure "why bother?" And what happens the day the doggy decides it is more fun to chase the rabbit than come for the treat?

Clickers are just flat stupid - they are for people who are too dumb to figure out how to quickly say "GOOD DOG" in a happy, excited voice.

You always have your hands and your voice. Use them

Answer 5

I believe dogs have favorite places to be like humans. The park may be your dog's. So when he is there he feels he doesn't have to listen because there is so much for him to do there. If you are calling him that is taking away his time of play at his favorite place. Just work with him and he should come around.

Answer 6

Its not that the dog dont like you, the dog is excited, wants to play, and check out new things... its normal, but dangerous. And some dogs are just more selectively deaf than others. (just like kids!)

Get more obedience training, and use a leash. Dont take the chance of your dog getting hurt or lost.

Answer 7

Theres too many smells for him at a place like that. New smells to a dog is as exciting as new toys for a kid. Keep him on a leash. You dont want to worry about him getting hurt or some jerk complaining about your dog.

Answer 8

get a retractable leash and work on training with the leash at home in the country and in the Park. Keep it up until no matter where you are he'll come to you. routine usually works best, treats don't hurt.

Answer 9

Do this: when he is calm and there are no distractions like at the end of the day in the house, etc., tell him to "come here". Repeat it. If he just stares at you, then move towards him, take his collar (gently) and walk him towards you. Then tell him "good boy". He probably doesn't understand what you want. Repeat above until he "gets it". Don't be mad at him or punitive or he will want to move away from you.

Answer 10

Sensory overload........ too many sights, smells, etc. He doesn't have room in his brain to fit you in there with all the other stuff around.

That is why you need to continue his training so that he is ALWAYS conscious of what YOU, his MASTER, is doing, and if YOU want him to come he should.

Like the other person said, I would keep him on a lead to remind him that you are there and to help him remember to pay attention to you.