Why Your Dog “Forgets” to Come When Called—and How to Fix It

k9HS - Carlos F Morales
Oct 7
4 min read

Have you ever called your dog at the park, only to be ignored while they happily sniff the ground?

At home, they come running, but outdoors it feels like they’ve suddenly gone deaf. This “on again, off again” recall is one of the most common struggles in training.

The great news is that recall doesn’t have to be unreliable. With a step-by-step plan, a few minutes of practice each day, and a focus on making recall worth your dog’s while, you can teach a response that works anywhere.

Why Recalls Fail

Context changes the rules

Dogs don’t generalize the way people do. A behavior learned in the living room doesn’t automatically transfer to the park. To your dog, each environment feels like a brand-new challenge.

Prompts overshadow the cue

If you wave food or repeat yourself, your dog may learn to respond to the prompt, not the actual word “Come.” Over time, the cue gets weaker.

Recall ends the fun

If coming when called always means the leash goes on and play stops, many dogs hesitate. Recall should sometimes predict more freedom, not less.

Timing is everything

Dogs learn best when reinforcement is consistent and well-timed. Early on, every successful response should be rewarded before moving to a variable schedule.

A Three-Phase Recall Plan

Here’s a simple structure to follow. Each phase has clear success criteria so you know when to move forward.

Phase	Where to Train	When to Advance	Daily Practice
1. Foundation	Indoors, low distraction	8 of 10 recalls in 2 seconds or less	10–12 quick reps
2. Long-line Build	Yard or quiet path on 5–10m line	8 of 10 recalls in 3 seconds or less	6–8 reps
3. Real-World Proof	Parks and trails (long line stays on until reliable)	19 of 20 recalls in 3 seconds or less across 3 locations	3–5 surprise recalls

Phase 1: Clarity Indoors

Say your dog’s name once. When they turn toward you, mark and reward.
Add the cue “Come” before movement begins, and pay every arrival.
Include a gentle collar touch before rewarding. This makes being caught part of the fun, not something to avoid.

Phase 2: Distance and Mild Distractions

Train in the yard or a quiet outdoor area using a long line.
Call once, step back to encourage movement, and reward on arrival.
Release your dog to sniff or play again so recall doesn’t always end the fun.
Practice in a few different locations to begin building generalization.

Phase 3: Proof with the “Three D’s”

Distance: Increase gradually.
Distraction: Start with mild interruptions, like a toy nearby.
Duration: Briefly delay the reward or release after recall.

Work on one “D” at a time. Keep success at 80 percent or higher before raising difficulty. Only remove the long line once your dog meets the target of 19 out of 20 recalls within 3 seconds in at least three different settings.

Your 14-Day Recall Sprint

Days 1–4

Indoors: two short sessions per day, 10 reps each. Sequence: name → cue → come → collar touch → reward → release.

Days 5–9

Yard or quiet path: six to eight reps on a long line. Jackpot the fastest responses. Always finish with a release to sniff or play.

Days 10–14

New locations: three to five recalls during normal walks. Keep the long line until you’ve hit 19 of 20 successful recalls under 3 seconds.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Problem	Why It Happens	Fix
Great indoors, poor outdoors	Context jump too big	Step back to easier environments, reduce distractions, and rebuild
Slow, casual returns	Not enough reinforcement for speed	Reward the fastest responses with jackpots or a chase-me game
Dog dodges your hand	No collar-grab conditioning	Pair every arrival with a collar touch and reward
Recall fades after treat reduction	Rewards thinned too soon	Return to rewarding every success for a week, then thin gradually

What Research Tells Us

A controlled study comparing reward-based and e-collar training found that dogs trained with rewards came faster and more reliably on the first cue (Cooper et al., 2020).
Dogs trained with aversive-heavy methods showed more stress behaviors, higher cortisol, and a more pessimistic outlook compared to those trained with rewards (Vieira de Castro et al., 2020).
Dogs trained mainly with rewards performed better in obedience and showed fewer behavior problems than those trained with punishment (Hiby et al., 2004).

Together, these findings confirm that positive reinforcement methods not only work but also protect your dog’s wellbeing.

Final Thought

If your dog seems to “forget” their recall, it’s not stubbornness—it’s just unfinished learning. By rewarding fast responses, practicing in different environments, and keeping recall fun, you can build a cue that sticks.

And if they pause to glance at a squirrel before racing back? Think of it as a quick channel check—then make coming to you the best show in town.

References

Cooper, J. J., et al. (2020). Efficacy of dog training with and without remote electronic collars compared to reward-based methods. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 7, 508.
Vieira de Castro, A. C., et al. (2020). Does training method matter? Negative impact of aversive-based methods on companion dog welfare. PLOS ONE, 15(12), e0225023.
Hiby, E. F., Rooney, N. J., & Bradshaw, J. W. (2004). Dog training methods: Their use, effectiveness and interaction with behaviour and welfare. Animal Welfare, 13, 63–70.

About the Author

Carlos is the head trainer and educator at Canine High School in Long Beach, CA, a force-free Puppy School and Dog School. He developed the School’s comprehensive Dog Training System, Curriculum, and Philosophy, all rooted in positive reinforcement methods. Beyond educating dog students and their human families, Carlos leads a professional teaching program offering apprenticeship and internship opportunities for aspiring dog trainers.

As a Certified Mentor Trainer for multiple dog training schools and holding certifications with both the IAABC and CCPDT, Carlos brings evidence-based expertise and real-world experience to every training approach. When he isn’t helping dogs and their humans build stronger relationships, he’s at his little house by the beach with his partner, three dogs—GoGo, Kiba, and Choji—and one sassy cat named Habibti.