No matter how well you train your dog, they sometimes slip away from you. You try to get them back, and they just don’t want to come. One Quora user has a solution: run the other way.
Picture: Garden State Hiker/Flickr
As long as they aren’t running towards something (like another dog), they will probably chase you:
When your dog won’t come back to you on a walk, don’t chase after her yelling. She’ll think that is the best game in the world and…good luck catching her.
Instead, shout happily, “Yeah, Bella, you can’t catch me!” and run like hell in the other direction laughing like a crazy person. Your dog will think you are having a great time and gallop after you to join in.
And once you have her back again, don’t scold her for running away. If you do she’ll equate the telling off to her return, not to her bolt for freedom and she will be that much less likely to come to you on recall the next time. Always make coming to you the best thing ever.
Obviously, this isn’t exactly Plan A. Plan A is being responsible: keep your dog on a leash if you want them close, keep treats on hand when you’re on walks, and train them to come when you call them. But, as most dog owners know, our furry friends can be unpredictable, so it’s a good trick to have in your back pocket.
When Your Dog Won’t Come Back [Quora]
Comments
7 responses to “Get Your Dog To Come Back By Running The Other Way”
Ohhh, more dog tips please 🙂
This works with small children as well…..
If it doesn’t then one less annoying mouth to feed
I had a colleague who had trouble with her dog chewing on the furniture. I told her I had read an article that advised either making (or not making) a fuss of the dog when leaving, but I could not remember which (although I think it was the latter). I inquired a month later if it had worked. She said thanks yes it did. I asked which was it, make a fuss or not. She replied with a smile, “you just do the opposite, (pause) and it works on the children as well”. Although left wondering why her children would chew on the furniture I think do the opposite of what is not working is always a viable strategy.
This is terrible advice, and should only be used as a last resort. I have seen so many people do this down at the dog park, and all it accomplishes is that your dog will now think that you calling them to come to you is now a game, and reinforces the idea that they DON’T need to come when called. The solution to this behaviour is proper training; it’s not hard, and dogs appreciate proper leadership. They’ll be a hell of a lot more happier if you train them, set boundaries, and stick to them.
I think the advice was for people who have not trained their dogs and have no idea, unfortunately there are a lot of these, and they do not intend to change. As it is a throwaway bit from “one Quora user” it is not meant to be good advice.
Yeah. Not really sure how “one Quora user” turned into an article, which will now undoubtedly turn into conventional wisdom in some people’s heads.