Not Coming When Called.

First of all we must remember that in your puppy’s world, there is no such thing as a “name.” Another dog’s identity is its scent and energy, and has nothing to do with a sound. We give names for our own convenience, and fortunately for us, dogs as a species are such natural masters of association that they quickly come to connect the unique cadence and syllables of a certain sound with what we want from them when we make sound.

When a person says about puppy, “He already knows his name,” however, it’s not in the way a child would know his name—that is, assuming it as part of his identity. The dog understands its name relative to how, when, and why it is communicated and, most important, the energy with which it is communicated. This is one reason that I always instruct my clients to refrain from using a dog’s name when correcting him. I use my dog’s names when calling them, when praising them, and when we’re playing or doing a positive challenge or exercise.

Let’s assume you are doing everything right, using your dog’s name only in positive context, yet your dog still doesn’t come to you. The number one reason why dogs don’t come to people when they call is that their noses are more powerful sensors than their ears and they are distracted by fascinating scents. A new scent can so engage and mesmerize a dog that to respond to a sound—far less interesting to him—just doesn’t get through to him in that moment. If you yell out your dog’s name over and over while she is distracted by a scent, you run the risk of her associating that sound with the action of not paying attention to you. Remember, the energy you are projecting when you call your dog’s name is what the puppy actually hears. If all the pup gets from your calling her name is, “I’m impatient, I want to get out of here, I’m frustrated with you,” that is not a very attractive energy for her to follow.

Dogs learn in the order nose-eyes-ears. In training, I usually follow the example of nature and use sound as little as possible in the beginning. Instead, I engaged their noses. This is especially effective with puppies. If I’m walking a puppy and his powerful nose gets distracted by a scent, I will place a bully stick in front of him until it gets his attention, then walk away. I will start saying his name or making a positive “kissing” sound only when he is already coming toward me. That way he begins to associate the name or sound with the action of following—”This is what I hear when I’m following.” The connection becomes clear and unambiguous.

The next level of this exercise is done on a long lead, using sound and your puppy’s automatic instinct to follow. Let your puppy wander away from you. Put your foot on the line to anchor it, then turn your back to the puppy and walk away. As soon as he starts to follow you, turn toward him and call his name, or make the sounds that you want him to associate with “coming.” Reward him as soon as he reaches you.

Practice using the positive sound or your puppy’s name only during the natural times she is following you. When you get her out of the crate in the morning, while you are praising her during potty training, when you are calling her at mealtime, and when you are engaged in activities that she likes. Make sure the energy behind the name is positive as well as calm and assertive. The more scent-oriented your dog, the longer it may take for her to understand that sound trumps scent when it is time to decide upon action. But with patient, dedicated owner, any puppy can learn to make the connection. In the meantime, carry a bully stick, scented item, or treat with you, in order to get your puppy’s attention. Try to think and see the world as “nose-eyes-ears,” and eventually your puppy can learn how to think like you.