Dogs are very loyal animals and they love to be with their owners all the time, so when your dog ignores your call, it can be frustrating and concerning.

It’s natural for you to expect your dog to come when you call, but sometimes they just don’t come to you. In this article, we will explore ten reasons why your dog might ignore your call.

1. Lack of Training

If your dog hasn’t been trained to come to you when you call, they won’t come. Ensuring your dog can recognize their name is the first step to learning to come when called.

Afterwards, you have to train them to come when called by rewarding positive behaviour and strengthening their recall. Training your dog the “come” command requires patience and consistency, but it’s worth the effort.

2. Distractions

Another reason your dog might ignore your call is when there are too many distractions. For instance, when you’re calling him in a busy park with other dogs and children around, it can be difficult for your dog to hear and notice you.

It’s best to train your dog to come when called in a controlled environment with very few distractions, and gradually build up the complexity of the environment as your dog gets more experienced in responding to your call.

3. Health Issues

Dogs can develop various health issues which can make them reject commands, including coming when called.

If you think your dog is ignoring your call and at the same time seems lethargic, has difficulty standing, or isn’t playing as usual, they may have health problems. Take your dog to the vet for an examination and consult them to determine if there are any underlying health issues.

4. Fear or Anxiety

Some dogs are fearful or anxious due to past experiences and can be difficult to call when they’re experiencing such emotions. They might relate their recall command to something unpleasant, leading them to avoid coming to you.

Again, training to desensitize the fear and anxiety involved could help overcome the problem slowly. It’s always better to work with a professional trainer who can assess the underlying behaviours and offer guidance on how to handle the situation.

5. Age

As dogs get older, they tend to develop ailments that may impact various cognitive abilities. One of these is the ability to hear, which may be something they lose with time.

If your dog is getting older and ignoring your call, hearing might be one reason why. However, it’s not always the case. You can train aging dogs in the same way as younger ones, but it’s more important to consider their health needs as they get older.

6. The Dog Isn’t Motivated By You

One reason dogs don’t always respond to their owners might be related to how rewarding you are. Dogs are motivated by treats, attention and affection, as well as being praised by their owners for performing well.

If you are not providing enough motivation for your dog to respond to your call, then they might ignore you. You should try and be more interesting, fun, and engaging for your dog to get them to come when you call.

7. Disobedience

Sometimes, dogs ignore their owners out of defiance or irritation. If you’ve been harsh to your dog or haven’t treated them well, they may choose to ignore you.

If you need your dog to listen and obey, you need to be patient and reward them for positive behaviour. Practising positive reinforcement training can help motivate your dog to follow your commands.

8. Lack of Connection

Sometimes your dog just doesn’t feel connected or attuned to you.There are several reasons why your dog may feel disconnected from you, but trying new fun bonding activities could help strengthen the bond between you and your pooch.

Try games and activities that encourage connection and communication between you and your dog. Remember, the better your bond with your dog, the more likely they are to listen and obey your commands.

9. Ignoring Your Tone of Voice

The sensitivity of a dog’s hearing means that they react not just to sounds but also to the tone of those sounds.

If you always use the same tone when calling your dog, regardless of the situation, then they may not know when it’s urgent or not. Consistency is essential in training a dog. Try variations in tone and pitch according to the situation; responding immediately when it’s important, rather than raising your voice unnecessarily.

10. Lack of Practice

If you rarely call your dog with the “come” command outside of times when it’s necessary, then they might forget how to respond to it.

It’s essential to regularly train your dog to come to you, even if it’s when you don’t need them to do so urgently. Find regular opportunities to practice the recall command with your dog, such as going for a walk to the park or in your backyard. By incorporating it into your training routine, your dog is more likely to respond in a timely way when you need them.