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“Come!” It seems like such a simple request, but for many dog owners, it’s one of the hardest things to teach. You call your dog, and instead of running happily toward you, she stands frozen, bolts in the opposite direction, or flat-out ignores you. Frustrating, right?

But here’s the good news: teaching your dog to come when called isn’t about dominance or control—it’s about trust, consistency, and reinforcement.

Why Coming When Called Matters

A reliable recall can literally save your dog’s life. It’s also critical in aggressive dog training. If your dog tends to lunge, growl, or snap at others, being able to call her away quickly and reliably prevents dangerous situations and keeps everyone safe. A strong recall isn’t just a convenience; it’s peace of mind.

The Sacred Promise of Recall

Successful recall is built on one principle: when your dog hears the cue to come, something great always follows.

Think of it as a sacred promise. If you call your dog with “Come!” she can count on you to make it worthwhile every single time. That might mean a piece of chicken, cheese, or another irresistible treat. Praise and affection are wonderful too—but food is the fastest way to a reliable recall.

Here’s the process:

1. Pick your recall word. Keep it short and clear. “Come!” is my go-to.

2. Say “(Dog’s name), come!”

3. When she comes, immediately praise and treat. Every. Single. Time.

4. Start practicing at very short distances with no distractions.

5. Gradually increase both distance and distractions only when your dog is succeeding consistently.

I recommend 15–25 single-rep sessions per day. Short, fun, consistent training sessions help build the habit.

Why Punishment Fails

It can be tempting to punish your dog for ignoring you, but punishment destroys trust. If your dog learns that “Come” sometimes leads to scolding, leash pops, or confinement, she’ll avoid you. After all, who would run toward punishment?

Shock collars and other aversive tools may appear to work in the short term, but they come with serious risks:

• Increased anxiety and fear around people and other dogs.

• Higher likelihood of aggression.

• Damaged relationship between you and your dog.

Positive reinforcement, on the other hand, teaches your dog that coming to you is always safe, rewarding, and fun.

Building a Dog Who Loves to Come

Think of recall training as building your dog’s favorite game. When you call, it should feel like an invitation to something wonderful. That way, whether she’s sniffing in the yard, chasing a squirrel, or facing a stressful encounter, she’ll trust that running back to you is always the best option.

With time, practice, and lots of reinforcement, you can turn “Why won’t my dog come when called?” into “Wow, my dog always comes when called.”

Michael Baugh CDBC

There are dog behaviors that people label ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). We could call these ADHD-like behaviors. However, there is no ADHD diagnosis for dogs as there is for humans.

Which dog behaviors do some people mislabel as ADHD?

• Inattention and failure to respond to cues
• Easily distracted (by other animals, sounds, scents, etc.)
• Increased activity in response to stimuli (jumping, running, body-slamming)
• Pulling, lunging, or weaving on walks

Investigators are studying canine ADHD. They’ve modeled their studies after ADHD studies of human children. So far, the research has been problematic.

• Most studies rely on owner-reported behaviors, which are vague and unreliable.
• The research yields some correlations, but still does not yield any information about causation.
• Canine ADHD treatment lacks the testing human ADHD treatments have had.

While labeling patterns of behavior can help us communicate clearly and efficiently sometimes, this is not the case with ADHD in dogs. Unless there is a consensus among veterinarians, canine cognitions, and researchers over the criteria for diagnosis, we are operating in a Wild West environment of varying interpretations of behavior. What is ADHD in dogs? What is it not? We just don’t know.

There is hope, though. No matter what we call it, we can still influence and even change our dogs’ behavior.

How do we help dogs with ADHD-like behavior?

• Look closely at individual behavior. Observe without judgement or interpretation.
• Apply environmental controls to reduce triggering unwanted behavior.
• Teach new behavior patterns to replace unwanted behavior using positive reinforcement training.
• A licensed veterinarian may recommend medical intervention.

Some unruly behavior in dogs is mild and temporary. This is especially true in puppies and adolescent dogs. In adult dogs, inattention, quick changes in movement, and rough physical contact can be annoying and even dangerous.

Who can you call to help with ADHD-like behavior in dogs? (and who should you not?)

✅ A positive reinforcement Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (IAABC)

✅ A veterinary behaviorist

✅ A Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB)

🚫 A punishment-based trainer or balanced dog trainer who uses leash corrections, prong collars, or shock collars

Dogs are eager learners. They are always experimenting with new behavior. Their actions and their potential to learn outweigh any label or possible diagnosis. Behavior can change; it’s always changing. And we can influence our dogs’ behavior. We can help them change. All it takes is some know-how, some patience, and yes — some attention.

 

Michael Baugh teaches dog training in Sedona AZ and Houston TX. He specializes in Aggressive Dog Training.

Opinion

Michael Baugh CDBC

Language helps us communicate a shared understanding of concepts and ideas. It’s important. Teaching language is also appropriate in many contexts, the most obvious being a language course. Correcting someone else’s language in conversations, though, can be tricky business. It’s not the business we dog trainers should be in.

Here are some examples of words and phrases trainers tell their clients not to use:

• Dominance
• Alpha
• Anxiety (versus fear or the other way around)
• Command (versus cue)
• Pack and pack hierarchy
• Respect, obedience and other words that suggest control

I’ve been guilty of this. How we think and speak about our dogs matters. Using accurate speech and teaching gentle, effective dog training techniques is valid; in fact, it is laudable. But policing the words our clients use is not.

Some dangers of policing language include:

• Creating a chilling effect, such that clients are afraid of saying the wrong thing. We miss valuable information from them.
• Assuming a false position of power over our clients, crippling collaboration and cooperation.
• Encouraging performative compliance. Clients use certain words and phrases to please us trainers at the cost of clear communication.

Instead of telling our clients how to talk, let’s try to understand what they mean.

• “What is your dog doing that makes you say he’s dominant?”
• “In what ways does your dog behave that make him seem alpha?”
• “Tell me about some of the anxious behaviors you’ve seen.”
• “What could we teach your dog to help you feel more respected?”

We positive reinforcement dog trainers have done a lot to change the culture of dog training for the better. Celebrate that. You are part of the solution. Yes, keep using accurate language. Model it for your clients. Explain your terms. Teach. That’s what we were hired to do.

And yes, listen with an open heart. Find out what your client is trying to say. Listen deeply. Ask questions. Craft solutions. Our clients hired us to do that, too.

But let’s free ourselves from judging our clients. I’ll take that vow with you. They invited us into their lives. Let them express themselves as best they can. Then do what we do best. Help.

 

Michael Baugh teaches aggressive dog training in Houston TX and Sedona AZ