An Ounce of Prevention
In addition to proper training, you can ensure that your dog will come back to you by making sure she is well exercised and well supervised.
The Importance of Exercise
The more exercise your dog gets, the more likely she will be to come back when you call her. A dog with no opportunity to run and explore will be less likely to return to you on demand. Make sure your dog gets to play and run for at least 30 minutes to an hour every day. Ideally, she should exercise and wrestle with other dogs; if interactive play isn't possible, chasing a ball, swimming, or other energy-expending pursuits are a must.
If there is an easy way to put a dent in the solving of a behavioral problem, this is it. Almost any professional dog trainer will tell you that a tired dog is a good dog! Backyard confinement doesn't count. Most dogs don't want to be by themselves, and without a companion they will often bark, howl, chew, and escape the confines of their yard. Meaningful interaction is the key to engaging the dog's mind and body and making sure that her needs for exercise are met.
Consider this: The more time you spend exercising your dog, the better you'll feel, too! All levels of the relationship between family and pet benefit from the time you spend together. If you combine your daily workout with exercise for your dog, you'll both be happier and healthier.
Play hide-and-seek with your whole family and take turns letting the dog find you. Call her back and forth to you in the yard, in a big field, or at the beach (have her drag a long leash if you think she'll take off). Play fetch, blow bubbles for her to chase and catch, or take her swimming. Whatever activities you choose, get out and get active and enjoy your dog and the great outdoors.
The Importance of Supervision
If you are not there, you cannot fix a problem. This is obviously stated but often forgotten when dog owners are trying to fix behavior that has a long history of being reinforced in the wrong direction. If your dog runs away on a regular basis, chances are you have your work cut out for you in finding enough motivation for the dog to come back to you. For instance, if a dog slips out the front door and runs around the neighborhood eating trash, digging up lawns, and chasing bunnies, chances are she has found this very reinforcing. If it happens often enough, it becomes a very tough habit to break.
The difference between a trained dog that comes when called and an untrained dog that doesn't is based on the dog's perception of who controls what he wants. Dogs behave in ways that benefit them, so the key to having a dog that is always willing to come when called is making it worth the dog's while, regardless of the distraction.
Remember that consequences drive behavior and if we want a dog to come to us when we call, we need to not only have reinforced her for it hundreds of times, but also have a way to prevent her from rewarding herself for the wrong behavior. Prevention is the key to success.
In this case, the less opportunity the dog has to tour the neighborhood, the more likely she is to want to come to us when we call him. Supervise your dog and use a leash, gates, crates, or fences to prevent her from getting reinforced for the behaviors you don't want. Put your time into training and reinforcing her for the things you do want and you will have a dog that stays close and comes when you call her.
