How to Train a Dog to Come When Called: At a Glance
A reliable recall can save your dog's life. Never call your dog to punish them.
Recall Training Progression
Recall Mistake
| Recall Mistake | Why It's Harmful | What to Do Instead |
|---|---|---|
| Calling dog to punish them | Dog learns 'come' = bad things happen | Always make recall predict GOOD things |
| Repeating the cue ('Come! Come! COME!') | Teaches dog to ignore first 5 calls | Say once, then go get the dog if needed |
| Calling when you can't enforce it | Dog learns recall is optional | Use long line until recall is reliable |
| Only calling at end of fun (leaving park) | Dog learns recall = fun ends | Call, reward, release to play again — repeat |
| Using recall for things dog hates (bath, nail trim) | Poisoned cue — dog avoids coming | Go get the dog for unpleasant things |
Recall Training Rules
| Use a unique recall word (not the dog's name) — 'Come!' or 'Here!' | |
| Always use happy, excited voice — never angry or frustrated | |
| Reward EVERY recall during training phase — no exceptions | |
| Use high-value treats: chicken, cheese, hot dogs — not kibble | |
| Practice 10-15 reps, 2-3x per day — short sessions are best | |
| Call dog to punish them (scolding, nail trim, bath, leaving park) | |
| Chase your dog if they don't come — turns it into a game | |
| Only practice recall at the dog park (too many distractions) |
The 'jackpot' technique: occasionally give 5-10 treats in rapid succession for a recall. This creates a lottery effect — the dog never knows when the big payout is coming, so they ALWAYS come running. Gamblers' psychology works on dogs too.
If your dog is running toward danger (road, aggressive dog), do NOT call them to come. They may not respond, and a failed recall in an emergency poisons the cue. Instead, run the OTHER way — most dogs will chase you.
How to Stop a Dog from Whining for Attention
Whining continues because it works - the fix is making sure it stops working.
petstore.comRetraining the response to whining
It gets louder before it gets better
A dog trying harder to get a response that used to work is a normal part of the process, not a sign it is failing.
Even telling your dog "no" can be the reward it is whining for
It feels backwards, but eye contact, talking to the dog, even a stern "quiet," all of it counts as attention to a dog that is whining specifically to get attention. If whining reliably gets any reaction from you, the whining will continue, because from the dog's perspective it is working exactly as intended. The uncomfortable part of fixing this is that the whining often gets louder before it gets better, as the dog tries harder to get a response that used to come easily.
Rule out a physical cause before treating it as a habit
Whining paired with pacing, licking a specific body part, changes in appetite, or new whining that shows up out of nowhere in an older dog is worth a vet visit before assuming it is purely behavioral. Pain, especially joint pain in older dogs, is a common and easy-to-miss cause of new whining.
Once it is confirmed behavioral, ignore it completely
No talking, no eye contact, no touching - turn away or leave the room entirely until the whining stops, then return attention and reward the quiet. This has to be consistent from everyone in the house; one family member who gives in occasionally slows the whole process down, because the dog only needs it to work sometimes to keep trying.
Reward the silence before it is asked for
Do not wait for the dog to whine and then correct it. Proactively reward calm, quiet behavior throughout the day, especially in moments the dog used to whine, like when you are on the phone or eating dinner. A dog that gets attention for being quiet has less reason to whine for it.
The behavior science behind "ignore it completely"
The American Animal Hospital Association's behavior guidelines describe attention-seeking behaviors as maintained by intermittent reinforcement, meaning a reward does not need to happen every time to keep the behavior going, which is why occasional "giving in" can undo weeks of consistent ignoring. The guidelines recommend combining extinction of the unwanted behavior with proactive reinforcement of the desired calm behavior, rather than extinction alone.