It’s a crisp Saturday in your Denver neighborhood park, and you call your 8-month-old husky, Kona, who’s been sniffing a bush for five minutes. “Kona, come!” you say, but she lifts her head, flicks an ear, and dives back into the foliage, tail high. You call again, louder this time, and she trots a few steps toward you—then spots a squirrel and bolts, ignoring your increasingly frustrated shouts. Your cheeks burn as other dog owners glance over. This isn’t defiance; it’s usually about what “coming to you” feels like to her.
Dogs ignore recall when the “reward” of staying (that squirrel, that interesting smell) outweighs the reward of coming (a pat on the head, a “good girl”). Kona’s brain is making a split-second choice: “Chasing that squirrel = super fun,” versus “Going to my person = maybe nothing exciting.” A trainer in Seattle calls this the “value scale”—if you want her to choose you, you need to tip the scale in your favor. Punishing her when she finally trots over (yelling, yanking the leash) only makes it worse, because now “coming” equals “being in trouble,” so she’ll avoid it longer next time.
Here’s how to reset: Start small, in a quiet backyard or living room, with zero distractions. Clip a 15-foot training leash to her collar (no harness—you need gentle control) and let her wander. When she’s 10 feet away, say “Kona, come!” in a high, excited voice and jiggle a bag of freeze-dried chicken (her favorite). The second she turns toward you, praise like she just won a prize and toss a treat. Repeat this 10 times a day, gradually increasing distance. My neighbor in Austin did this with her beagle, Max, who’d ignored her for rabbits—now, he spins toward her at the sound of the treat bag, even in the park. The trick? Make “coming” more thrilling than whatever’s distracting her.
Once she nails it at home, hit the park—but keep her on a long leash until she’s reliable. If she ignores you, gently reel her in (no yanking) and when she reaches you, give a treat anyway. This teaches her “ignoring doesn’t work, but coming still gets rewards.” Apartment dwellers, practice in hallways: call her from your door to the mailroom, keeping treats handy. When walking, stick to quiet times in the community park (avoiding rush hours with too many distractions) and always pack poop bags (Denver fines $100+ for skipping them). Confirm her rabies vaccine is current—most off-leash areas require proof, and a dog who listens is safer for everyone.
By autumn, you’ll notice Kona checking in with you mid-sniff, tail wagging, as if to say “Should I come?” That’s progress. Recall isn’t about perfection—it’s about building trust, so even when the squirrel is really tempting, she chooses you.
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