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Tips For Calling A Dog That Won’t Come Inside When Called

January 21, 2021 by Mary Telesz

A hound dog refused to come inside when calledWhen your dog won’t come inside when you call it, chances are your dog finds what it’s doing outside more pleasant than coming inside with you. Don’t get frustrated, and don’t give up on your dog. Once you understand what motivates your dog, you can change its behavior and also strengthen the bond between you.

Why Your Dog Won’t Come Inside When Called

There are many reasons why your dog is not coming when you call it. The most common reasons are:

  • Your dog does not understand what you want because it has not been trained or adequately trained.
  • Your dog is a breed that has been bred to be independent.
  • Your dog regards coming inside as punishment or is scared of being punished.
  • Your dog finds being outside more rewarding and stimulating than being inside.
  • Your dog has become accustomed to living outside and making its own decisions.

Any one of these reasons, or some combination of them, is likely why your dog ignores you when you call it to come inside.

Tips To Get Your Dog To Come Inside When Called

Woman giving tips to get your dog to come inside when calledWhen you start training your dog to come to you, you will need to be patient and positive. Expect the process to take some time before your dog reliably comes inside when you call it.

Recognize also that dogs are creatures of habit. They take comfort in well-established daily routines. You can use that information to your benefit by establishing a schedule. Start teaching your dog by calling it to come in at the same time, or times, every day. If you stick to a schedule and use the tips outlined below, you are likely to find your dog waiting by the door for you at the established time without being called.

One of the least effective ways to get your dog to respond is to become impatient and angry with your dog. Scolding your dog or treating it harshly will make your dog less likely to cooperate with you. Your dog probably has no idea why you are punishing it and will be afraid of you.

    1. Give Your Dog Plenty Of Outdoor Exercise, Including Regularly Scheduled Walks

      Your dog does not get enough exercise left alone in your yard. For your dog to get the exercise and the mental stimulation it needs, take your dog for a walk at least once, preferably twice, every day, around the same time of day. When you start your walk, let your dog explore and sniff the ground for the first few minutes, then start the walk with purpose.

    2. Make Going Inside Fun And Rewarding For Your Dog

      Get in the habit of rewarding your dog whenever it comes inside, whether you have called it in or it has come in on its own. An easy way to do that is to fill a pouch or a pocket with small treats that you can grab quickly. Go outside with your dog and play. When you want to take your dog inside, have a command word or phrase that you will always use, such as “Let’s go in!” or “Inside!”. Use a happy, fun tone of voice and use the command. You can lure your dog with the treats if needed. Once inside, shower treats on the floor. Refrain from slamming the door behind the dog and making it feel trapped. Leave it open for a while and keep giving it treats. After the dog is settled, you can close the door gently and quietly. Continue to praise your dog for coming inside with you.

    3. Break Any Bad Associations With Coming Inside

      A dog playing with yellow toy inside home. There are several dog that won’t come inside when callSpend time playing with your dog indoors by playing fetch, tug, and using interactive toys, and devoting a few minutes of fun training sessions. These activities will give your dog a healthy way to release its energy, enhance the bond between you, increase your dog’s willingness to respond to your commands, and create positive associations in your dog’s mind with being inside.

      By making it fun to be inside, you will begin to break any negative association with it. However, if your dog has learned that you always do something it doesn’t like when you call it to come inside, whether you are going to trap it indoors or subject it to rambunctious kids and other things your dog finds unpleasant, your dog may ignore your command to come inside. In that case, you can break that association by doing something else before calling it inside. Try grabbing its leash, going on a short walk, and giving it treats. Then take your dog inside and give it more treats. Make sure the indoor environment is calm and pleasant. Avoid slamming the door behind your dog.

    4. Don’t Make Coming Inside Feel Like A Punishment

      Avoid grabbing your dog and dragging it inside. That will feel like punishment to your dog. You need to coax it in using the techniques described above. No matter how long it takes you to persuade your dog to come in, give it lots of treats and plenty of praise when it finally does come in. Once your dog trusts that it will not be punished and that being indoors is wonderful, your dog will want to come in. After all, that is where all the treats and love are.

Get Help From The Dog Walking Experts At Paw Pals

The dog walking experts at Paw Pals can help you keep your dog exercised and on a regular training routine. Contact them for more information about how they can help you and your dog communicate and strengthen the bond between you.

Filed Under: Pet Advice

Contact Paw Pals for More Information

Paw Pals specializes in professional dog walking, dog sitting, and pet sitting services. One of our reliable, adult staff members will keep your pet safe, while providing your pet the love and care they need when you are away. Contact us to learn more!

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Paw Pals Pet Sitting, LLC
14001-C Saint Germain Drive #213
Centreville, VA 20121
(703) 345-1695

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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Centreville – 20120, 20121
Chantilly – 22151
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Reston – 20191, 20190

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Paw Pals Pet Sitting
Paw Pals Pet Sitting
5.0
Andrea Hall
Andrea Hall
22:45 03 Oct 20
I wasn't sure about hiring a new doggie walker service... after all they are our kiddos... my babies were in great hands and I felt relaxed having them in their care. Thank you for everything!
Phillip Evans
Phillip Evans
14:38 11 Jul 20
When we adopted our new dog in January, Paw Pals agreed to walk her and give her some outside time so she wasn't in the crate all day. She loved her dog walker and you could see her excitement every time the walker showed up. We moved out of the area but would recommend Paw Pals to anyone needing someone to care for their pets.
Katie Russell
Katie Russell
15:01 17 May 20
Paw Pals is fantastic! I have had a great experience with Mary! Compassionate, professional, responsive, and prompt! Thank you!
Kristin Conrad
Kristin Conrad
16:00 16 Nov 19
We are so grateful we found Mary and her team at Paw Pals. They are exceptionally responsive, amazingly organized and detail-oriented.We have such peace of mind when we travel knowing our home and pets are so well cared for. Paw Pals is the best pet sitting service we’ve used, and we’re so happy we found them.
Dr Tammy Cashion
Dr Tammy Cashion
21:11 12 Mar 19
We have used Paw pals pet sitting on multiple occasions for our bunnies while we are away. Many pet sitters are not interested in small pets however; Mary and her team, are amazing and we trust her implicitly! We are very happy with the outstanding service we have received from her team including texts and photos of our pets when we are out of town. They always go the extra mile and we highly recommend them!
Cindy Welgoss
Cindy Welgoss
13:12 27 Nov 20
We have been using Paw Pals for several years, and through a variety of pets that we have loved. Mary and her team have always been *exceptional* in every way. They are professional, courteous, and truly love our fur family! Mary herself is an organized and stellar administrator of her pet care business, keeping detailed records of our pet’s needs, scheduled pet visits, payments, and balance due easy to keep track of as the pet owner. The pet caretaking team is reliable and trustworthy. When our dogs see any of their Paw Pal friends, they get SO excited to see them! Follow up comments are left via text to keep the pet owner informed of the visit and how the pets are faring. Paw Pals has allowed our family the peace of mind to leave our pets at home, for work, weekend getaways and longer times away when necessary, where they are the most comfortable and familiar. We are grateful to Mary and her team for giving us the ability to enjoy pet ownership without feeling tied down. The responsibility of having pets comes with the need to keep them safe and comfortable at all times, and Mary and her team affords us this when our family has to be away.
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