Why Your Dog Ignores You (and It’s Not Because They’re Naughty)

What I’ve learned from chasing my own dog across the countryside… with a toddler in tow.

Let’s Be Honest—Recall Can Be Embarrassing

Most owners go through it: that soul-crushing moment when you finally unclip the long line, thinking maybe, just maybe, today’s the day your dog will come back when called…

Only for them to bolt off at full speed like it’s the 100m final.

They ignore you, zero acknowledgment, and—just to make things worse—they usually make a beeline for the only on-lead dog in the entire field. Cue the death glare, the shouted abuse from the other owner, and that sinking cocktail of frustration, shame, and guilt. You are trying. But in that moment? It doesn’t feel like enough.

Trust me, I know. I’m a dog trainer. And my own dog Miku still teaches me hard lessons—like the one I got today.

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The Disaster That Was Today

We were walking along an old railway path—me, Miku, and my 2-year-old son, Isaac.

From one direction came an off-lead Labrador.

From the other, a Staffie on-lead.

Miku? Busy grazing like a cow on the long grass. I call her name—nothing. No glance, no ear twitch, nada.

Now I’ve got Isaac wandering the opposite way, two dogs approaching from either end, and my own dog stuck in some kind of salad bar fantasy.

Eventually, she looks up. I call our emergency recall…

She doesn’t move.

I walk toward her, trying to keep my voice light, heart pounding. Finally—finally—she starts ambling over. But then I make the mistake.

I reach for the lead.

She clocks it.

Then she clocks the Staffie.

And she’s gone—straight past me, past Isaac, and straight to the other dog.

Thankfully the Staffie’s owner was understanding (more than I deserved that day). But I was mortified. I am a trainer. And yet… here we are. Again.

Some days Miku’s recall is on point. Other days? It’s like we’re back to square one.

That’s the reality of recall. It’s not linear—and it’s definitely not perfect.

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So… Why Does Recall Actually Fail?

It’s not that your dog is naughty, spiteful, or ignoring you to be difficult. It usually comes down to a few key things:

1. We unclip the long line too soon – Puppy recall isn’t fully baked yet, and we jump ahead.

2. We stop providing value – If “Come!” only means the end of fun, why rush back?

3. We don’t proof it – Just because they come in from the garden doesn’t mean they’ll do it at the park.

4. We think we don’t have time – But honestly? Small, consistent sessions beat random long ones every time.

These are common. And they’re fixable.

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What We Think Helps (But Doesn’t)

Let’s talk about what most people (me included!) try when panic sets in:

• Shouting

• Running toward them in rage

• Bargaining with treats they don’t care about

Spoiler alert: none of these work when your dog is already mentally checked out.

Instead, I now rely on tools that don’t carry my emotion—like a whistle.

No matter how stressed or embarrassed I feel, the whistle is neutral. Consistent. Clear.

I love the ACME whistles (get one here) because no matter how many you own, they’re always the same pitch. Unlike cheap ones, they’re reliable—which, frankly, I need on days like today. (Just wish I hadn’t forgotten mine…)

This is an affiliate links, I will receive commission at no cost to yourself.

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Feeling Like a Failure? You’re Not Alone.

There are days I feel like giving up. Like I’ve let Miku down. Like maybe I’m not cut out for this.

But then I remember where we started.

The chaos. The chasing. The way she’d ignore me every single time.

Now? We have moments of brilliance. Glimpses of the dog I know she can be.

And if I can get there—with a high-drive dog, a toddler, and a million imperfect moments—so can you.

You’re not doing it wrong.

You’re just still figuring it out—just like I am.

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👉 Read Next: Is Your Recall Word Broken? Here’s What to Do First

If your dog’s recall cue has turned into white noise, you’re not alone. In the next blog, I’ll walk you through how to retire that word with love, and build a new, reliable recall from the ground up. And yes—it involves something even better than chicken.

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