Teaching your dog to come is not as simple as it may seem. Many puppies naturally run or come to all people, and usually this is one of the first and easiest commands for puppies to master. As the puppy matures and reaches his or her adolescent years he or she may suddenly become much more independent. The little puppy that ran to you every time on command may now start to ignore your commands to return, or may even turn and run the other way. This is largely because teenage dogs, and many adult dogs, have learned that returning to their owners means being put back on a leash and loosing all the freedom they have if they simply stay away. Most dogs would far rather prefer to run loose to sniff and investigate rather than to heel beside you going where you want to go.

To change the behavior of a dog that does not come when off the leash there are several factors to consider. The following list of strategies can be helpful in having an adult dog return to you when off the leash, even if there has been a problem in the past.

•  Call the dog back to you frequently and give them a treat. Pet the dog and then simply let them run again. This is prevent the dog from getting the idea that returning to you is a negative thing and will only result in being put back on the leash.

•  If your dog is busy doing something that is fun for him or her and is not on a leash, don’t call them if they are likely to not respond. By calling and being ignored by the dog you are actually teaching him or her that there is a choice in responding to you.

•  Never punish the dog when he or she runs away from you on a walk and then comes back. By punishing when the dog returns you are reinforcing that coming back is a bad thing, rather than a good thing.

•  If you have a friend that has a dog that always returns, let your dog run off the leash with this dog. When the other owner calls his or her dog, you do the same. Your dog will return with the other dog. Give lots of praise and a treat, and then let them run again. Basically your friend’s dog will teach your dog what to do!

• Never chase your dog when they don’t respond. This makes the whole scenario into a game for the dog, one that you, as the owner, can never win. Even if the dog does eventually return and you praise and provide treats the dog will assume they are being praised for the game, not for the actual act of returning.

•  If the dog is bonded to you and stays relatively close, call once and then simply turn and walk away. Most dogs will immediately run to catch up and keep you in their sight. As soon as they respond give praise.

If your dog has the habit of running away and not returning try attaching a thirty to fifty foot thin cord or heavy fishing line (depending on the size of the dog), to the dog’s collar. It must be light enough that it does not create a drag on the collar. Let the main lead or leash off the collar, but hold the thin cord or line. When the dog starts to get too far away simply call him or her as usual. Hold the end of the line firmly and be prepared for a bit of a jerk. When the dog begins to run away, simple hold to the line. The dog will eventually reach the end of the line and jolt him or herself to a stop. Repeat the command to come, but do not pull or tug on the line. When the dog naturally moves back towards you, repeat the command and show the treat. Praise the dog when they return and let them walk freely for awhile before attaching the leash.

Some dogs are not safe when off a lead because they are distracted, inattentive or simply a dog that doesn’t do well off a leash. Don’t become frustrated with your dog, instead consider one of the retractable leads and keep working on the behavior.

Article by Jason Brooks of OhMyDogSupplies.com, leading provider of dog steps .