# How to Get Your Dog to Follow and Listen to You You get your dog to listen by becoming the most rewarding thing in the environment, then practicing easy wins before adding distractions. Responsiveness is a trained skill built from reinforcement, clear communication, and a real relationship, not from dominance or force. This article explains how to get my dog to listen to me in the yard, on walks, and eventually off leash. This article is educational and is not a substitute for veterinary diagnosis or treatment. ## Quick Answer - Reward the behavior you want within about one second, using food, play, or praise your dog actually values. - Start training in a quiet room with no distractions, then add distance, duration, and distraction one at a time. - Keep sessions short (2 to 5 minutes) and end while your dog still wants more. - Never call your dog to punish them. Every recall should predict something good. - Rule out pain or illness first if a trained dog suddenly stops responding. ## Why Your Dog May Not Follow or Obey Most dogs who "ignore" their owners are not stubborn or dominant. They are doing what pays off, or they are confused about what you want. ### Normal reasons dogs stop responding - **Reinforcement history.** If chasing a squirrel is more rewarding than coming to you, the squirrel wins. Dogs repeat what works. - **Confusion.** "Come here" said in a frustrated tone sounds different from the cheerful cue you trained. Dogs read tone, body posture, and context. - **Fear or anxiety.** A dog who is scared may freeze, hide, or bolt instead of obeying. - **Adolescence.** Many dogs go through a period of seeming to "forget" training as they mature. - **Breed and individual differences.** Dogs vary widely in energy, drive, and how easily they pick up cues. Breeding for close human interaction has shaped the dog brain's communication networks over thousands of years, and training adds further changes in the pathways that support cue interpretation and response [1]. ### What is happening in the brain Dogs are not born understanding English. They learn to pair sounds and gestures with outcomes. Research using brain imaging in dogs shows that selective breeding for life with humans rewired communication-related networks, while short-term training produced localized changes in the pathways that support reading cues and carrying out responses [1]. In plain terms, your dog's ability to listen is part training and part biology. ## Medical Causes to Rule Out Before Training Sometimes a dog stops following or responding because something hurts or feels wrong. This is especially true when a previously reliable dog changes suddenly. - **Pain.** Arthritis, dental disease, ear infections, and back or neck pain can all reduce a dog's willingness to move, walk beside you, or come when called. - **Vision or hearing loss.** Older dogs may not see your hand signal or hear your cue. - **Cognitive dysfunction.** Senior dogs can develop confusion, pacing, and night waking. - **Metabolic and neurologic disease.** Thyroid disease, seizures, and other conditions can change behavior. - **Anxiety disorders.** Persistent fear or panic is a medical concern, not a training failure. Your veterinarian can examine your dog, run basic lab work, and decide whether a referral to a board-certified veterinary behaviorist is warranted. If your dog's behavior changed suddenly, start here before you change your training plan. ## When Not Following Becomes a Problem A dog who wanders off in the yard is annoying. A dog who bolts toward a road is dangerous. Behavior problems are a leading reason dogs are surrendered to shelters or returned after adoption, which makes teaching everyday obedience behaviors a welfare issue, not a luxury [2]. The line between "normal" and "problem" usually comes down to safety and quality of life. Seek help when: - Your dog will not come when called near traffic, other dogs, or wildlife. - Your dog bolts out of doors or slips collars and harnesses. - Walks have become stressful for you or your dog. - Your dog shows growling, snapping, or guarding around food, toys, or people. Resource guarding is common in companion dogs and can affect human safety and the human-animal bond [3]. - You feel frustrated enough to consider punishment-based tools or giving up the dog. ## How to Get Your Dog to Listen to You: Step by Step ### Step 1: Build the relationship first Spend 10 to 15 minutes a day doing something your dog loves with you. That could be sniffing on a long line, tug, fetch, or trick training. Play and shared activity strengthen the bond that makes you worth listening to. One study tested whether play after a short training session improved two basic Canine Good Citizen behaviors, "sit" and "stay." Dogs with low baseline ability improved more after playing than after resting in the first experiment, though a second, more controlled experiment did not replicate that improvement [2]. The practical takeaway is simple: play is good for your dog and worth including, but it is not a guaranteed shortcut to faster learning. ### Step 2: Teach one cue at a time Pick one behavior, such as coming when called. Say your cue once, in a happy voice. Reward the instant your dog moves toward you. Repeat 5 to 10 times, then stop. Keep sessions short. End on a success. If your dog loses interest, you waited too long or asked for too much. ### Step 3: Pay well and pay often Use treats your dog does not get every day. Small pieces work best so you can reward many repetitions without overfeeding. If your dog is on a prescription diet or has food allergies, ask your veterinarian what treats are safe. Reward every correct response while learning. Once the behavior is strong, reward randomly, like a slot machine, so your dog keeps trying. ### Step 4: Add distractions slowly The "three Ds" of dog training are distance, duration, and distraction. Change only one at a time. - Practice in the kitchen. - Move to the hallway. - Move to the yard. - Add a family member walking past. - Add the front porch. - Add the sidewalk. If your dog fails twice in a row, you made it too hard. Go back one step. ### Step 5: How to get your dog to follow you Following is different from obeying a cue. It is a habit of checking in with you. - Reward your dog for looking at you during walks. Mark the look with a word like "yes" and treat. - Change direction often on walks. When your dog catches up, reward. - Hide briefly behind a tree or car in a safe, enclosed area, then reward your dog for finding you. - Feed part of your dog's meals by hand during the day so good things come from you. ### Step 6: How to get your dog to walk next to me Loose-leash walking is a trained position, not a natural one for most dogs. - Start indoors. Reward your dog for standing at your left or right side. - Take one step. If the leash stays loose, reward. - Increase to two steps, then five. - Practice in a low-distraction area before the sidewalk. - Use a front-clip harness or a well-fitted flat collar. Avoid choke and prong collars. - If your dog pulls, stop moving. Wait for the leash to slacken, then walk again. ### Step 7: How to get your dog to follow you without a leash Off-leash reliability takes months, not weeks, and it is never 100 percent in every situation. - Only practice off leash in a securely fenced area at first. - Use a long line (15 to 30 feet) in open areas so your dog can practice while staying safe. - Reward every check-in, even if you did not call. - Practice recalls from behind, from a distance, and while your dog is sniffing. - Never call your dog for something unpleasant, like a bath or nail trim. Go get them instead. - Keep your dog leashed anywhere cars, other dogs, or wildlife are present. A dog who "usually" comes back is not a safe off-leash dog. ### Step 8: Enrichment supports training A bored, under-exercised dog is harder to train. Sniffing, puzzle feeders, chew toys, and structured games all help. Nose work style activities are one option. A small pilot study looked at whether nose work training affected executive function and fitness in dogs and their owners. Fitness scores did not differ between the nose work and non-nose work groups, and the training did not produce the expected differences in the measures tested [4]. That does not mean scent games are useless. It means the specific cognitive benefits are not well established in veterinary research. Sniffing is still a low-cost, low-impact activity most dogs enjoy. ### Step 9: Consider a training class Puppy classes can improve the human-dog relationship and a dog's overall behavior and trainability [5]. In a study of over 2,000 puppy owners, 67 percent attended at least one training class [5]. Owners were more likely to attend if they had planned to, were first-time owners, had higher household income, or received a puppy information pack when they got the dog [5]. Attendance dropped as the puppy's age at acquisition went up [5]. If your dog is past puppyhood, look for group classes for adolescent or adult dogs, or private sessions with a certified trainer who uses reward-based methods. For more foundational skills, see [Dog Training Tip](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/behavior/dog-training-tip). ## What Not to Do ### Do not use punishment as your main tool Yelling, hitting, leash jerks, shock collars, and alpha rolls damage trust and can increase fear and aggression. They also teach your dog to avoid you, which is the opposite of following you. ### Do not repeat cues Saying "come, come, come, COME" teaches your dog that the first words do not matter. Say it once. If your dog does not respond, make the situation easier. ### Do not call your dog to punish them If you call your dog and then scold them for taking too long, you just taught them that coming to you is risky. Reward every recall, even a slow one. ### Do not expect perfection in every setting A dog who comes perfectly in the living room may fail at the dog park. That is normal. Train in each new environment. ### Do not skip the veterinarian If your dog's behavior changed, get a physical exam. Training cannot fix a toothache. ### Common myths - **"My dog is just stubborn."** Dogs repeat what gets reinforced. Change the reinforcement. - **"I need to be the alpha."** Dominance-based training is outdated and not supported by how dogs actually learn. - **"Treats are bribery."** Treats are payment for a job well done. You phase them out gradually, not abruptly. - **"My dog knows it, he just won't do it."** Knowing a cue in the kitchen is not the same as performing it on a busy street. ## When to Involve a Veterinarian or Certified Behavior Professional Call your veterinarian if: - Your dog's responsiveness changed suddenly. - Your dog seems painful, stiff, or reluctant to move. - Your dog shows new fear, aggression, or guarding. Resource guarding is common and can affect safety and the bond with your dog [3]. - Your dog is a senior and seems confused or disoriented. - You have tried reward-based training for several weeks with no progress. Ask for a referral to a board-certified veterinary behaviorist or a certified applied animal behaviorist for severe anxiety, aggression, or compulsive behaviors. Your veterinarian can also rule out medical causes and discuss whether medication might help alongside training. For barking that interferes with training or daily life, these guides may help: [How To Get My Dog To Stop Barking](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/behavior/how-to-get-my-dog-to-stop-barking) and [Dog Barking Problems: How to Train Your Dog to Be Quiet](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/anxiety-and-behavior-support/dog-barking-problems-train-quiet). ## Limitations and When to Contact a Veterinarian Training advice cannot cover every dog. Age, breed, health status, past experiences, and home environment all change what works. Individual cases need a veterinarian who can examine your dog and review the full picture. Contact your veterinarian the same day if your dog: - Suddenly stops responding to cues they knew well. - Shows head tilting, circling, stumbling, or a change in gait. - Refuses food or water. - Becomes withdrawn, restless, or disoriented. Go to an emergency clinic now if your dog: - Collapses, has a seizure, or has trouble breathing. - Shows sudden aggression with no clear trigger. - Is hit by a car or has a suspected injury after bolting. - Eats something toxic. Call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 or the Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661. Schedule a routine visit if your dog: - Is due for a wellness exam and has behavior concerns. - Has gradual changes in hearing, vision, or mobility. - Needs a training plan adjusted for a chronic condition. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Why does my dog follow me everywhere but not come when called outside? Following you indoors is a habit built on proximity and rewards, while coming when called outside competes with smells, animals, and movement. Practice recalls in low-distraction settings first, then add distance and distraction one at a time. Use a long line so your dog can practice safely while you build reliability. ### How long does it take to train a reliable recall? Most dogs need weeks to months of consistent practice, and reliability varies by environment. Short daily sessions with high-value rewards work better than long weekend training marathons. Some dogs, especially those with strong prey drive or anxiety, may never be safe off leash outside fenced areas. ### Should I use a shock collar to get my dog to listen? No. Punishment-based tools can increase fear, anxiety, and aggression and damage the trust that makes your dog want to work with you. Reward-based training is the standard approach recommended by veterinary behavior professionals. If you are struggling, ask your veterinarian for a referral to a certified trainer or behaviorist. ### My dog listens to my partner but not to me. What can I do? Dogs respond to the person who consistently rewards them and communicates clearly. Take over feeding, walks, and short training sessions for a few weeks. Keep your cues consistent with your partner's so your dog is not getting mixed signals. ### Can a dog forget its training? Dogs can lose fluency if a behavior is not practiced, and adolescence or aging can change how well they respond. Sudden loss of a previously solid behavior, especially with other symptoms, warrants a veterinary exam. Otherwise, go back to short, easy repetitions and rebuild from there. ## Related Articles - [How To Get My Dog To Stop Barking](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/behavior/how-to-get-my-dog-to-stop-barking) - [Dog Barking Problems: How to Train Your Dog to Be Quiet](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/anxiety-and-behavior-support/dog-barking-problems-train-quiet) - [Dog Training Tip](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/behavior/dog-training-tip) - [How To Train A Dog To Stop Barking](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/behavior/how-to-train-a-dog-to-stop-barking) - [Dog Training Tips Youtube](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/behavior/dog-training-tips-youtube) - [Dog Training Tips Reddit](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/behavior/dog-training-tips-reddit) - [Why Your Puppy Isn't Listening to You (and How to Fix It)](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/behavior/puppy-not-listening-to-commands) - [How to Get Your Dog to Focus on You During Walks](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/behavior/dog-focus-on-walks) - [How to Get Your Dog to Respect You](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/behavior/dog-respect-training) ## References 1. [Selection and Learning Shape Communication Networks in the Dog Brain](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42575703/). The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 2026. 2. [Does Play After Training Improve a Canine Good Citizenship Skill in Pet Dogs?](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40427256/). Animals : an open access journal from MDPI, 2025. 3. [Resource management practices of Canadian and American domestic dog breeders and associations with puppy competitive behaviour: A cross-sectional study](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42534209/). Animal welfare (South Mimms, England), 2026. 4. [Does Nose Work Training Affect Dog Executive Function and Physical Fitness in Humans and Dogs?](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41681434/). Animals : an open access journal from MDPI, 2026. 5. [Factors Associated with Puppy Training Class Attendance](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40941378/). Animals : an open access journal from MDPI, 2025. ## Further Reading - [Merck Veterinary Manual: Dog Owners](https://www.merckvetmanual.com/dog-owners) - [Cornell Richard P. Riney Canine Health Center: Canine Health Information](https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/riney-canine-health-center/canine-health-information) - [American Veterinary Medical Association: Pet Care](https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/petcare)