Eep! This happens. There are a few reasons this happens:
- you stopped paying for this expensive behaviour and your dog has decided that it's no longer worth it
- you reduced the value of the paycheque and again, your dog has decided that it's no longer worth it
- you've overtrained it - it's possible! If you work on it too much in a short period of time, it's too predictable and it's no longer as exciting and novel
- you've not trained it enough - there's not enough money in their recall bank account
- you've called them and then something aversive as followed (bath, nail clip, leash up and leave the park, punishment/scolding, etc.)
It's all good! Just go back to full management where they have not yet earned off-leash time yet, and then retrain it from the start.
If you're really struggling with it because of the last point (something aversive) then change your cue to something totally different and retrain from the start.
What a stinker! That'll happen.
When they are running towards you and still visually connected, mark THEN and do a food-scatter at your feet. Be sure to pay up when they're done eating and they look up at you for more! This will keep them there longer. Bingo!
Got questions about this? Click here to ask us in The Community