Your dog's name should mean 'look at me, something good is coming.' If it has turned into 'I am about to be told off,' your dog will learn to ignore it. The fix is to make it worth answering.
Start where it is easy
Dogs Trust says to start in a quiet, calm place such as the living room, with no distractions, when you and your dog are relaxed. Watch your dog go about their business. Whenever they glance over at you, give a treat right away. Do this every time during the session. Your dog learns that looking at you pays. For more on this, see When "Come" Stops Working.
Add the name
Once your dog understands that looking at you is a good choice, say their name once. When they look, drop or toss a treat to the side for them to chase and eat. When they return to look at you again, repeat. Toss the treats in different directions, near and far, so your dog keeps watching you.
Make it harder slowly
Move to a familiar outdoor space with your dog on a leash. It is harder to give you attention there because the world is more interesting, so stay calm and go back to easier steps if needed. A quiet place, then a busier one, in small steps.
Common mistakes
Using the name only for scolding. Saying it again and again if your dog does not answer. Calling the name before something your dog dislikes, such as a nail trim. If your dog does not answer, you went too fast. Go back a step and make it easier.
Reward every response while your dog is learning. Treat the name as a promise: it always pays.
Get the right help
If your dog does not seem to hear you at all, ask your vet to check hearing. A sudden change in how your dog responds can have a health cause.
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Frequently asked questions
What should the name mean?
Look at me, something good is coming. If it has become a warning that scolding follows, your dog will learn to ignore it.
How do we start?
In a quiet, calm place with no distractions, reward every glance your way, then say the name once and toss a treat when they look.
How do we add difficulty?
Move to a familiar outdoor space on a leash, and go back to easier steps whenever the world gets too interesting.
What mistakes should I avoid?
Repeating the name over and over, using it before something unpleasant, and expecting a quiet room skill to survive a busy street on day one.
