What to Do When Your Dog Won't Come Back in the Field

First: don't panic

This is one of the best things about a secure field — when your dog doesn't come back, nothing bad happens. They're inside 6ft fencing. They can't run into a road, chase livestock, or disappear over a hill. The worst case is you spend 10 minutes waiting for them to finish sniffing.

That's the whole point. This is a safe space to get recall wrong.

What NOT to do

• Don't chase them — this is a game to them. You will never catch a dog that doesn't want to be caught. Chasing makes them run faster and further.
• Don't shout angrily — they hear the tone, not the words. An angry voice teaches them that coming to you is bad.
• Don't repeat the recall word 15 times — if you say "come" every 3 seconds, the word loses all meaning. Say it once, wait, try again in 30 seconds.
• Don't grab them when they finally come — if the first thing that happens when they return is being clipped on the lead, they'll learn that coming back = freedom ends.

What TO do

Walk the other way

Turn around and walk calmly in the opposite direction. Most dogs will follow. They want to be near you — they just want the freedom more. Walking away triggers their instinct to follow.

Get small

Crouch down, pat the ground, use an excited voice. This posture is inviting and non-threatening. Many dogs come running when their owner drops to their level.

Use the nuclear treat

This is why you bring high-value treats. Cheese. Chicken. Whatever your dog would sell their soul for. Rustling the treat bag often works when words don't.

Wait it out

Sometimes the best strategy is patience. Your dog will come back eventually — they're in a fenced field, they're not going anywhere. Sit on the bench, enjoy the view, and let them finish their Very Important Sniffing.

Building better recall over time

The field is the ideal training ground for recall because the stakes are zero. Use each visit to practise:

• Call them, reward massively, release them again
• Make coming to you the best thing that happens in the session
• Vary your rewards — treats, play, praise
• End the session on a successful recall, not a failed one

Book a training session at Keynsham Dog Park. The safest place to get recall wrong — and gradually get it right.