If your dog doesn't come back when called after being let out, you can implement recall training. Using treats as positive reinforcement, start training your dog indoors. Once your dog reliably responds to commands inside, gradually transition the training to outdoor environments. Dogs are highly intelligent animals, and with consistent training, you will see significant improvements.
How to Train Your Dog to Come Back
1. Treat Rewards
When starting the training, prepare a variety of treats that your dog loves, such as small pieces of cooked chicken, chicken jerky, or pumpkin. Choose treats that are highly motivating and not given every day to make them more special and effective for training.
During training, use a command like "Come!" to call your dog to you. When they come to you as instructed, immediately give them a treat reward. Occasionally preparing those high-value treats mentioned above will further strengthen their memory and motivation. Start training at short distances, a few steps away, and gradually increase the distance.
2. Gradual Progression
Just as you wouldn’t expect a 5-year-old to go from kindergarten to 7th grade in a year, you can't expect your dog to come back reliably outdoors if they haven't mastered recall indoors first.
If you want your dog to reliably come back to you outdoors, you need to first achieve reliable recall indoors. Then, move the training to outdoor locations with increasing levels of distractions. Start in your own yard, then move to quiet streets, and then to busier and more distracting outdoor environments.
By following these steps, you will be well on your way to having a dog that comes back every time, no matter where you are.