Why Adolescent Dogs Forget Recall and How to Rebuild It

One of the most unsettling moments for any dog owner is when recall suddenly stops working. A dog who once turned and ran back happily now seems to ignore you completely, even glancing over before choosing something else instead (often something far more interesting). It can feel abrupt, personal and worrying, especially when recall once felt reliable.

This shift most commonly happens during adolescence. It leaves many owners questioning their training, their relationship with their dog or whether they have somehow undone earlier progress. In reality, adolescent recall struggles are both common and expected. They are part of a wider developmental phase rather than a reflection of failure.

Adolescence brings significant changes in the brain, body and emotional system. Behaviours that looked solid during puppyhood often wobble during this period, and recall is one of the first skills to be affected. Understanding why this happens helps you respond calmly and rebuild recall in a way that supports long term reliability rather than short term compliance.

This article explains what adolescence really is for dogs, why recall often breaks down during this stage, and how to rebuild it step by step without damaging trust or motivation.

What adolescence actually is for dogs

Adolescence is not simply a phase of testing boundaries. It is a developmental stage driven by physical growth, hormonal changes and neurological reorganisation. During this time, a dog’s brain is actively reshaping itself in preparation for adulthood.

Most dogs enter adolescence between six and nine months of age, although this varies widely depending on breed and individual development. Larger breeds often experience a longer adolescent period, sometimes lasting well into their second year. During this stage, neural pathways formed in puppyhood are pruned and refined. This makes the adult brain more efficient, but temporarily less predictable.

Hormonal changes also influence emotional responses and motivation. Dogs become more sensitive to their environment, more aware of social information and more inclined to explore independently. These changes are not deliberate challenges to authority. They are signs that the brain is prioritising learning about the wider world (sometimes at the expense of listening to familiar cues).

Why recall is especially affected during adolescence

Recall relies on several skills working together at the same time. A dog must notice the cue, value responding, resist competing distractions and regulate their emotions enough to disengage from the environment. Adolescence affects each of these elements simultaneously.

Environmental distractions suddenly carry much more weight. Smells, movement and other dogs become deeply compelling, often more so than food or praise. The adolescent brain is wired to investigate these things, even if they were previously ignored.

Emotional regulation is also less stable. Adolescent dogs can swing between confidence and uncertainty, excitement and hesitation. When emotional arousal is high, access to trained behaviours like recall becomes more difficult.

At the same time, independence increases. Adolescents experiment with distance and choice as part of healthy development. This can feel alarming to owners, but it does not mean recall has disappeared. It means it is harder to prioritise.

Recall is not forgotten, it is harder to access

One of the most important things to understand is that recall has not been erased from your dog’s memory. Learning does not vanish overnight. What changes is the dog’s ability to access that learning in challenging contexts. Stress, arousal and competing motivations can temporarily block behaviours the dog still knows. This is why recall often works at home or in quiet areas but falls apart in open spaces or around other dogs.

Viewing recall as forgotten often leads to panic or escalation. Viewing it as temporarily unreliable encourages patience, management and adjustment (which protects learning rather than undermining it).

Why repeated calling weakens recall

When recall becomes unreliable, many owners instinctively call more often or more loudly. Unfortunately, this usually makes things worse rather than better. Repeated calling teaches the dog that the first cue does not matter. Over time, the dog learns they can delay responding without consequence. This weakens the meaning of the cue itself. Increased urgency also adds pressure. If your dog is already conflicted between you and the environment, added insistence can push them into avoidance. A single, well timed cue is far more effective than repeated calls. Protecting the recall cue is more important than using it. If success is unlikely, it is often better not to cue at all.

Recall is an emotional behaviour

Recall is not just a trained response. It is an emotional decision. Your dog weighs how they feel about returning against what they are currently doing. If coming back consistently leads to the end of fun, being clipped on the lead or tension from you, the emotional value of recall drops. Adolescents are particularly sensitive to these patterns and learn quickly from repetition. Even subtle frustration in your voice can influence motivation. Dogs are highly attuned to emotional tone, and adolescent dogs often react strongly to it. Rebuilding recall means rebuilding positive emotional associations. Coming back should feel safe, rewarding and worthwhile, even when it interrupts something enjoyable.

Why punishment damages recall long term

Punishing a dog for not coming back is one of the fastest ways to destroy recall. From the dog’s perspective, punishment confirms that coming close to you is risky. This does not create reliability. It creates avoidance. The next time the dog hesitates, distance becomes the safer option. Dogs are not making moral choices about obedience. They are responding to emotional outcomes. If recall becomes linked to fear, conflict or discomfort, motivation collapses. Reliable recall grows from trust and positive reinforcement, not intimidation.

Management is part of training, not failure

During adolescence, management becomes essential. Using a long line, choosing quieter areas and avoiding high distraction environments protects recall while you rebuild it.

Management prevents the rehearsal of non responses, which can quickly become habits. It keeps your dog safe and keeps learning intact. There is no benefit in testing recall before your dog is ready. Reducing freedom temporarily is not punishment. It is responsible handling that supports long term success.

Rebuilding recall from the beginning

When recall starts to fail, it is often helpful to return to basics. This does not mean starting over because you failed. It means rebuilding confidence in controlled conditions. Begin in low distraction environments where success is almost guaranteed. Use rewards your dog genuinely values and rotate them to maintain interest.

Call your dog once, reward generously, then release them back to what they were doing. This teaches that coming back does not always end freedom (which increases motivation). Gradually increase difficulty only when your dog is responding consistently. Rushing this stage often leads to setbacks. Use a long line at all times.

Distance matters more than distraction

Many people focus on distractions first, but distance is often the more important variable. Calling your dog from a shorter distance significantly increases the chance of success. As distance increases, recall becomes harder, even in low distraction environments. Working on recall at different distances builds a stronger response that transfers more easily to real life. Distance and distraction together create the hardest challenge. Build each separately before combining them.

Reinforcement history shapes reliability

Recall depends heavily on reinforcement history. Dogs repeat behaviours that have consistently paid off.

If recall has been reinforced inconsistently, adolescence will expose those gaps. Rebuilding recall means increasing both the consistency and value of reinforcement again. This does not mean rewarding forever in the same way. It means making coming back worthwhile enough that your dog chooses it even when the environment is tempting. Recall is not a one time lesson. It is a skill that needs ongoing maintenance.

Off lead freedom needs to be rebuilt

It is tempting to continue giving off lead freedom because your dog had it as a puppy. During adolescence, this can undermine recall. Freedom should match reliability. Reducing freedom temporarily supports learning rather than restricting it unnecessarily. As recall improves, freedom can be gradually reintroduced. This teaches your dog that reliable choices lead to more opportunities.

Emotional maturity supports recall recovery

As adolescence passes, emotional regulation improves. Dogs become better able to pause, assess and respond rather than react.

This means recall often strengthens naturally with age, provided it has not been damaged by negative experiences. Your role during this phase is to protect trust, manage wisely and avoid creating fear or conflict around recall. Consistency and calm handling matter far more than intensity.

Common mistakes to avoid

Chasing your dog when they do not come back often turns recall into a game. Calling only when it is time to leave teaches avoidance. Using recall when you are angry poisons the cue emotionally. These mistakes are common and understandable. Awareness allows you to adjust and protect recall going forward.

Supporting yourself during adolescence

Adolescence can feel discouraging. Progress appears to stall or reverse, and confidence can dip.

This phase is temporary. It does not define your dog or your training. Adjusting expectations, seeking guidance and focusing on emotional wellbeing can make a significant difference.

You are not failing. You are supporting a developing animal.

A gentle next step

If you are navigating adolescence and want calm, practical guidance on recall, motivation and realistic expectations, our online puppy club offers ongoing support (without pressure or judgement). It is designed to help you rebuild skills while protecting trust and confidence.

Conclusion

Adolescent dogs do not forget recall because they are being difficult. They struggle because their brains are changing, their priorities are shifting and the world suddenly feels more compelling. By understanding what is happening, managing thoughtfully and rebuilding recall with patience, you can move through this stage with a stronger, more reliable response. Recall is not about control. It is about connection. When that connection is protected, recall returns.