My dog doesn't come when I call him

Every Friday I attempt to answer a few questions. Please note that I am not a certified vet and that all information is based on independent on-line research and is not intended to replace or use for medical purposes.

Q. My dog won't come when I call him.

A. The obvious answer is dog obedience. Dogs have the mental capacity of a 2 year old, therefore, they need to be properly trained. They also go by tone recognition. Unlike other commands such as "sit", "stay" etc. hearing his/her name is important for the safety of both you and your dog. You need to call it from danger and it needs to recognize when you need help. His and or her name may contain too many syllables. Many pet owners, trainers and vets strongly suggest single one word or single syllable names. This is once again having to do with tone recognition. Also as a dog ages, they can develop deafness. These signs are not as obvious as that of a humans, therefore, when you take your dog for a regular check up, when it reaches past 7 years, try getting a hearing test done to make sure that your dog's hearing is okay.