How to Teach Your Dog to Come
You may have taken an introductory obedience class with your dog, and they may even know what “come” means. Still, when another dog, person, scent, or anything else distracting is around, it looks like they have amnesia. Teaching your dog a dependable recall begins with teaching the dog the meaning of the word “come”; however, this is not the end of the process. How to Train dog to come
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Have you ever observed a dog approaching lightning speed and wondered how its owner elicited such a response? The solution is an inspiration. When called, the first step in training a dog to come is teaching the dog what “come” means and encouraging the dog to want to do it. Conveniently, both can be taught simultaneously.
How to Teach a Pup to Respond to Its Name
If your dog ignores you when you call its name, the first step is to train it to respond to its name. This is a simple task:
- First, collect some of your dog’s kibble. Say your puppy’s name. If they are looking at you, offer them food. If they are not looking, throw food by their paws.
- Next, practice pronouncing your dog’s name and throwing or feeding him food. Repeat this process until they regularly glance at you when you call their name before offering food.
- Say your dog’s name randomly throughout the day. When they look at you, display the food item. Hold it out till they walk towards you.
- Could you give them the food when they arrive? After practicing this, your puppy should instinctively approach you when you call its name, even if you don’t show it food first.
- Once your puppy responds well to its name, avoid using it when correcting it so that it continues to pay attention when you speak it.
How to Teach the Meaning of “Come”
It’s time to introduce the “come” command once your puppy knows to look at or approach you when you call their name.
Choose a different word to use, such as “here” or “beside,” if your dog does not respond well to this command or if you used it and then chastised your dog when they came.
- First, enlist the assistance of at least one friend or family member. Give each individual some of your dog’s favorite treats, food, or toys.
- Have someone enthusiastically call your dog’s name and shout, “Come!” The individual should sprint away eagerly, waving their arms and laughing, as soon as your dog looks in their direction.
- When your dog sees them approaching and begins to chase after them, have your assistant praise your dog. When your dog catches up to them, they should offer one piece of food at a time while holding the dog’s collar. If your dog prefers toys over collars, have the person play a brief game of tug with a toy after holding the collar for a few seconds.
- After your dog has been rewarded, have the individual say “OK” to indicate that your dog may now depart.
- After your dog has been given the “OK” signal, have the next person call his name and run away eagerly.
- Rehearse this activity with your dog until they come, even when you stand still and hide the treat behind your back.
- At this stage, you can also hide in spots that are easier to find and call your dog from there. Hiding teaches your dog to search for you. Give your dog audible hints if they do not locate you immediately.
How to Teach Your Pet to Return When Distracted
Distractions are likely to blame if your dog will not come when called outside, but will when trained indoors.
Even if your dog knows what the word “come” means, it does not necessarily follow that they will do so in the presence of distractions. As with any talent, your dog must practice recalling in the presence of distractions to progress and be able to do so in challenging situations.
How to Use an Extended Leash
Treats are excellent for inspiring a dog to come, but what if your dog is more interested in pursuing deer than in your treats?
Training your dog to come when called begins with teaching them to want to come, but you must also educate them to come when they do not want to. A lengthy leash is ideal for teaching this skill. How to Train dog to come
- Purchase a leash that is 20 to 50 feet long. To prevent neck injuries, utilize a padded back clip harness for enhanced protection.
- Grab the treats and conceal them wherever your dog cannot see them, such as in a pocket or pouch tucked beneath your shirt. Your dog should not see treats until you bring them to him.
- Create a list of distracting locales, beginning with the simplest ones. These may include your backyard, neighborhood, a field, a neighboring park, a major pet store, and a grassy space overlooking a local dog park. However, do not exercise inside the dog park (for safety reasons).
- Place the dog’s harness on him and attach the long leash. Allow your dog to explore around 10 feet away and become slightly distracted. Call your dog by name and exclaim “Come!” eagerly.
- If they come freely, praise them and give them a few treats while holding their collar. After they have finished the sweets, tell them “OK” and let them resume their previous activity.
- If your dog does not respond to your call the first time, immediately reel them in with the long leash. When they arrive, calmly congratulate them for coming, have them sit in front of you, hold their collar for a moment, and then release them by saying “OK!” Always act glad that they came, even if you pushed them, but this time does not offer any treats.
- After releasing your dog, practice “come” around the same distraction multiple times until your dog comes to you voluntarily five times.
- When your dog has learned the command in the current place, move on to the following location on your list and continue practicing “come” on the long leash until the behavior is consistent. Work your way through the list of locations until your dog comes to you in each one.
How to Teach Your Dog to Come Without Treats
When your dog can come while on a long leash in a variety of situations and around a variety of distractions, it is appropriate to stop using treats: How to Train dog to come
Increase the number of consecutive times your dog must obey the command before receiving a treat. For instance, call your dog to you three times in a row and praise it each time it comes. After the third time, could you provide them with a treat? As your dog improves, please increase the times they must come before receiving a treat from five to eight to ten. Next, reward your dog with goodies when they do a “come” better than average. For instance:
- Reward your dog when it runs directly to you, but not when it approaches you slowly.
- Reward your dog if it comes quickly, even if another dog is approaching.
- Reward your dog for returning after he was already running in the opposite direction.
Lastly, at this stage, you shouldn’t give your dog goodies every time he comes to you, but you can periodically surprise him with a couple of treats. The random nature of the rewards keeps the training interesting for your dog since they never know when treatment may be involved. Imagine that your favorite dessert occasionally arrived mysteriously in your refrigerator. Wouldn’t you frequently check your refrigerator and be delighted each time you opened the door? However, if the dessert were continually available, you would likely tire of it, correct?
How to Retain the “Come” Command
If you have stated, “My dog no longer comes to me,” you are not alone. After investing a great deal of time and effort in educating your dog to come for their safety, it may be disheartening when their recall begins to deteriorate. There are several reasons why a recall can worsen over time, and steps can be taken to avoid this. To preserve a memory:
- Avoid being punished for coming.
- Maintain consistency.
- Update the training.
Conclusion
Train your dog to come when called by using these simple tips. Dogs are social animals, and they love spending time with their people. Teaching your dog to come when called will make it much easier for you and your dog to spend quality time together.