Teaching a Dog To Come

Teaching Commands to your dog!

Way before you can even think about teaching your dog complex tricks, there are a few basics every dog and owner should accomplice. They really do help create a successful relationship between human and dog.

You should avoid talking to your dog in forms of questions. Rather, everything should be a command.

You can begin these basic training commands at a very young age, the sooner the better.

 Teaching a Dog To Come

Teaching your dog to come when called is possibly one of the more important commands you can teach. For a dog to understand & respond to ‘come’, also known as the recall, can ultimately save your pet from any harmful situations. Also, it will allow your dog a certain level of freedom with you confident that your pet will always return when called.

In order to complete the recall training, your dog needs to think that you are more appealing than the alternative! As always, training sessions should be short and concise and include a treat that the dog loves! The recall can be a difficult one to crack and for this reason it may be best to limit your pets freedom when out of the ‘safe’ environment. In other words, until your dog willingly responds to the recall in your back garden, it is best not to risk having him off the lead on walks! Better to be safe than sorry.

How can you convince your pet that returning to you is a pleasurable experience than running free? Dogs respond excellently to positive reinforcement (teach your dog that coming back when she's called earns rewards). To the standard dog, food is the perfect reinforcer. Every time your dog returns on your command, offer them a treat immediately. Some suggest you only have a 2 second gap for the dog to associate the treat with doing something ‘good’. When your dog is showing more reliability to coming when called, limit the treats to every other time. Obviously, there should always be some kind of reward so praise is an excellent choice for when they do not receive a treat. As your dog becomes more and more successful at the recall, taper of the treats, replacing them with more praise.

Be sure that there are no distractions when you begin your training sessions. It needs to be a calm and pleasant experience for both you and your dog. When you are ready, step a short distance from your dog and get his attention. It is always best to get down to their level, so whilst kneeling and with open arms, playfully & cheerfully shout “Jake, COME!” Your voice always need to be high and light, never try to teach commands in a dull, stern voice, this simply won’t work! Keep doing this until you get the correct response from your pet and remember to reward him within 2 seconds.

Repeat this process, each time increasing your distance very slightly. Remember not to overload your pet with too much, too soon. Don’t expect your dog to grasp it in the first few sessions! Have patience and stay calm!  Throughout your training sessions gradually increase your distance and, eventually, environmental distractions. When you feel your pet has grasped the idea, try her out in the park or another new place. Don't remove your dog's lead unless you are confident he'll return to you; if you find your dog will not recall, discontinue any verbal commands and walk straight up to them. For a dog, any opportunity to misbehave will quickly teach them that freedom's more fun.

Always remember to never punish your dog after he comes to you. Regardless of the fact he has just chewed the sofa, coming must always be rewarded, never scolded.