The “come” command — likewise called recall — is among the most essential abilities to teach your dog. Not just will a strong recall help you prevent those humiliating video games of catch-me-if-you-can when you’re attempting to leave the dog park, however it will help keep your dog safe off-leash.
How to teach the “come” command
- Start by practicing inside or in a fenced yard. Make sure there aren’t a lot of appealing interruptions. If your dog stays with your side like glue and you can’t get far enough away to ask to come, have a friend hold your dog while you take a couple of actions far from them.
- With a treat in your hand, back up a couple of feet, squat down, and open your arms in a welcome gesture. Wiggle the treat and inform your dog to “come!” in an passionate, happy intonation.
- As quickly as your dog begins relocating your instructions, appreciation and motivate them in a warm, positive tone: “Good dog!” If they stop or start straying from you, right away stop the appreciation. When they start coming towards you once again, start in again.
- When your dog makes it all the method to you, provide the yummy treat along with passionate appreciation and animals. Then inform your dog, “Go play!” and let them return to whatever they were providing for a minute approximately.
- Repeat the workout.
- Once your dog has actually practiced the recall a couple of times, start offering treats sporadicallyjust after the fastest remembers. Eventually, you can phase out food benefits entirely–although appreciation and animals are obviously constantly valued, and they help seal in your dog’s brain that coming when called is a good idea.
If the “come” command is not working
If your dog hasn’t had an opportunity to find out what this “come” command is everything about, don’t reprimand them for not reacting. Just call their name, ask once again to come, and start running backwardsfar from the dog, to promote them to follow. Clapping your hands might likewise encourage them that this is an enjoyable video game they wish to sign up with. Start applauding the dog as quickly as they approach you.
If you’ve been practicing the recall for a while, you can inform your dog to come once again in a sharper tone. If they comply with, applaud them and reveal them the treat in your hand, however don’t provide it to them. Back up a couple of actions and ask to come, and provide the treat if they comply with. This reveals them that they require to come on the very first call if they desire the benefit.
If they don’t come the 2nd time you call them, get rid of any appealing interruptions, such as another dog or toys close by. This assists teach them that when they don’t comply with the recall, the enjoyable ends.
With the “come” command in specific, dog moms and dads are typically the ones triggering the issue. Consider whether you’re making these typical errors:
Expecting excessive, prematurely
To teach an actually strong recall, you wish to include additional obstacles really slowly, and make it simple for the dog to get it right. If they get it wrong, they’re practicing a bad habit — namely, running away when you ask them to come. If you need to get your dog but know they probably won’t respond to your recall, just walk up to them and snap on the leash.
Punishing the dog once they get to you
This is the cardinal sin of teaching “come.” It doesn’t take a canine genius to figure out that if a scolding or punishment is waiting for them when they come, they’d really rather head in the opposite direction. Never punish your dog when they come to you, and call them in an upbeat tone of voice. If you sound furious, your dog is less likely to obey.
Using the recall only to do something unpleasant
If your request to come is usually followed by shoving your dog outside, leaving the dog park, subjecting them to a bath, or any other item on a dog’s list of least-favorite things, they’ll quickly learn to dread and avoid it. Practice recalls often during walks, games, and trips to the dog park, and then let your dog get back to the fun.
Moving toward your dog when you’re calling them
This can seem like a fun game of tag for your dog — and you’re it. Moving away from your dog when you call them, on the other hand, will lure them to follow you.
Teaching your dog the advanced “come” command
To set your dog up for success with learning the “come” command, you’ll desire to start out easy and slowly make it more challenging. Begin teaching the recall indoors or in a fenced yard, then outside on a leash, then outside with a longer leash, and then outside on a leash with a distraction added to the mix —someone throwing a ball, a friend’s dog romping around, and so on. If your dog’s recall disintegrates, make it easier — standing closer to your dog perhaps, or taking away a few of the distractions — and try again.
The ultimate test is the dog park, a place of fascinating smells and fun playmates. When you first practice the recall in the dog park, start with your dog on a leash and ask to come several times, rewarding them with a treat and praising them whenever they respond.
You can let them off-leash once they’re obeying consistently, however call them back to you periodically, praising and rewarding them when they arrive. Then tell them, “Go play!” and let them go back to the fun and games. If most recalls end with a treat, a tummy rub, and then a release to go back to their playmates, they won’t ever concern fear — and neglect — the noise of your voice screaming, “Come!”
