Training your dog to come when it will be called
Training your dog to come as soon as it is called
Instructing a four-legged friend to come every time it’s called is a really imperative, and likely life saving, part of some successful k9 training system. All properly trained dogs should learn to respond straight away to your owner’s voice, and also the quicker this lesson is learned your better.
The advantages of training your puppy to come anytime called are understandable. Firstly, coming when called will assist you regain control of the dog in case of collar break, snapped leash or other similar equipment failure. That is particularly important when you are out with your pet, especially in an area with lots of traffic. It can be vital that the pet respond to your voice and return to your side, even in the absence of collar and leash, and even though there are lots of other activities competing for its attention.
Coming while called can also be a crucial skill for all working canine friend. Whether your dog’s job is herding sheep, guarding livestock, or sniffing out bombs and drugs at the airport, the working pet must be under total control at all times, whether on leash or off.
Regardless of whether your dog’s sole job is being a loyal companion, it can be still vital that he learn this important basic obedience exercise. After your first obedience lessons, such as heeling, stopping on command, sitting on command, etc. have been learned, this is time to start incorporating your come anytime called lessons into your daily training sessions.
One note about k9 training – it’s all too easy for training sessions to become dull and routine for both handler and k9. A bored canine friend will not be receptive to learning, just as a bored handler will not be a good teacher. This is important, therefore, to always incorporate fun things and play into each and every training session. Incorporating a few minutes of play time before the lesson begins can do wonders for the attitude of four-legged friend and human alike. Likewise, ending each training session having a few minutes of free play time is a great way to end on a positive note and to help the dog associate obedience training with fun and not drudgery.
Your command to stay and the command to come when called are often combined in obedience training lessons, and they do go naturally together. Start with the dog on a loose leash, ask the four-legged friend to sit and then slowly back away. If the pet begins to get up and follow you, return to the four-legged friend and ask him to sit again. Continue this process until you can reach your end of your leash without your four-legged friend getting up.
After you can successfully reach the end of your leash on a consistent basis, try dropping the leash altogether. Of course you will want to do this in a controlled environment like a fenced in yard. After your k9 has mastered your stay command, it will be time to add your come as soon as called command.
Take up the leash again, and with your pet on the end of your leash, say “come” or “come here”. It will be often helpful to use a lure anytime instructing this behavior. Your lure provides a visible item for your canine friend to focus on. Educating the dog to come to the lure is a good first step in training the four-legged friend to come when called.
Repeat this procedure many times until your canine friend will consistently stay and then come when called. After your k9 has mastered coming anytime called while attached to the leash, slowly start introducing the concept anytime the leash is removed. As before, these training sessions must only take place in a controlled, safe environment, such as a fenced in front or back yard.
A rightly taught, obedient dog ought to respond to your call to return to its owner no matter where this is and no matter what distractions may occur. It is therefore necessary to test the dog with distractions of your own.
If you have a neighbor, if at all possible one that has a dog of their own, try having her come over with your dog. Have him, and your dog, stand just outside the fenced in area and repeat the come whilst called exercise with the animal off leash. If he becomes distracted by the other dog, put the leash back on and repeat the process. The goal is to have your dog consistently pay attention to your commands, whatever distractions may well present themselves.
