Teaching your dog to come when called is one of the most important skills you can teach your furry companion. It is not only a key element of training but also a crucial safety measure.
If your dog doesn’t come on command, he might run into danger or get lost, making it difficult for you to find him. Fortunately, teaching your pooch to come when called is not rocket science. With a little bit of patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement, you can help your dog learn this basic command quickly. Here are some tips on how to teach your pooch to come on command:.
1. Start Indoors
The first step to teaching your dog to come is to start indoors. This is where your dog is most familiar and feels more comfortable. It also eliminates the need for distractions that might hinder your dog’s learning process.
Start by calling your dog’s name and using the command “come” while holding a treat. As soon as he comes running towards you, reward him with the treat and praise him. Repeat this exercise for a few days until your dog understands the command.
2. Add Distance
Once your pooch has mastered coming to you indoors, it is time to add distance. Move a few steps away from your dog and call him. If he comes, reward him with a treat. Gradually increase the distance until he is coming to you from across the room.
Remember to praise him every time he comes to you since positive reinforcement is key to successful training.
3. Add Distractions
As your dog gets better at coming to you on command, it’s time to add distractions. Go outside and call your dog while he is playing or sniffing around.
This can be a bit challenging at first, but if you’ve been using positive reinforcement, your dog should be excited to come to you even when there are things going on around him. If he doesn’t come right away, don’t yell at him or punish him. Simply go to him and bring him back to where you called him from.
Repeat this until he understands that he needs to come to you when called, no matter what is happening around him.
4. Practice in Different Locations
Once you’ve mastered calling your dog in your home and garden, it’s time to practice in different locations. Try calling your dog at the park or beach when you are out for a walk.
This will help your dog understand that he needs to come to you no matter where you are. Remember to use positive reinforcement every time he comes to you, so he continues to associate the command with receiving rewards and praise.
5. Use a Long Leash
If you’re struggling to get your dog to come to you on command, try using a long leash. Attach the leash to your dog’s collar and let it drag behind him. When you call him to come, gently tug on the leash until he comes to you.
This will help your dog understand that he needs to come to you when called, even if he’s off-leash. Do not use this as a punishment but instead as a way to positively reinforce the command.
6. Practice Makes Perfect
Just like any other skill, repetition and consistency are key to teaching your dog to come to you on command. Practice calling your dog multiple times a day in different locations until he is completely comfortable with the command.
Be patient and don’t get frustrated if it takes longer for your dog to learn. Every dog is different, and some may take a little longer to get the hang of it.
7. Don’t Overuse the Command
Finally, avoid overusing the “come” command. If you’ve called your dog several times and he hasn’t come, don’t keep calling him. This will only teach him to ignore the command.
Instead, go to him and gently bring him back to where you called him from and practice the command again later. Only use the command when you need him to come to you urgently, not just for fun or to practice.
Teaching your pooch to come on command is an essential skill that every dog owner should teach their furry companion.
With a little bit of patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement – your dog will learn to come to you when called in no time!.