Training: Teaching your Dog to "Come"

Teaching your dog to come is one of the most important commands he will ever learn.

It is also a command that will take a lot of time to successfully learn.

Begin by waiting until your dog is already approaching you, then when two to three feet away, say"(insert your dog's name here) COME".

When your dog gets to you, praise him. You should repeat this exercise as often as you can for several months.

As your dog begins to associate "COME" with a good thing, you can gradually increase the distance. If your dog does not come when called, then he has not yet made the association of the word to the action. Give him time, he will eventually understand. The key to success with this command is for your dog to always associate the command "COME" with a good thing.

A common mistake made by novice handlers is they use a firm tone with the command causing their dog to associate fear with the command. If your dog fears you, its instinct will be to run away instead of coming near.

NEVER chase your dog when using the command "COME". He will feel, "WOW! My master is giving me attention and chasing me. This is FUN. Whatever she says, I am not going to her - she will keep running behind me."

Once you believe your dog understands the command, begin to reinforce it. Put a lead on your dogs collar and allow him to run around with the lead dragging behind. Gently pick up the lead, without him noticing and say "(insert your dog's name here) COME". If your dog does not come, then gently pull the lead, forcing him to come. Repeat this test often.