Teaching your dog to come to you is one of the most important commands he will ever learn. It is one of the basics that all pets need to know. If he hasn’t mastered it, he won’t be able to move on to higher-level training or tricks. This command is something you’ll most likely use every single day both in and outside of the home. And with the following advice, you will be sure to be on the fast track to training success.
Setting
In order to maximize the training sessions with your pooch, you will want to be able to hold his attention. By choosing a quiet place indoors you can help to make sure he won’t be distracted by nearly as many noises as he would be outside.
If you will be training your pet outdoors be sure it is a fenced-in area since your dog doesn’t yet know the command to come to you. If it isn’t, your dog could end up running away or getting loose which is never fun and even dangerous.
Pick A Tasty Reward
Be sure to find some treats beforehand that your pet loves. This will be a big help since once he knows he will be rewarded with them it will make him very eager to come to you. Chopping or cutting treats up can make them more bite-sized and help them to last longer.
Also, by giving your pet smaller portions he won’t get full and lose interest. You may want to try training when your dog is on an empty stomach or hasn’t eaten for a few hours. A hungry dog will usually be more motivated to follow instructions for food-based rewards.
Step 1
The first thing you’ll want to do once you have a quiet spot and your treats is to have your dog sit across from you a fair distance away. If your dog does not yet know the “sit,” and “stay,” commands you may want to teach those first. Or you could have someone help you by standing across from your while holding your dog by the leash.
Step 2
While it is optional, you may want to pick a hand signal to use along with the verbal cue. For some owners, this could be pointing at the ground where you want him to come to, or using your hand and fingers just like you would as if beckoning a person to come to you. There are also hand signals that pro dog trainers use.
Step 3
Now you’ll want to give the command, “come.” Give it once and in a firm yet excited manner. If you will be using a hand signal, be sure to use it at the same time you give the command.
Step 4
When your dog comes to you be sure to give him lots of praise and a treat. (If he does not come, do not give him the treat.) This will create an association in his mind between the behavior and the reward.
Step 5
Have your dog sit across from you again and repeat about five or six times. Your pet will quickly get the idea, although some dogs may be a little slower than others. If he does not get it in the first training session, don’t worry about it. Just be sure to have more sessions in the future and keep them short so he will stay interested.
The “come,” command is something you will use all the time in daily life with your pet. It can even help to save your dog in dangerous situations. So be sure to use the advice and steps you just learned to make sure he has mastered this important building block in his training.
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