Teaching your dog to “come when called” is one of the most crucial obedience skills you can impart. This fundamental command ensures their safety and strengthens your bond, yet it can present a unique challenge as dogs are naturally drawn to the world around them. Every time you call your dog, you’re essentially asking them to disengage from something interesting and focus on you. This guide will walk you through effective methods to build a reliable recall, ensuring your canine companion always returns to your side.
Essential Tools for Recall Training
To effectively teach your dog to come when called, you will need:
- High-Value Treats: Small, delicious treats that your dog absolutely loves will serve as powerful motivators.
- A Quiet Indoor Area: Begin training in a low-distraction environment to help your dog focus on learning the command.
Step-by-Step Guide to Teaching “Come”
The journey to a reliable recall starts with building positive associations. Follow these steps:
- Initial Association: Begin by sitting with your puppy in a quiet space. Say their name or the command word, “come.” Immediately offer a treat. At this stage, your puppy doesn’t need to perform any action; the goal is simply to link the word with a positive reward.
- Ground Treats: Place a treat on the floor directly in front of you. As soon as your puppy finishes it, repeat the command “come” and offer another treat. When they look up at you, give them another reward.
- Increasing Distance: Practice step two multiple times. Gradually, you can begin to toss the treat a short distance away. Ensure your dog can still turn to face you when you say their name. Important Note: Avoid repeating your puppy’s name excessively without a response, as this can teach them to ignore it. If they don’t respond, move closer and revert to a step where they can succeed.
- Adding Movement: Once your puppy reliably turns to face you, it’s time to make the training more dynamic. Toss a treat, then take a few quick steps backward while calling your puppy’s name. This encourages them to chase you, making the game of recall more engaging.
- Positive Reinforcement: When your dog reaches you, shower them with praise, treats, or engage them with a favorite tug toy. The objective is to make returning to you an incredibly enjoyable experience.
- Generalizing the Skill: Gradually increase the distance and introduce new environments, especially outdoors in a safely enclosed area. Initially, using a long leash can provide a safety net while your dog practices in a new setting.
Key Considerations for Success
- Avoid Grabbing: When your dog successfully comes to you, resist the urge to grab them. For some dogs, this can be perceived as frightening or confusing. If you have a timid puppy, try kneeling, facing them sideways, and offering treats as you calmly reach for their collar.
- Never Punish: Never call your dog to you if you intend to punish them. This will create a negative association, teaching them that coming to you is something to be avoided. Always reward your dog, even if they’ve been mischievous, for responding to your call.
- Keep it Fun: As emphasized by Kait Hembree, Head of Training at GoodPup, recall training must remain enjoyable. “It is critical that we work to ensure a positive and highly reinforced connection to our dog’s recall cue by working to balance the fun with allowing them to at times return to what they were doing originally when we called them,” she states. “Always rewarding for their immediate response when cued; and making sure that the value of their reward is worth what they walked away from to come to us.”
Engaging Recall Games
Incorporate these games to make recall training even more rewarding and effective:
- “Can You Catch Me?”: During an on-leash walk, get your dog’s attention, then turn and jog in the opposite direction. As they begin to follow, say “come!” Stop after a few steps and reward them with a treat or toy. Important: Ensure your dog is already paying attention before you start running to avoid an abrupt leash yank.
- Hide-and-Seek: This classic game is excellent for recall. Have a friend hide in another room, then call your dog to find them. Reward generously with praise and treats upon successful discovery. This game is best introduced once your dog has a solid grasp of the basic recall command.
- Hot Potato: Gather two or more friends, each equipped with a high-value treat. Take turns calling your dog between each person, rewarding them each time they successfully come to the person who called.
Test Your Dog’s Recall Skills
Did you know that “come when called” is one of the ten essential skills required for both puppies and adult dogs to earn the AKC Virtual Home Manners title? For puppies aged 3 months to 1 year, they must reliably come when called from 10 feet away indoors. Adult dogs (4 months and older) are tested from 20 feet away or from another room, both inside the house.
