Bringing a dog into your life is a rewarding experience, and teaching them essential commands like “come when called” is crucial for their safety and your peace of mind. This fundamental recall skill ensures your dog can be summoned back to you reliably, even when faced with exciting distractions. Mastering this command requires patience, positive reinforcement, and an understanding of your dog’s motivations. Recall training isn’t just about obedience; it’s about building a strong bond and ensuring your canine companion stays safe in various environments. This guide will walk you through the steps to effectively teach your dog to come when called, transforming a challenging task into a fun and rewarding experience for both of you.
Essential Tools for Recall Training
Before you begin, gather these simple yet effective tools:
- High-Value Treats: Small, soft, and incredibly tasty treats that your dog absolutely loves. These act as powerful motivators.
- A Quiet Indoor Space: Start in an environment with minimal distractions to help your dog focus on the training.
Step-by-Step Guide to Teaching “Come”
The journey to a reliable recall is built on gradual progression and positive association.
- Introduction to the Cue: Begin by sitting with your puppy in your chosen quiet area. Say their name or the command word, “come.”
- Positive Association: Each time you say “come” or their name, immediately give your puppy a treat. At this stage, there’s no expectation for them to perform any action other than hearing the word and receiving a reward.
- Introducing Movement: Drop a treat on the floor near you. Once your puppy finishes the treat on the ground, repeat the cue. When they look up at you, offer another treat.
- Increasing Distance: Repeat step 3 multiple times, gradually increasing the distance you toss the treat. Ensure your dog can still easily turn to face you when you say their name. Important Note: Avoid repeating your puppy’s name excessively if they don’t respond immediately. This can desensitize them to the sound. Instead, close the distance and revert to a step where they can achieve success with the first cue.
- Adding Playfulness: Once your puppy reliably turns to face you, it’s time to inject some fun! Toss a treat a short distance away, then take a few quick steps backward while calling your puppy’s name. They should be eager to chase you, turning it into a game.
- Rewarding Enthusiasm: When your puppy catches up to you, shower them with praise, offer more treats, or engage them with a favorite tug toy. The goal is to make coming to you the most enjoyable experience.
- Generalizing the Skill: Continue practicing these steps in new locations and with increasing distances. When training outdoors, always use a safe, enclosed area, and consider using a long leash initially for added security. This helps build confidence and proof the recall in more challenging environments. For advanced training and specific scenarios, resources like teach puppy to come when called can offer further tailored advice.
Key Considerations for Success
To ensure your recall training is effective and positive:
- Avoid Grabbing: When your dog comes to you, resist the urge to grab them, as this can be confusing or even frightening for some dogs. If you have a timid puppy, try kneeling, facing them sideways, and offering treats as you gently reach for their collar.
- Never Punish: Never call your dog to you if you intend to punish them. This teaches them that coming to you leads to negative consequences, making them more likely to avoid you in the future. Always reward your dog heavily for responding to your recall cue, even if they have misbehaved.
- Maintain Positivity: As emphasized by Head of Training at GoodPup, Kait Hembree, recall training must remain fun. “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,” Hembree 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.” This approach ensures the reward is truly motivating.
Engaging Recall Games
Incorporate these fun games to reinforce your dog’s recall training:
- “Can You Catch Me?”: While on a leash during a walk, get your dog’s attention, then turn and run the other way. As your dog starts to follow, say “come!” After a few steps, stop and reward your pup with a treat or a toy. Crucial Step: Ensure your dog is already paying attention before you start running to prevent accidental leash yanking. For more on how to make training rewarding, explore lure-reward training dogs.
- Hide-and-Seek: This is a fantastic game for both you and your dog. Hide in another room, then call your dog to find you. Upon being found, reward them with praise and treats. This game is best introduced once your dog has a solid grasp of the basic recall. You might also find tips on training an older dog to come when called helpful if you have a multi-dog household.
- “Hot Potato” Recall: Recruit two or more friends to join in. Give each person a high-value treat. Take turns calling your dog between each person, rewarding them each time they successfully reach the person who called them. This helps your dog understand that coming to different people is also rewarding. For dogs who are particularly stubborn dog to come, varying the rewards and people involved can be highly effective.
Test Your Recall Skills
The “come when called” command is a cornerstone of good canine citizenship. In fact, it’s one of the ten essential skills required for both puppies and adult dogs to achieve the Virtual Home Manners title from the AKC. For puppies aged 3 months to 1 year, the expectation is that they can come when called from 10 feet away indoors. Adult dogs (4 months and older) should be able to respond from 20 feet away or from another room, both inside and outside the house. This emphasizes the importance of consistent practice and generalization of the skill. If you’re looking to teach your dog to come when called, remember that consistency and positive reinforcement are key.
In conclusion, teaching your dog to come when called is an investment in their safety and your relationship. By using positive reinforcement, making training fun, and consistently practicing in various environments, you can build a reliable recall that serves you both for years to come. Remember to always keep training sessions short, engaging, and rewarding. If you encounter challenges, consult resources or a professional trainer to train your puppy to come when called effectively.
