Bringing a dog into your life is a rewarding experience, and teaching them essential commands like “come” is crucial for their safety and your peace of mind. Recall, or the ability for your dog to return to you when called, is perhaps the most important skill a dog can learn. However, it can also be one of the most challenging to master, as the world is full of fascinating distractions for our canine companions. Each time you call your dog, you’re asking them to disengage from something they find interesting. This guide will walk you through effective methods to teach your dog this vital command, focusing on positive reinforcement and making the training process enjoyable.
What You Need to Teach “Come”
Before you begin training, gather these essential items:
- High-value treats: Choose small, soft treats that your dog absolutely loves and are easy to eat quickly.
- A quiet indoor area: Start training in a low-distraction environment to help your dog focus.
Steps for Teaching “Come”
The process of teaching recall should be gradual and built on positive associations.
- Introduction to the cue: Begin by sitting with your puppy in a quiet area. Say their name or the 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; the goal is simply to associate the word with a reward.
- Introducing movement with treats: Drop a treat on the floor near you. Once your puppy finishes the treat on the ground, say their name or “come” again. When they look up at you, give them another treat.
- Increasing distance: Repeat the previous step multiple times. Gradually, you can start tossing the treat a slightly longer distance away. 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, it can become easier for them to ignore it. Instead, move closer to your puppy and revert to a step where they can successfully respond to their name the first time.
- Adding movement and play: Once your puppy reliably turns to face you, it’s time to make the game more dynamic and fun! Toss a treat on the ground and take a few quick steps backward while calling your puppy’s name. They should be eager to chase you, as they’ll associate this with a fun game of tag.
- Reinforce with enthusiasm: When they reach you, shower them with praise, offer more treats, or engage them with a favorite tug toy. The objective is to emphasize that coming to you is a highly enjoyable experience.
- Generalizing the skill: Continue building on these steps in various locations and at increasing distances. When training outdoors, it’s advisable to start in a safe, enclosed area and use a long leash initially. This allows you to manage the distance while still giving your dog a sense of freedom.
Keep In Mind for Successful Recall
Positive reinforcement is key. When your puppy comes to you, resist the urge to immediately grab them. For some dogs, this can be confusing or even frightening, potentially making them hesitant to come next time. If you have a timid puppy, try kneeling down, facing them sideways, and offering treats as you gently reach for their collar.
Crucially, never call your dog if you intend to punish them. This will teach them that responding to your call leads to negative consequences, making them more likely to avoid you in the future. Even if your dog has misbehaved, always reward them enthusiastically for responding to their name or the recall cue.
Kait Hembree, Head of Training at GoodPup, stresses the importance of keeping recall training fun and engaging. “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 ensures the reward is truly “worth it” for your dog.
Make It Fun: Recall Games
Incorporating games into your training routine can significantly boost your dog’s enthusiasm for recall.
Can You Catch Me?
During a walk with your dog on-leash, get their attention. Turn around and begin running the other way. As your pup starts to move with you, excitedly say “come!” After a few steps, stop and reward your pup with a treat or a toy. Note: Before initiating this game, ensure your dog is already paying attention to you to prevent them from being suddenly yanked by the leash.
Hide-and-Seek
Hide-and-seek is a delightful game that can be enjoyed by both dogs and humans. Find a hiding spot in another room, then call out for your dog to find you. Once your pup successfully locates you, reward them with abundant praise and treats. This game is best introduced once your dog has a solid understanding of the basic recall command.
Hot Potato
Gather two or more friends for this game. Equip each person 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 them. This game helps generalize the recall command to different people and scenarios.
Test Your Skills
Did you know that “come when called” is one of the ten required skills for both puppies and adult dogs to earn the Virtual Home Manners title? For puppies aged 3 months to 1 year, they must reliably come when called from 10 feet away within the house. Adult dogs, from 4 months and older, must demonstrate the ability to come when called from 20 feet away or from another room, both indoors and potentially outdoors in a controlled environment. Mastering this command is a significant step towards a well-behaved and safe canine companion.
