Training your dog to come as soon as it can be called
Training a pet to come the moment it’s called may be a critical, as well as possibly life saving, component to some successful dog training system. Any properly trained dogs should learn how to respond promptly to the owner’s voice, and the sooner that lesson may be learned your better.
The advantages of training your puppy to come anytime called are apparent. To begin with, coming anytime called will assist you regain control of the puppy in case of collar break, snapped leash or other related equipment failure. This is particularly important while you are out with your puppy, especially in an area with lots of traffic. Its vital that your four-legged friend respond to your voice and return to your side, even in the absence of collar and leash, and even though there are lots of other things competing for its attention.
Coming anytime called can also be an essential skill for every last working dog. Whether the dog’s job is herding sheep, guarding livestock, or sniffing out bombs and drugs at your airport, the working k9 must be under total control at all times, whether on leash or off.
Even if your dog’s only job is being a loyal friend, its still vital that he learn this important basic obedience exercise. After your first obedience lessons, such as heeling, stopping on command, sitting on command, etc. have been learned, it will be time to start incorporating your come while called lessons into your daily training sessions.
One note about puppy training – this is all too easy for training sessions to become dull and routine for both handler and pet. A bored four-legged friend will not be receptive to learning, just as a bored handler will not be a good teacher. Its important, therefore, to always incorporate fun things and play into every last training session. Incorporating a few minutes of play time before the lesson begins can do wonders for your attitude of four-legged friend and human alike. Likewise, ending each training session having a few minutes of free play time is a great way to end on a positive note and to help the k9 associate obedience training with fun and not drudgery.
The command to stay and the command to come when called are often combined in obedience training lessons, and they do go naturally together. Start with your dog on a loose leash, ask your pet to sit and then slowly back away. If your k9 begins to get up and follow you, return to your k9 and ask him to sit again. Continue this process until you can reach your end of the leash without the dog getting up.
After you can successfully reach the end of the leash on a consistent basis, try dropping your leash altogether. Of course you will want to do this in a controlled environment like a fenced in yard. After the pet has mastered the stay command, it’s time to add your come as soon as called command.
Take up your leash again, and with the dog on your end of the leash, say “come” or “come here”. This is often helpful to use a lure when instructing this behavior. The lure provides a visible item for your dog to focus on. Instructing the four-legged friend to come to your lure is a good first step in training your canine friend to come as soon as called.
Repeat this procedure many times until the k9 will consistently stay and then come while called. After your k9 has mastered coming while called while attached to your leash, slowly start introducing your concept when your leash is removed. As before, these training sessions must only take place in a controlled, safe environment, such as a fenced in front or back yard.
A highly taught, obedient dog must respond to your call to return to its owner no matter where it is and no matter what distractions may occur. It can be therefore necessary to test your dog with distractions of your own.
If you’ve got a neighbor, if possible one having a dog of his own, try having him come over with the dog. Have him, and the dog, stand just outside your fenced in area and repeat your come whenever called exercise with your dog off leash. If he becomes distracted by the other dog, put the leash back on and repeat your process. Your goal is to have the animal consistently pay particular attention to your instructions, no matter what disruptions could present themselves.
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