Want to train your dog to return to your side when you call them? Follow our 5-step guide to teach your dog to come when called.
Supplies You’ll Need
✓A quiet space
✓A long leash (10+ feet)
✓ Training treats for dogs
✓15 to 20 minutes per day
✓Patience
✓Enthusiasm
1. Start in a safe, quiet spot.
Find an area with minimal distractions to begin training. This could be your backyard or somewhere in your home. Allow your dog to wander and explore.
2. Say your dog’s name, then tell them to come to you.
After about five minutes, say your dog’s name and then give your dog the “come” command (literally say the word “come”). As they start moving toward you, encourage your dog by cheering them on. You can even praise your dog for looking in your direction after saying “come” in these early stages of training. (FYI, in the dog training world, command and cue are interchangeable words.)
Pro Tip: Our body language and tone are important. We want to be loose and fun and use a sing-song, happy voice when calling them. If we sound stern or look scary, your dog will likely try to avoid you. Also, be consistent with the word you use. For example, always say “come” instead of switching back and forth to “here” or another word.
3. Give your dog a treat.
Reward your dog with tasty training treats once they approach you and make sure to give them some happy scratches, pats and rubs. This helps them know they did a good job. You could also surprise them with their favorite toy!
4. Repeat several more times.
Let your puppy go back to exploring some more, and then repeat Steps 1-3. Aim for 15- to 20-minute training sessions and repeat every day or two so that it becomes better ingrained in their head. With consistent training sessions, you can expect your dog to reliably come when called within one to two months. Some dogs might take longer or shorter to achieve a reliable recall.
5. Practice whenever you can.
Once your dog has a firm recall cue, you can start to use it in everyday scenarios, such as on a walk or when hanging out at home. You can even have dog park training sessions. Wherever you are, randomly ask your dog to come, and if they do, then give them a “jackpot reward.” This is when you give them three to five bits of tasty treats, one at a time, while praising them with each reward. This will make your puppy feel like they just won the lottery, and they will associate the come command with affection and treats.
Training a dog to come requires you to build a positive relationship with your new puppy and to establish a strong foundation of trust and respect. If you continually use negative corrections (such as scolding) with your dog, they will not be as inclined to come to you when called. That is why positive reinforcement training is so useful when starting your pup down their obedience training path.
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