Recalling your dog, or teaching them to “come” when called, is arguably one of the most crucial commands a dog can learn. However, it can also be one of the most challenging, especially given how many fascinating things the world offers to distract them. Each time you ask your dog to come to you, you are essentially asking them to disengage from whatever they are currently doing. This guide will walk you through effective strategies to instill this vital command, ensuring a safer and more enjoyable experience for both you and your canine companion.
Essential Tools for Teaching Recall
To effectively teach your dog the “come” command, you will need a few key items:
- High-Value Treats: Small, irresistible treats that your dog loves will serve as powerful motivators.
- A Quiet Indoor Area: Start training in a distraction-free environment to help your dog focus on you and the command.
Step-by-Step Guide to Teaching “Come”
Follow these steps to gradually teach your dog a reliable recall:
- Introduction to the Cue: Begin by sitting down with your puppy in a quiet area. Say their name or the command word “come” in a happy, encouraging tone.
- Positive Association: Immediately after saying “come” or their name, give your puppy a treat. At this stage, there’s no expectation for them to perform any action; the goal is simply to create a positive association with the word. Repeat this process several times.
- Introducing Movement: Place a treat on the floor near you. Once your puppy finishes the treat on the ground, repeat their name or “come.” When they look up at you, offer another treat.
- Increasing Distance: Gradually toss the treat a little further away. As you increase the distance, ensure your dog can still turn around to face you when you say their name. It’s important to note that you should avoid repeating your puppy’s name excessively. Saying it too often without a response can lead to them ignoring it. If this happens, move closer to your puppy and revert to a step where they can successfully respond to their name on the first try.
- Adding Excitement: Once your puppy reliably turns to face you, it’s time to make the game more dynamic and fun! Toss a treat and take a few quick steps away while calling your puppy’s name. They should be motivated to chase you because the game is becoming enjoyable.
- Reinforcement and Praise: When your puppy catches up to you, shower them with praise, offer more treats, or engage them with a favorite tug toy. The objective is to strongly emphasize that coming to you is a highly rewarding and enjoyable experience. This positive reinforcement helps solidify the desired behavior.
- Generalization and Distances: Continue building upon these steps in various new locations and over progressively longer distances. When training outdoors, always ensure you are in a safe, enclosed area. Initially, using a long leash can be beneficial for control and safety as your dog learns.
Important Considerations for Recall Training
As your dog begins to respond to the “come” command, it’s crucial to handle the interaction correctly:
- Avoid Grabbing: When your puppy comes to you, resist the urge to reach out and grab them. For some dogs, this action can be confusing or even frightening, potentially creating a negative association with coming to you.
- Reassuring Timid Dogs: If you have a timid puppy, try kneeling down, facing them sideways, and offering treats as you gently reach for their collar. This approach can make them feel more comfortable and secure.
- Never Punish After a Recall: Never call your dog if you intend to punish them. Doing so will teach them that it’s a good idea to avoid you, undermining all your training efforts. Even if your dog has gotten into mischief, always reward them handsomely for responding to your call.
Kait Hembree, Head of Training at GoodPup, highlights the importance of keeping recall training 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,” 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 balanced approach ensures the recall cue remains strong and desirable.
Fun Games to Reinforce Recall
Incorporating games into your training routine can significantly enhance your dog’s recall skills and make the process more engaging:
Can You Catch Me?: While on a walk with your dog on a leash, get their attention. Suddenly turn around and run in the opposite direction. As your puppy begins 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 paying attention to you to avoid accidentally yanking the leash. This game capitalizes on a dog’s natural instinct to play chase.
Hide-and-Seek: This is a delightful game for both dogs and humans. Find a place to hide from your dog in another room, then call out for them to find you. When your pup successfully locates you, reward them with enthusiastic praise and treats. This game is best introduced after your dog has a solid understanding of the basic recall command. First commands to teach your puppy can be a great foundation for this game.
Hot Potato: Gather two or more friends for this exercise. Provide 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 your dog practice coming to different people, reinforcing the command in various scenarios.
Test Your Dog’s Recall Skills
Did you know that the “come when called” command is one of the ten essential skills required for both puppies and adult dogs to achieve the Virtual Home Manners title? For puppies aged 3 months to 1 year, they must reliably come when called from a distance of 10 feet within the house. For adult dogs, aged 4 months and older, the requirement increases to coming when called from 20 feet away or from another room, whether indoors or outdoors. Mastering this command is a significant achievement in your dog’s training journey.