Training your dog to come when called doesn’t have to be a chore. With a few simple steps, you can be well on your way to having a pet that responds promptly when summoned. All you need is the right treats, verbal praise, and a commitment to providing positive reinforcement and rewarding your pet immediately when they obey your command. Grab your treats, and let’s get started!
Training your dog to come when called is an important part of responsible dog ownership, but it can be tricky. With the right approach, however, you can get your pup to respond to you every time. Here’s how:
Find treats your pup loves and use them to reward your pup when they come when called. Verbal praise is also important, so make sure to give lots of it too. Positive reinforcement is key too – don’t just focus on the negative. It’s also important to reward your pup immediately when they come to you; the quicker they can relate their action with the reward, the quicker they’ll understand what you’re asking. Practice makes perfect – make sure to regularly train your pup to come when called. With patience and consistency, you’ll soon be able to rely on your pup to come when called!
Step 1: Find the Right Treats
Finding the right treats for your pup is an important step in training them to come when called. You want to find treats that are small enough to be consumed quickly, but also tasty enough to make your pup mouth-watering excited.
You should also keep in mind the size of your dog when selecting the treats, as you may need to vary the size depending on their size and breed. Try out a few different types of treats and observe your pup’s reaction.
The treat should spark a reaction that is hard for your pup to ignore. When selecting treats, be mindful of any allergies your pup may have. Be sure to reward your pup with treats regularly. This reinforces the behaviour you want them to display, and will help them to understand that coming when called gets them a reward – which is the ultimate goal.
Step 2: Use Verbal Praise
When training your dog, verbal praise is a great way to reinforce their good behaviour. Dogs are incredibly smart and thrive on positive reinforcement, so rewarding your pup with a few kind words can be just as – if not more – motivating than offering a treat. Start by using your pup’s name in a positive manner and then use a command word such as ‘come’ or ‘here’.
Give lots of praise when your pup does what you ask and give them a treat if you have one nearby. It’s also important to keep your tone upbeat and excited so that your pup knows that what they did was the right thing. Keep at it and you’ll soon have a pup that’s eager to respond when they hear your voice.
Step 3: Provide Positive Reinforcement
When training your dog to come when called, it’s important to provide positive reinforcement. This means rewarding them when they do something correctly. Whenever your pup comes to you when you call, give them treats, verbal praise, and petting.
This will help encourage them to do the same thing again in the future. Positive reinforcement is also key when your pup gets something wrong.
Don’t punish them – instead, take a step back and try again. This will help them to understand what you want them to do and will make them more likely to do it correctly the next time.
Don’t forget to give your pup lots of love and attention. Dogs crave your approval, so rewarding them with a hug and a pat on the head can go a long way towards reinforcing good behaviour. With these simple tips, your pup will be coming to you every time you call in no time!
Step 4: Reward Immediately
Rewarding your dog immediately after they come to you is key when training them to come when called. Quickly give them the treat or verbal praise after they come to you, as this will reinforce the behavior and make it easier for them to remember what they are supposed to do. It is also important to remain consistent when calling them and rewarding them.
If you don’t reward them each time, your dog may think that coming when called isn’t always a good thing. If you have a larger dog, you can use a longer leash to give them more freedom to roam, but still have control over them during training. Try to be as consistent as possible and reward your pup each time they come when called so they understand the desired behavior.
Step 5: Practice Makes Perfect
Practicing the command is the key to success! This requires patience, repetition and consistency.
Start by asking your dog to “come” in a simple setting without any distractions, where your pup is less likely to be tempted to wander off. Give your pooch a treat and lots of praise every time they listen to your command.
As your doggo masters the basics, start introducing distractions and gradually increase the challenge. Make sure to keep your pup away from situations that are too overwhelming. Proceed slowly and be consistent with your rewards. Your furry friend will be able to come when called even in the most distracting environments.
Hi, my name is Megan Turner and I have worked in a dog’s shelter for four years now. It is truly my dream job, and I see hundreds of dogs every month being united with new owners to give them a loving forever home.
Unfortunately, handicapped dogs are much more likely to be ignored when a family is picking out their new pet. Handicapped pets need more care than non-handicapped pets, so it is understandable why they are often harder to rehome.
