Training your dog to come as soon as it can be called
Instructing your own pet to come once it’s called may be a critical, and potentially life saving, a natural part of every successful puppy training course. Any correctly prepared dogs must learn how to react promptly to your owner’s words, and also earlier that lesson is learned your better.
The benefits of training your puppy to come while called are apparent. To begin with, coming when called will assist you regain control of the dog in case of collar break, snapped leash or other related equipment failure. That is particularly important anytime you are out with your pet, especially in an area with lots of traffic. It can be vital that the canine friend respond to your voice and return to your side, even in the absence of collar and leash, and whether or not there are lots of other things competing for its attention.
Coming when called just happens to be a vital skill for each working puppy. Whether your dog’s job is herding sheep, guarding livestock, or sniffing out bombs and drugs at your airport, the working four-legged friend must be under total control at all times, whether on leash or off.
Whether or not your dog’s sole job is being a loyal companion, it’s 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, its time to start incorporating your come as soon as called lessons into your daily training sessions.
One note about puppy training – it can be all too easy for training sessions to become dull and routine for both handler and k9. A bored k9 will not be receptive to learning, just as a bored handler will not be a good teacher. It can be important, therefore, to always incorporate fun things and play into each training session. Incorporating a few minutes of play time before the lesson begins can do wonders for your attitude of pet and human alike. Likewise, ending each training session with few minutes of free play time is a great way to end on a positive note and to help your dog 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 k9 on a loose leash, ask your puppy to sit and then slowly back away. If your four-legged friend begins to get up and follow you, return to your canine friend and ask him to sit again. Continue this process until you can reach the end of the leash without the dog getting up.
After you can successfully reach the end of your leash on a consistent basis, try dropping the leash altogether. Of course you will want to do this in a controlled environment like a fenced in yard. After the dog has mastered your stay command, this is time to add the come while called command.
Take up the leash again, and with your k9 on your end of the leash, say “come” or “come here”. It’s often helpful to use a lure while educating this behavior. The lure provides a visible item for your canine friend to focus on. Teaching your canine friend to come to the lure is a good first step in training the k9 to come when called.
Repeat this procedure many times until the puppy will consistently stay and then come anytime called. After the dog has mastered coming anytime called while attached to the leash, slowly start introducing the concept anytime the leash is removed. As before, these training sessions ought to only take place in a controlled, safe environment, such as a fenced in front or back yard.
A rightly taught, obedient dog ought to respond to your call to return to its owner no matter where its and no matter what distractions may occur. It is therefore necessary to test your dog with distractions of your own.
If you have a neighbor, preferably one with dog of their own, try having him come over with your dog. Have him, and your dog, stand just outside your fenced in area and repeat the come any time called exercise with your dog off leash. If he becomes distracted by your other dog, put your leash back on and repeat your process. The goal is to have your puppy consistently pay attention to your instructions, whatever disruptions may present themselves.
Tags: dog training, house training, puppy training, train dog, train puppy