Training the dog to come anytime its called
Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 Subscribe To Our Feed
Training your dog to come when it can be called
Teaching your own dog to come the second it is called is a really essential, in addition to possibly life saving, a natural part of every successful dog training program. Any effectively trained dogs should learn how to react promptly to your owner’s voice, and also the faster this lesson is learned the better.
The advantages of training your puppy to come as soon as called are evident. For starters, coming while called can help you regain control of the pet in case of collar break, snapped leash or other related equipment failure. That is particularly important anytime you are out with your dog, especially in an area with lots of traffic. This is vital that your pet respond to your voice and return to your side, even in your absence of collar and leash, and whether there are lots of other activities competing for its attention.
Coming when called is as well an essential skill for each and every working dog. Whether your dog’s job is herding sheep, guarding livestock, or sniffing out bombs and drugs at your airport, your working four-legged friend must be under total control at all times, whether on leash or off.
Whether your dog’s only job is being a loyal companion, it will be 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’s time to start incorporating your come when called lessons into your daily training sessions.
One note about canine friend training – it’s all too easy for training sessions to become dull and routine for both handler and four-legged friend. A bored pet will not be receptive to learning, just as a bored handler will not be a good teacher. It will be important, therefore, to always incorporate fun things and play into every single training session. Incorporating a few minutes of play time before your lesson begins can do wonders for your attitude of pet and human alike. Likewise, ending each training session that has a few minutes of free play time is a great way to end on a positive note and to help the pet associate obedience training with fun and not drudgery.
The command to stay and the command to come as soon as called are often combined in obedience training lessons, and they do go naturally together. Start with your puppy on a loose leash, ask the dog to sit and then slowly back away. If your k9 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 your end of the leash without your k9 getting up.
After you can successfully reach your end of the 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 your four-legged friend has mastered your stay command, its time to add the come when called command.
Take up your leash again, and with your four-legged friend on the end of your 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 the dog to focus on. Teaching the dog to come to the lure is a good first step in training your dog to come as soon as called.
Repeat this procedure many times until the k9 will consistently stay and then come while called. After your canine friend has mastered coming anytime called while attached to the leash, slowly start introducing your concept while the leash is removed. As before, these training sessions should only take place in a controlled, safe environment, such as a fenced in front or back yard.
A highly prepared, obedient dog should respond to your call to return to its owner no matter where it’s and no matter what distractions may occur. Its therefore necessary to test the dog with distractions of your own.
If you’ve got a neighbor, preferably one which has a dog of his own, try having him come over with your dog. Have him, and the dog, stand just outside your fenced in area and repeat the come whenever called exercise with your puppy off leash. If he becomes distracted by the other dog, put your leash back on and repeat your process. Your goal is to have your pet consistently pay particular attention to your commands, regardless of what interruptions may well present themselves.
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