Does your dog come back to you when called? I can ask this another way “How do I train or teach my dog to come to me happily?”
As with most cues, your new dog or puppy needs to learn it starts with making the recall fun. The word recall is used by most trainers, and this same word becomes a training tool in the hands of a professional dog trainer.
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I usually start training my new puppy or dog on a leash. I have a toy or something similar in one hand that my new dog should be interested in enough to go and inspect once I throw it a short distance from myself. In my other hand, I will have some tasty treats for when my companion attempts to carry the toy back to or near me.
My new bestie has a leash securely attached and I usually sit on the floor or sit on the ground when I am outside. I like to be at my dog’s level to make this new game a fun time together. I will first show my dog or puppy the new toy and if the interest is minimal due to other happening in our surroundings, I will heartily encourage him or her to interact with the toy. Once engaged with the toy I will throw it a short distance, not quite the length of the leash, and once the toy is picked up I will encourage him or her to return to me with the toy, gently remove it from their mouth, and joyfully provide a treat for being so clever!
This is the starting game to the question “How do I train my dog to come back to me happily?”
If the toy is not picked up, I simply reach over to retrieve it myself, and play with the toy to encourage my dog that this toy is so much fun, especially when we are both playing with it together.
It usually does not take many throws for the puppy or dog to start enjoying picking up the toy and returning the toy to you for big congratulations and yummy treats to enjoy.
Continue playing this game until you can safely remove the leash without your dog or puppy going in whatever direction they decide to do. If you remove the leash and your dog does not happily return the toy, the answer is simple, go back to attaching the leash until your dog plays this game 80-100% of the time. I allow some leeway with error, as we are not perfect all the time, and sometimes we all need a bit of grace.
Moving on from there, I will put on a long leash on my ‘friend’, maybe put a couple of treats on the ground for them to be interested in whilst I move away to the end of the long leash, and excitedly call them to “Come”, if they leave from finishing the treats that you have placed on the ground, bonus! Reward lavishly. Lots of pats and highly favoured treats are the go here.
Whenever you call your dog back to you and they return, always, always reward them with praise if you do not have treats with you. Your dog needs to know that whenever they return to you, there is much pleasure to be enjoyed, that you are so pleased that they have happily responded to your call.
This is a starting point for you, remember to make it fun, and a word of caution, do not call your dog back to you and then bath them for example. This would not be fair to your dog.
“How do I train my dog to come back to me happily?” is a question I am asked by my clients regularly. Your dog will respond to praise, and after praising your dog, remember to not let the excitement escalate too much, or then other behaviours may arise, and this we need to avoid early on.
Would You Like to Learn Some Training Tips for Your Dog?
For Your Three FREE Training Videos Use This Link.
Until next time…
With Love, Success and Inspiration,
Robin Oliver
Robin Oliver Pet Dog Training
www.robinoliveronline.com/blog
