Making Playtime Into Lesson Time - Teaching Your Dog To Come

Teaching your dog to come is one of the most important lessons they need to know and should be one of the most fun and easiest for you to teach. Your goal is to reward your dog when it comes to you NO MATTER WHAT. Always be happy and work towards making sure there isn't a shred of doubt in your dog's mind as to whether it should come.

Years ago one of my clients told me that her dog ALWAYS came to her...EVERY time. Even at the dog park and even from 95 yards away. I knew that this couldn't have been the case because if it were true her dog certainly wouldn't have needed training. As it turned out the dog did always come but never came close enough to hold and put the leash on. In the dog's mind, it was much more fun to play 'chase' and very unpleasant to be caught and taken home. This is why it's crucial to make it fun for the dog to get to you. In a dangerous situation you may need to get a leash on your dog and get it to safety quickly so you don't want any hesitation between your command and your dog's reaction.

The first and most important part of the training is that your dog comes the last 3 feet and let you put your hands on it. Start by having fun with your dog, petting it for 30 seconds to get it excited and happy and then run back about 4 or 5 feet and just stand there. If you've done it right your dog will naturally want more and come running to you. When it does come to you reward it like crazy then repeat the exercise two or three times. You don't need to give your dog a command yet, just make a big game out of 'Pet, Play and Run' until it catapults to you every time you move away. Do this for at least 20 three to five minute sessions for about a week.

When you see that your dog's response is good and solid it's time to add the "Come" command. Only say the command once but if you've laid a strong foundation your dog will come to you fast and happy every time because you have made it really fun. Remember to keep up the praise and rewards.

What to do if your dog absolutely won't come? Put it on leash so it can't get distracted and use food or a toy not only as motivation but also as a reward when it gets to you. If you do this, make sure to pet and play with your dog really intently before giving it the food or the toy. With some dogs, it's also helpful to have them sit and stay right near you. This will help keep their focus and prevent the over exuberant dog from jumping on you.

Another good practice can take place at mealtime. Hold the dog's food, call the dog to you and run backwards. Praise and pet your dog when it gets to you and then give a little food. As soon as they finish the food, tell them "Come", run back and repeat the sequence. After several repetitions just let them finish the meal. We call that a 'jackpot reward' and you can 'jackpot' the dog at random times during training to make the dog think the extra special treat is coming the next time.

There is an important element in teaching your dog to come that shouldn't be overlooked. If the dog doesn't come the first time you call it DO NOT repeat the command. By repeating "Come" until it executes the task, you're actually weakening the opportunity to reach your goal which is for the dog to respond immediately to the command.

So keep these tips in mind during your training:

· The "Come" command should always be seen as practice and not  a test

· Only practice in a way you know will be successful

· Don't ever repeat the command

· Don't give any cause for the dog not to come all the way to you

· Reward your dog every time it follows the command

Because the "Come" command will be used in many different situations you'll want to start adding some variations to the training sessions that are still fun for your dog to learn. A good exercise when you're on a walk is to give the "Come" command at unexpected times and then run away. Your dog will learn to react immediately to the command and come to you at lightning speed. Keep surprising your dog with the command and gradually increase the distance you run away. When your dog becomes proficient at this there's nothing like a playful game of "Hide and Seek" which makes your dog work harder to find you.

Another way to increase your dog's reaction and speed is to do a 'restrained recall'. Have a friend hold your dog by its collar or leash then run and call it like you have been doing. The dog might struggle to get to you and that's ok. The goal is to get your dog to really want to get to you so don't have your friend do anything to prevent it from pulling during this exercise. When you call the dog make sure your helper knows to drop the leash right away and let the dog come to you. While your dog is coming you'll want to encourage it by clapping, urging, praising and smiling.

The key to teaching your dog to come reliably is to build on a foundation of repeated success and never let your dog learn the wrong response to the command. It should never be unpleasant or perceived by your dog to be punishment when you call it and, just as importantly, it shouldn't be more fun for your dog to learn to defeat you and stay away.

Some things to remember include:

· Don't call your dog to punish or reprimand it

· Make sure that "come" isn't followed by something unpleasant such as ending playtime at the park or calling your dog into the house and immediately crating it and leaving

· Don't make a game out of the dog staying away from you

· Never make it fun for the dog to get you to chase them

It takes time and consistency to properly teach your dog the "Come" command and it's important to practice it over and over in lots of different settings. Make sure you never give your dog a reason not to come and, most of all, make it a fun and rewarding experience when it gets to you. Your dog is a subjective, living, thinking being and no matter how well trained or how obedient, there is ALWAYS a chance that your dog might not come. Remember that there might be a distraction more enticing and more appealing than you. It's important to never assume your dog will come and instead take the necessary precautions to keep your dog safe.

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