Coming When Called
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This is the probably the most important command your dog will ever have to
follow. All members of your household should be using the same command,
and your command should be just that - a command. Because if you casually
get your dog to come when he’s in the yard by blowing kissing sounds and
saying, “smooch, smooch, come here sweetheart”, I guarantee that is NOT how
you will sound when you are driving on the thruway and stop at a rest area
where your dog accidentally leaps out of the car and is careening down the
highway. You need a consistent command that will be there for you in an
emergency:
Use his name first, then the
command: “Come.” Then praise and coach him in, let him know that it is the
entire process of coming towards you that is just as great as getting to
you, and you appreciate that the travel is the hard part. This also lets
your dog know that you aren’t angry at him for being away in the first place
(even if you are angry!) and it also motivates your dog that you are a good
target to get to.
Model what you want your dog to
do: Go right up to his nose with our hands filled with goodies. Command him
and lure him to turn around and come just a few steps towards you.
Remember - he must
"TAG" you -
your treats/hands should be touching your pants at your dog’s height, so
that you’re assured he will always come in close enough to be grabbed by his
collar in an emergency.
When he gets to you, praise,
pet, hug, and give one treat. Tell him “okay” and release him to go back to
what he was doing. Repeat. Let your dog see your calling him as merely a
delightful interruption of his fun, not an end all.
Gradually get further and
further away before you call. Always run backwards a few steps so that you
are enticing and fun, and your dog always learns to turn around, leave what
he was doing and come to you.
As soon as your dog had the idea, don ’t give him a treat every time - vary
it. You must always have the treat when you call him, until he is 2 years
old and then he must always THINK you have something wonderful for him.
You must always praise and
appreciate your dog for coming. As soon as you start to vary when you give
your dog a treat, introduce the concept of a jackpot- something huge and
excellent and unexpected for coming when called- like an entire pile of
goodies, or a huge slab of liver, or a rawhide bone, or pull out his food
dish and pour in his kibble and right then and there let him have his adored
meal.
When you are calling him away
from something distracting, like treeing a squirrel, or coming indoors from
playing in the yard or park, let your dog believe that coming when called is
merely an interruption: praise, treat, and then release, “okay” and send
your dog back away to play. Then when you really do need your dog to come in
and stop having fun, he won’t mind as much.
This is one command that can
never be taken for granted. You must be willing to continue training and
rewarding and motivating and jackpotting your dog from now till the day he
dies. So he won’t die early from running away and being hit by a car…
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Lewis Clark Animal Shelter
