Teaching Your Dog "Come"
"Come" is one of the most important commands your dog will learn. It not only makes your relationship with your dog easier, it could save your dog's life one day.
1. Start with your dog on a leash in a quiet room with no distractions. Find a treat/toy that your dog really likes (like beef jerky, lamb, chicken or leftover meat scraps.) The pieces should be bite size so the dog doesn't have to chew it and can immediately associate the reward with coming to you.
2. Show him the treat/toy and say in a normal tone "[your dogs name], come." Do not yell or speak in an overly cute tone. Simply give the command. Hold the treat as close to your body as possible and wait for your dog to come and get it. If he does not come immediately, use the leash to gently pull him over and give him the treat.
3. As your dog accepts the treat reinforce the word association by stating "Good come" in a normal, but upbeat tone of voice. Gradually increase the distance and add distractions as your dog improves.
Here are some extra tips for teaching your dog to come to you.
- Only use "Come" when you mean it. If you say "come" repeatedly, the dog ignores you, and you give up, then the dog will learn that "come" doesn't mean anything or that he only needs to come to you when he feels like it.
- Keep in mind that outside usually has more distracting sights, sounds, and smells than inside. Even if your dog is great at coming to you off-leash with tons of distraction inside, you may want to start him on-leash in a safe, fenced-in area when you start working outside.
- You can use any word you like or whistle as long as you are very consistent and only use that word for that one particular meaning.
- Grab the collar gently when your dog does come to you just so they get used to it in case of emergency. Do not give your dog the treat until you have a hold on his collar.
- Try to avoid using "Come" for things your dog may find unpleasant, such as coming in from playing in the yard or calling him to punish him because he peed on the floor.
1. Start with your dog on a leash in a quiet room with no distractions. Find a treat/toy that your dog really likes (like beef jerky, lamb, chicken or leftover meat scraps.) The pieces should be bite size so the dog doesn't have to chew it and can immediately associate the reward with coming to you.
2. Show him the treat/toy and say in a normal tone "[your dogs name], come." Do not yell or speak in an overly cute tone. Simply give the command. Hold the treat as close to your body as possible and wait for your dog to come and get it. If he does not come immediately, use the leash to gently pull him over and give him the treat.
3. As your dog accepts the treat reinforce the word association by stating "Good come" in a normal, but upbeat tone of voice. Gradually increase the distance and add distractions as your dog improves.
Here are some extra tips for teaching your dog to come to you.
- Only use "Come" when you mean it. If you say "come" repeatedly, the dog ignores you, and you give up, then the dog will learn that "come" doesn't mean anything or that he only needs to come to you when he feels like it.
- Keep in mind that outside usually has more distracting sights, sounds, and smells than inside. Even if your dog is great at coming to you off-leash with tons of distraction inside, you may want to start him on-leash in a safe, fenced-in area when you start working outside.
- You can use any word you like or whistle as long as you are very consistent and only use that word for that one particular meaning.
- Grab the collar gently when your dog does come to you just so they get used to it in case of emergency. Do not give your dog the treat until you have a hold on his collar.
- Try to avoid using "Come" for things your dog may find unpleasant, such as coming in from playing in the yard or calling him to punish him because he peed on the floor.