Teaching "Come to me"

[citygirl123]

How can you teach your dog to "come" when you call??

I just had my first experience with dog parks. It was kind of funny to watch...the dog owners would approach the gate (to leave) and call their dog... not one of the dogs came.

Since Copper is still a puppy (sort of - 7 mo.) I just pick him up when it it time to go. But...I would like him to respond just like the other owners! Any ideas on teaching this?

[LifeLovePassion]

practice. Lots and lots of practice. Use a long line (like a clothesline you clip the dog on, 50 feet or so), call the dog, if necessary prompt them to come with a gentle tug on the line. Be sure you are using a super high value treat, like the meaty ones. Eventually the dog will do it pretty well. But then you need to practice at the dog park with distractions too (other dogs). no line on the dog there, but make your whole time there playing "come". Let the dog go, call it, lots of good treats, let the dog play again. Keep doing that over and over to practice. Be sure you don't stay too long when you do it the first time, you want to leave successful/after a good recall.

[Britster]

Coming when called is so super important. I am still working with Jackson continually. He used to be off leash a lot more, once he turned 1 years old, he became a lot less reliable. We live on 3 acres with no fence. He has gotten out a few times when a door has been left open (grrrr... stepdad's doing!) He doesn't typically dart, he just kinda walks out like "oh, cool, a door is open" and goes exploring, lol. The last 3 times he's gotten out, he's come right back to me so I think our training has been working. However, for the last year, he hasn't really been allowed off leash at ALL outside of a fence, only the 50 foot line.

I try to use a REALLY rewarding treat like hot dog, cheese, chicken, steak, etc when practicing coming when called. I bought a 50foot training lead (Petsmart has these for around $10-$12) and I let him go all the way out 50 feet and then call him to me... so it's almost like he's off leash, but IF he happened to run off, he's still safe at the end of that 50 feet. I also found he responds better to "here" than "come". I don't know why. So you can try different words and phrases.

Also, I read once on here you should have ONE command that's an odd word not used in daily convo, like "Jackpot!" or something that means it's *really* important to come. Train it over and over but once learned, don't overuse it. A word that means he really MUST come.

I'm lucky that my dad has a big fenced in yard and we have a nice dog park. Both are nice places to practice recall. I always keep a few treats in my pocket at the dog park and will randomly say "Jackson, here!" and he responds 90% of the time now at the dog park (with lots of distractions). It's been a nice place to incorporate training.

Basically: Practice, practice, practice! Don't use the word "come" or "here" if you know they are NOT going to come. Set them up for success. If you overuse any word, they become 'immune' to it and don't really understand the meaning behind the word. If you keep saying "Come!" and they're not coming... that word is worthless. ONLY say 'come!' when you know they are going to, or after they do.

Here's a good article:
Dog Emergency Recall Command

This Youtube account has amazing videos and she is making a whole series about recall and coming when called. She's got around 10 videos right now of games you can play.
YouTube - pamelamarxsen's Channel

[Teegy]

I agree - treats, good treats, delicious cannot resist treats. I find Teegy at home only comes when he can be bothered, my goodness they are stubborn little monsters aren't they.
If I say treat, only seconds pass and he's at my side.
Isn't it funny how amazingly quick they learn treat....

[CouversMom]

Originally Posted by Britster

Coming when called is so super important. I am still working with Jackson continually. He used to be off leash a lot more, once he turned 1 years old, he became a lot less reliable. We live on 3 acres with no fence. He has gotten out a few times when a door has been left open (grrrr... stepdad's doing!) He doesn't typically dart, he just kinda walks out like "oh, cool, a door is open" and goes exploring, lol. The last 3 times he's gotten out, he's come right back to me so I think our training has been working. However, for the last year, he hasn't really been allowed off leash at ALL outside of a fence, only the 50 foot line.

I try to use a REALLY rewarding treat like hot dog, cheese, chicken, steak, etc when practicing coming when called. I bought a 50foot training lead (Petsmart has these for around $10-$12) and I let him go all the way out 50 feet and then call him to me... so it's almost like he's off leash, but IF he happened to run off, he's still safe at the end of that 50 feet. I also found he responds better to "here" than "come". I don't know why. So you can try different words and phrases.

Also, I read once on here you should have ONE command that's an odd word not used in daily convo, like "Jackpot!" or something that means it's *really* important to come. Train it over and over but once learned, don't overuse it. A word that means he really MUST come.

I'm lucky that my dad has a big fenced in yard and we have a nice dog park. Both are nice places to practice recall. I always keep a few treats in my pocket at the dog park and will randomly say "Jackson, here!" and he responds 90% of the time now at the dog park (with lots of distractions). It's been a nice place to incorporate training.

Basically: Practice, practice, practice! Don't use the word "come" or "here" if you know they are NOT going to come. Set them up for success. If you overuse any word, they become 'immune' to it and don't really understand the meaning behind the word. If you keep saying "Come!" and they're not coming... that word is worthless. ONLY say 'come!' when you know they are going to, or after they do.

Here's a good article:
Dog Emergency Recall Command

This Youtube account has amazing videos and she is making a whole series about recall and coming when called. She's got around 10 videos right now of games you can play.
YouTube - pamelamarxsen's Channel

I really like your advice Brit.

I especially like the idea of using a different word as an emergency recall command. I think I'm going to start using this with Couver and Khloe. They are pretty good at coming, even at the dog park... but sometimes they just come most of the way and think it's good enough

[citygirl123]

Thanks for your posts!! Great advice. I can't wait to get started.

[TatumsMom]

I had never thought of having an "emergency come code". Tatum took a training course where the teacher had us walking the dog on a lead and every few feet or so we would let them get ahead of us, stop and wait for them to look at us and then say "come". When she did, she got a very special treat. We didn't train with just plain ol' Cheerios (like she gets at home). I actually used a hamburger patty torn up into teeny tiny pieces. It has to be something very special for these training sessions. It really took no time at all to teach her to come when approached this way.

I had a very proud moment a few years ago when she was playing with some big dogs at my husband's uncle's house and a man drove up in a big truck. Well, the big dogs go running off towards it - with Tatum following right along. People usually know that big dogs will get out of the way but they sometimes don't see the little ones. I did panic a little bit but just stopped and hollered "Tatum!"... "COME". She stopped, looked back and forth at me and then at the big dogs a time or two and then calmly walked back to me. This was not long after training for this and I couldn't have been a more proud Mommy. We don't overuse the command and I think that's one of the keys to making it effective. I do use it often enough though to keep testing her. I've even used it a couple times when she's taken off after a possum in the yard (we're out in the country). I think it took every bit of willpower for her to stop and turn around.... she wanted that possum! But once you get them trained for this, you'll be very happy that you did.

Good luck with your training.

[Lizzie07]

The only thing I would add to Brit's post is to NEVER use the come command and then punish or do anything your dog finds very objectionable. I don't believe in punishing dogs, but don't call your dog then clip her nails, or bathe her or even to go in the crate. Just go get your dog without saying anything.

My dogs all respond better to "here" also but its because every time I hand them a treat, I say "here." I have saved quite a few off courses in agility saying here or look rather than come or using their name.

[TatumsMom]

Originally Posted by Lizzie07

My dogs all respond better to "here" also but its because every time I hand them a treat, I say "here." I have saved quite a few off courses in agility saying here or look rather than come or using their name.

I had to laugh at this one because my husband trained the Australian Shepherd with "Here" and I trained Tatum with "Come" so when I'm outside calling both of them I'm like "Come"... "Here", no "Here Stormie" "Come Tatum". Might as well just cay "come here"! Whatever.... they both work. I think Tatum would respond to "here" also since she hears me call the big dogs with it.

[shodanusmc]

Have Carlo trained to come using the word "COME", and if he can see me, I just have to use my arm and hand to signal come. With Maxine, she barks come and we go and pick her up!

[TatumsMom]

Yes, the signal is important to teach at the same time. There have been times that I've just used the arm/hand signal because I didn't want to make too much noise.