Training the pet to come as soon as its called

Training your dog to come as soon as its called

Instructing a puppy to come each time it’s called is a really vital, and potentially life saving, component to every successful four-legged friend training regime.  Every effectively trained dogs must learn to react promptly to your owner’s voice, and also earlier this lesson is learned the better.

Some great benefits of training your puppy to come anytime called are clear.  To begin with, coming anytime called will help you regain control of your dog in case of collar break, snapped leash or other related equipment failure.  This is particularly important when you are out with your puppy, especially in an area with lots of traffic.  It is vital that the dog respond to your voice and return to your side, even in the absence of collar and leash, and even if there are lots of other things competing for its attention.

Coming while called can be a crucial talent for every single working dog.  Whether your dog’s job is herding sheep, guarding livestock, or sniffing out bombs and drugs at the airport, your working canine friend must be under total control at all times, whether on leash or off.

Whether your dog’s only job is being a loyal friend, it will be still vital that he learn this important basic obedience exercise.  After the first obedience lessons, such as heeling, stopping on command, sitting on command, etc. have been learned, this is time to start incorporating the come while called lessons into the daily training sessions.

One note about k9 training – this is all too easy for training sessions to become dull and routine for both handler and pet.  A bored k9 will not be receptive to learning, just as a bored handler will not be a good teacher.  It is important, therefore, to always incorporate fun things and play into each and every training session.  Incorporating a few minutes of play time before your lesson begins can do wonders for the attitude of four-legged friend and human alike.  Likewise, ending each training session with a few minutes of free play time is a great way to end on a positive note and to help your k9 associate obedience training with fun and not drudgery.

The command to stay and your command to come as soon as called are often combined in obedience training lessons, and they do go naturally together.  Start with your canine friend on a loose leash, ask the dog to sit and then slowly back away.  If your puppy begins to get up and follow you, return to the dog and ask him to sit again.  Continue this process until you can reach your end of the leash without the four-legged friend getting up.

After you can successfully reach your end of your leash on a consistent basis, try dropping the leash altogether.  Of course you will want to do this in a controlled environment like a fenced in yard.  After your dog has mastered your stay command, it can be time to add the come when called command.

Take up your leash again, and with the puppy on your end of the leash, say “come” or “come here”. It is often helpful to use a lure when educating this behavior.  Your lure provides a visible item for the puppy to focus on.  Instructing the canine friend to come to your lure is a good first step in training the dog to come while called.

Repeat this procedure many times until your canine friend will consistently stay and then come anytime called.  After the k9 has mastered coming when called while attached to your leash, slowly start introducing your concept while your leash is removed.  As before, these training sessions ought to only take place in a controlled, safe environment, such as a fenced in front or back yard.

A rightly trained, obedient dog must respond to your call to return to its owner no matter where it is and no matter what distractions may occur.  Its therefore necessary to test your dog with distractions of your own.

If you have a neighbor, if at all possible one with dog of their own, try having him come over with the dog.  Have him, and the dog, stand just outside the fenced in area and repeat your come as soon as called exercise with your dog off leash.  If he becomes distracted by your other dog, put the leash back on and repeat your process.  The goal is to have your puppy consistently pay particular attention to your instructions, regardless of what interruptions may possibly present themselves.