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Come/Recall [Print This Article]
- A reliable come or recall is one of the most important things you can teach your dog. It could save your dog’s life one day.
- If you remember nothing else, remember this: whenever your dog comes to you, it should ALWAYS be a rewarding experience. Treats, praise, playtime, petting, anything and everything that is rewarding to your dog. Your dog needs to know that no matter what, you are happy to see him!
- Never scold or do anything that your dog would consider punishment when you call him. What are the chances he will come next time you call? If you need to put your dog in his crate and go to work, give him a bath, trim his nails, or something else he does not like, do NOT call him to you. Go get him.
- In order to develop a solid recall or come, you need to start with lots of successes. To start, only use your come cue when you know your dog will come to you. If he is already on his way to you, throw in your “come!” as he’s headed your way.
- Your dog needs to understand “come” is not optional. If your dog does not sit or down when asked, it’s not such a big deal, just make sure you do not reward him. However, when you call your dog to you, he should not be allowed to ignore you. If he does not come toward you right away, do not stand still and keep repeating yourself. Immediately move toward him, get his attention and get him to follow you a few steps. Then reward him. Do not scold him because he did not come to you right away.
- You need to be more interesting and rewarding than ANYTHING else around him. Always start out in an environment with as few distractions as possible so that you can more easily be the most interesting thing around. As you work in different areas, make sure you know what will be enticing enough to your dog in that situation. What works in one situation will not work in every situation.
- If you are not sure he will come, and you can’t enforce it, do NOT use your recall cue. Go get your dog or find another way to get him to you.
- Hold a treat or toy in front of your dog’s nose. Say, “Fido, come!” and run backwards or away from your dog. Use treats, toys, your voice, and your motion to get his interest in moving toward you. You may also clap your hands, slap your thigh, or make noises with your mouth to get his interest. Start by only taking a few steps. Reward your dog when he reaches you.
- When first working on come, do not worry about your dog coming straight in front of you or offering a sit or down. Emphasize and reward fast and enthusiastic responses!
- Reward your dog every time he comes to you in the beginning stages. If he comes to you in a difficult situation or at a time when you really weren’t sure he would come, give him a jackpot! Do not feed a handful of treats all at once, but feed out several small treats one at a time. This not only rewards him for coming, but also encourages him to stick around and not run off right away.
- Practice taking hold of his collar by reaching in from the side while you are feeding a treat with the other hand so he is comfortable with his collar being grabbed in case of emergency.
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