Teaching a dog the "come to me" command

Training a dog is the most important task for any owner. Without it, you can't feel safe around your pet. A dog must obey all its owner's commands without question and understand everything it says.

The first obedience lesson is learning your puppy's name. If your puppy doesn't know its name, all other commands learned will be meaningless. Your pet needs to know that your words are meant specifically for it, and not for anyone else on the playground. Only after your puppy begins responding (turning its head in your direction, wagging its tail, and running toward you) can you begin teaching it other commands.

Content

1 How to teach the "come" command
2 What not to do when training a dog

How to teach the "come" command

There are several ways to not only teach your dog the "come" command, but also to permanently imprint it in your pet's mind.

Yummy treats

A delicious way to teach your dog the "Come!" command. It's the simplest, yet most effective. Ideal for all ages, this method requires not only patience but also plenty of treats. Walk a short distance away from your pet, squat down, and spread your arms. Call the puppy to you by name, constantly repeating, "Come, come." As soon as the dog starts moving toward you, encourage it, call it affectionately by name, and praise it. As soon as it approaches you, reward it with a treat.

You need to practice several times a day, every day. Just don't do it for half an hour at a time. Babies get tired quickly. Five minutes is usually enough for such little ones.

Increase the distance between you and the animal each time. Don't practice outdoors unless you have a private home with a fenced yard (without any holes in the ground or cracks the baby could escape through).

Be patient and gentle

Weasel

This method is very similar to the previous one, but use more affectionate words when you call your pet. When he approaches, pet him and pat his ears (if his ears are supposed to stand up, don't touch them until they're fully erect, otherwise you'll damage the cartilage and your dog will have lop ears in the future).

Game

Take your puppy's favorite toy. Use it as with the treat method. Your puppy will be looking forward to playing when he runs to you, so be sure to fulfill his dream – play with him! You can also pat your knees or thighs, but don't be too hard, so as not to scare him.

Leash

A long leash is necessary. It's essential for the dog to feel free during play. Call it with a clear "come" command. If the dog ignores you and doesn't pay the slightest attention, then gently (and that's right, gently, not sharply or forcefully, just a little) tug on the leash. Your pet will see you and the treat in your hand and will happily run. While your pet is running toward you, repeat the "come" command clearly and distinctly (don't shout; your tone should be gentle and friendly).

What not to do when training a dog

Don't hurt the dog

Punishing obedience. If your dog runs to you when you call him, under no circumstances should you punish him for it, yell at him, hit him, or chase him away. It only takes one such mistake in training a puppy, and all your hard work will be for nothing. You'll lose your little one's trust.
Repeating the same command over and over again, like a parrot. Each command is given only once. Don't repeat it until the dog obeys. Otherwise, the dog will decide it doesn't matter whether it obeys on the first call or the fifth.
Don't train if the environment is turbulent. It's pointless to train a dog if there are other animals, children, or cars running around. Your pet will be constantly distracted, so you won't get them to obey. The environment should be calm.
Don't give a command if you're sure the dog won't respond. Otherwise, it's already a failure. If the puppy is distracted, it's unlikely you'll be able to achieve obedience.
When you walk home, don't attach the leash right away. Otherwise, your dog will interpret the "come" command as "leash." Call your dog, scratch behind the ear, pet him, let him walk or stand next to you for a bit, and then snap the leash.

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