One essential key to teaching your dog to come, or doing any basic puppy training routine, is to allow the puppy no alternative but to obey the command. Non-compliance can never be an option. What this means for you is that you must set your dog up for success and when training, give it the opportunities it needs to succeed. A common error when teaching “come” or any other command is to use it when you do not really want the dog to perform the action. In the case of “come,” you want to use the word only when you really want to dog to cease any other action and come to you. This also means that you have to learn how to monitor yourself a bit when your puppy is within hearing range.
I’d like to recount one example of how my own dogs picked up a phrase and ran with it and what the consequences were. The phrase in question is, “Let’s go.” My dogs like to ride in the back of my car, and I like to take them out with me. I rather carelessly started saying “Let’s go” before putting them into the car with the result that every time they heard me utter, “Let’s go,” they would leap up and race each other to the door in expectation of a ride. Fortunately, this was not a bit problem–more humorous than anything else–and I was able teach them out of that habit.
As mentioned above, when teaching your puppy to come, it is essential to only give it opportunity for completing the command. When starting out with a young puppy or adult, always leash the dog with three or four feet of leash. Make sure the leash is attached to a collar, but not a pinch or choke collar. You want to position yourself and the dog at opposite ends of leash. Give the dog the command and then immediately enforce the command by very gently pulling the dog toward you. If the dog starts to come on its own after prompting, there is no need to continue pulling. Only pull as much as necessary so that the dog complies. After completing the command, give the dog lots of praise and a small but nice and tasty treat.
I also suggest that you take pains to create in the puppy’s mind a positive association with the word, “come.” Do not allow your pet, as much as possible, associate “come” with bad or unpleasant experiences. You must be positive, friendly, and civil at all times and never teach this command in a harsh or scolding manner.
In situations where you discover your dog behaving badly, your first impulse may be to say “come” in a somewhat angry voice to get it to stop misbehaving. If possible, take positive, corrective action, but do not associate “come” with the correction. It is difficult to always remember exactly what to do in stressful situations, but as much as possible, create in your puppy’s mind only positive associations with your command words.
How you interact with your dog is very important to your pet. Voice tones, your emotional vibe, and physical touch mean a great deal. Dogs love to be touched and played with; your emotional state really does communicate to your dog and affects its own well being; and your tone of voice will speak volumes to your puppy. Keep this in mind when training and use it to your advantage. Your dog will see you as the leader of its pack and look to you for direction. How you teach the essential command, “come” will set the stage for all future training. Remember, your dog has as its number one priority pleasing you; never fail to give it the opportunity to do so.
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