In an emergency, will your dog come when called to you? This is a valuable safety skill that can benefit all dog guardians.
Making the dog’s response reliable, however, usually takes months of consistency and positive training. The easiest way to associate your new puppy or dog with the "come" cue is to begin using it as soon as you bring her home and build the word up slowly.
When going through the following stages, make sure you are motivating and exciting so that coming back to you is always a good experience. Set your dog up for success by making it easy for her to respond and make sure you go at her pace, only moving to the next stage if she is proficient.
Coming when called is a critical safety behavior and should be one of the first cues you teach your dog. Building a good foundation is key to getting a reliable response.
Step 1: Teach your dog to come when called (prompting the behavior)
- Start at a time of day when your dog is normally active. Sleepy dogs are difficult to motivate!
- Find a quiet, indoor space that your dog is familiar with but that has space for you to move away from her. Get some small, one-bite treats that you know she loves.
- Show your dog that you have a treat, and walk a few paces away from her. Prompt her to follow you by tapping your thigh and talking to her in an upbeat voice.
- When your dog gets to you, click or say "yes" to mark the behavior, give her the treat and praise her in a very happy voice. If your dog enjoys being petted, you might scratch her shoulder or chin, but only if she likes to be touched when she’s active. You want your dog to really enjoy coming back to you.
Step 2: Teach your dog to come when called (adding a verbal cue)
- Next, repeat the process but just before you move away, say your dog’s name and then the word "come" in an upbeat and happy tone. So, you might say "Bella, come!” just as you start moving away.
- Repeat this a few times. At this stage, start fairly close to your dog and don’t move too many steps away; that way she's much more likely to come to you consistently.
- Next, move a bit further from your dog as you start the behavior. If you can’t get far enough away, you can ask a family member to distract her for a moment while you walk further away.
- Remember that you want your dog to learn that coming to you is a great thing.
- Always reward your dog when she comes to you, whatever the circumstance, and no matter how long it took her to respond. If you act angry or frustrated when she gets to you, she might not want to come to you the next time you call her.
Step 3: Teach your dog to come when called (adding more rewards)
Making "come" a game will motivate your dog to respond as long as she enjoys the game. Treats or food will definitely help, but for some dogs, using play and toys can be equally rewarding.
- Make sure you play with another person that your dog is comfortable with.
- Start the game in a quiet environment so it's easy for your dog to focus on you.
- Gently hold your dog back while the other person calls her excitedly. Try not to use her name or the cue word but talk excitedly to "gee" her up. Don't release her until the person calls her name followed by the cue word “come.”
- When the cue word is given, release your dog and let her go running to the person calling. As soon as she reaches them they should praise and reward her with a game of tug or a food reward.
- When your dog has had her reward, have the other person hold her back as you call her and release her as you say her name followed by the cue word. When she comes to you reward her with another game of tug or food reward.
- Repeat this game back and forth but only do a few repetitions so your dog doesn't get bored or too tired. Keeping it fresh means the game is always fun to play.
Step 4: Teach your dog to come when called (adding distance and distractions)
- Now your dog knows what the word “come” means, you can begin to incorporate things like distance and distractions, along with practicing in other locations.
- Start increasing the distance you call her from a little at a time and praise her for responding correctly. If she does not respond, go back to the previous distance and repeat.
- Try calling her from different rooms or from areas where she can't see you. This will encourage her to respond even when you're out of sight.
- Now that your dog is consistently coming to you in a distraction-free environment, you can proof your recall cue by taking it outside.
- Practice in your yard or garden and then gradually build up to the point where you can use it in the park or similar environment.
- The ultimate test is to use the recall when your dog is engaged in a different activity. Wait for a lull in that activity and then call your dog to you. Praise her decision to respond.
What not to do
- If you want a reliable recall, don't chase your dog unless it's an emergency. Dogs love to play the game of chase.
- If you call your dog a number of times and she doesn't come back to you, don't reprimand her when she eventually returns. It is understandably annoying when your dog ignores you, but if you get angry when she finally returns, she is unlikely to respond the next time you call her.
- Under no circumstances should recall ever involve the use of a shock collar (remote collar, e-collar, etc).
Troubleshooting
Problem: My dog will not come to me when called, especially when there are other dogs around.
Solution: Dogs are understandably drawn to each other and it can be hard to get their attention when they're interacting with each other. If this is the case, wait for a lull in the interaction before calling your dog back to you. If she responds, give her lots of praise for her decision and then let her go and play again. Dogs are very smart and many soon learn that the only time you call them is when you want to put them on the leash and take them home. Calling your dog back to you and then letting her go play again changes that picture. Coming back to you does not necessarily mean her fun will end.
Why does my dog need to know this?
Having a reliable recall is vital for the safety of your puppy or dog in all environments, and the sooner you start teaching it, the more reliable it will be.
