How to Teach Your Boxer to Come

It is vitally important to have a solid "come" command on your dog, as it can be a matter of safety if the dog gets loose or is otherwise in danger. Start laying the foundation for a reliable "come" command at an early age, as early as 7 weeks.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Get a toy that the puppy especially likes or a handful of enticing treats.

2. Position yourself a short distance away from the puppy. Call its name if your dog knows its name; call "puppy-puppy!" if it doesn't.

3. Show the puppy the toy or the food when it looks at you. Bend over slightly and back up a couple of steps.

4. Praise and encourage the puppy enthusiastically as it comes towards you. Say "Good puppy!" and "What a good puppy!" in a cheerful, enthusiastic voice.

5. Reward the puppy with more praise and the treat or toy when it gets all the way to you.

6. Repeat these steps several times a day until your puppy is running enthusiastically toward you when you call its name.

7. Add the command "come!" when the puppy has learned to run toward you reliably. Say the command as the dog is doing the desired behavior. Pair the command with the puppy's name, as in "Puppy, come!"

Tips & Warnings

• Use a cheerful, higher-pitched, enthusiastic voice that excites the puppy. It is very important that running to you be a really positive thing for your puppy.
• Try having someone hold your puppy's collar while you call to it. Have your helper release the puppy when it is looking toward you intently and wants to run to you. This is called a restrained recall, and can be very motivating to dogs and puppies.
• Do not give the command "come" until you see the puppy is committed to running toward you. This is one command you definitely do not want the puppy to learn to ignore.
• Never call the puppy to you and then administer discipline. Coming to you should always be rewarded.