How to Teach Puppies the 'Come' Command

The 'come' command is much more than just a basic obedience command. Teaching your dog or puppy to come is a safety issue. You need for them to obey this command, no questions asked in the case you are trying to protect them from approaching an unsafe area. The power of a successful recall is paramount to all other basic obedience dog training. As a long time dog breeder and trainer, I teach my puppies to come before they are even fully weaned.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Dog Clicker Training Tool
• Dog Treats
• Consistency
• Repetition
• Your Dog's Attention

1. Replace 'time to eat' with "Come!". This very simple concept plays into the fact that dogs are predatory animals who want to see a benefit to every action. All the better if that benefit is food. The minute my litters of puppies begin to eat from a bowl, I use the command "Come!" to call them to eat. This can easily be done with a single puppy as well. Use the word "Come!" firmly as if you were commanding them to come rather than run off into the woods someplace once older. They need to learn to obey the command you will be giving in an urgent situation, not a playful one. Refrain from baby talking encouragement for this command.

2. Once the puppy(s) come to eat, snap the clicker training tool and give them their food and verbally praise them. I also prefer to pet their muzzles at this point as they eat. This does double duty of praise and deterring any possible future food aggression issues. Even my adults must put up with my hand in their dish at the start of every meal.

3. Gradually begin using the come command at other times than just meals once your puppy is old enough to have any sort of attention span. Breeds will vary but normally between 6-8 wks when they really want to be with you. Replace the meal reward with a healthy dog treat.

4. Start avoiding the food treat every other time the come command is used, then every three times, every five times... you get the picture. Keep withholding the treats until your puppy/dog is obeying the command simply because they want to please you and receive verbal and physical attention.

Tips & Warnings

• You may need to leash your puppy in the beginning if your breeder did not instill the come command early on. Gently pull them towards you but allow them to back up and retreat some if they feel they must at first. They will eventually trust you to reward their positive behaviors.
• Stroking a dog's shoulder means "You're okay, I'm okay" in dog language. This goes back to how wild packs give one another affirmations. Use it.
• NEVER punish your puppy/dog when they come to you on command even if they did something naughty prior to being recalled. They will confuse your anger with the fact they obeyed your come command. If you must reprimand, you must go to them, not use a recall.
• Don't overuse the come command training. You risk boring your puppy/dog. Keep them lively and always stop on a positive note and an enthusiastic dog.

Resources

• Ironwood Coonhounds - Author's Kennel

[1960texan]

on 8/8/2009 Janet, it's obvious that you are a true expert on this subject. Great article.

[heliosheater]

on 8/7/2009 This highly informative. thanks!!

[bbrassell]

on 8/4/2009 I wish I had come across this sooner! Great article.

[botticelli728]

on 8/4/2009 Great article; very clear instructions and a rationale behind them. 5*

[kittycooks]

on 8/4/2009 Very interesting article. If I desired a puppy, I would definately want a caring trainer like you to have given them a great start.