Teaching Your Dog to Come

Does your dog come when you call him? Or does he only run to you when he spots a treat in your hand, or wants to play? Fido is very smart, and is more than capable of learning simple commands. The command to Comeis one of the most important things you can teach your pooch. If fact, we recommend that all dogs know this, along with other basic doggy obedience commands, like Sit, Stay, Heel, and Lay Down. Here, a Bennington, NE vet offers tips on teaching your canine buddy to come when called.

Why Training Is Important

Training isn’t just a matter of petiquette. It’s also crucial for safety reasons! Making sure that Fido will come when you call him can keep him from running off if you drop his leash. The last thing you want if that happens is to see your pooch running away!

Getting Started

As noted above, the five most important commands are Sit, Stay, Heel, Come, and Lay Down. We’re focusing on the Come command in this article, of course. However, you’ll want to start by teaching Fido to Sit, simply because this one is very easy for dogs to pick up.

Training

Enlist a friend to help you. You’ll need lots of treats, and one of Fido’s favorite toys. Have your friend hold your pup on the other side of the room. Then, wave the toy and say ‘Come.’ Your friend should release your pooch, who will be rewarded with treats and playtime. Once your pet starts to get the hang of it, take training outside. Start using a retractable leash, which you’ll let out more and more as Fido learns.

Tips

Dogs all learn things at their own speed. Fido may not pick this command up right away. Never punish your pet for disobeying or not learning fast enough. If your furry buddy thinks he’ll get punished if he comes to you, he’ll be even more determined to escape! Focus on rewarding good behavior. Offer your pup treats and praise when he does something right. If you’ve already yelled at your dog to get him to Come, choose a new word. Your canine pal needs to know that good things happen when he obeys!

Please contact us, your Bennington, NE vet clinic, if ever we can be of assistance. We’re here to help!