Come When Called...HOW TO
One mistake many people make when they begin trying to train their dogs to do something is use the command word to elicit the behavior before the dog understands what it means.
For example, if you are teaching your puppy to sit, he should not hear the word sit unless he IS sitting, and preferably in the ACTION of sitting. This names the correct behavior for the puppy. If he hears you say SIT. SIT SIT. SIT SIT SIT SIT while is standing or jumping around on his hind legs, then his brain has associated the word sit with THAT behavior.
NOT sit.
Once the dog demonstrates a good understanding of the link between the verbal command and the behavior, you can then use it to elicit the behavior.
Many people unwittingly teach their dogs to ignore them when they call them by the way they use the recall command when the dog is NOT coming.
So remember, name that behavior ONLY when it's happening in the beginning.
Here is how to teach them to RUN to you when you call....
This is my version of the popular game to teach puppies to love running to you when you call. This game also is a reinforcer for attention training.
Quote:
COPYRIGHT 2005/2006 Rebekah L. Pless * all rights reserved
Free for use or copy by anyone as long as author info remains intact
The Recall Game
Having a dog who will reliably come when called is one of the best
things in life. This means FREEDOM for your dog. Here is how to teach
your dog to RUN to you each time you call it.
1) NEVER call your dog unless you are CERTAIN you can enforce
the command. Each time you call your dog and he does not immediately
come to you to receive a food reward, you take a step backwards in
his learning to come when you call. It is important not to make
mistakes when teaching the recall. DO NOT CALL YOUR DOG if there is
ANY chance you cannot enforce the command. EVER.
2) NEVER call your dog to you for anything unpleasant. If you
need to interrupt a play session, or you are going to trim nails, or
if you are about to do anything to your dog that he does not enjoy,
GO GET THE DOG. Do not call him to you.
3) FOOD REWARD every single recall. EVERY SINGLE ONE. This
means keeping treats in your pockets at all times.
4) Smiles are required equipment when calling your dog. NEVER
EVER call your dog in anything but a praise tone of voice. Correction
will NEVER help a recall. Your dog must WANT to come when you call.
To play the game you need at least 2 people, and several is great.
Each person is given a handful of very small soft treats. I prefer
tiny pieces of hotdogs or string cheese. Pieces should be VERY small,
even for a larger dog or puppy. I slice a hotdog in half and cut the
pieces the size of a nickle. Once people have their treats, they
should take a seat around the room with as much room between them as
the room will allow.
One person takes the puppy or dog and points him towards the person
who is going to begin the game. This person may do anything to get
the puppy to come towards him except say the word COME. Clap hands,
smile, laugh, show the treat, call PUPPPY PUPPPPY PUPPPPY, or the
dog's name. When it is CLEAR that the pup is committed to going to
the person, and ONLY THEN, say the pup's name, and come. For example,
Bailey, COME! It does not matter if the puppy is almost to you, as
long as the pup hears his name and the word COME while he is going
TOWARDS the person calling.
Hold the hand with the food right up next to your body so that the
puppy has to come all the way up to you and touch you to get the
treat. Do not feed the treat until you are holding the puppy's
collar. This prevents the "snatch and run" game. Praise and pet the
puppy cheerfully while he is getting his treat. Once the pup has had
his little tiny treat, it's time to point him towards another person
who does the same thing.
It is extremely important that the participants understand they are
NOT to say the word COME unless the puppy is already doing just that.
Play as long as the pup is interested. Main rules, Do not say COME
unless the puppy IS coming, hold the treat up CLOSE to your body, and
you must be holding the collar to feed the treat.
This simple game does more to build a reliable recall than any other
training you can do. Your pup will quickly learn that his name and
the word come means TREAT. Each time you call the pup and reward him
for coming quickly to you, you build a more ingrained and reliable
response. If you are consistent and train this game at least 2 to 3
times per week, you will have a dog who will ALWAYS come when you
call it. Most owners list this as a top priority for their dogs. Here
is a fun and simple way to attain this goal.
Practice often! Your pup will love this game, and so will your friends.
Once the puppy is coming reliably and happily indoors, you can graduate to outdoors.
Use a retractible leash or a long line. Wait for the pup to get distracted. When he is interested in something really cool, call him. If necessary, help the pup with the lead or the line. Make sure when you start outdoor work you have treats that are ESPECIALLY GOOD. Call him off what he is interested in, and JACKPOT the pup the first time. (give him a whole handful of the delicious treats).
Many times it will take a while for the pup to go get interested in something else again after you have called and rewarded him. Be patient.
Practice often. Gradually increase the distractions. If you use these methods consistently, over time you can build a recall that is almost bomb proof.
