Learning the command "come"

Now that your pet know its name, the next step is to teach them to come on command.  You can teach a puppy to come using the word "come" or any other word or short phase you like (such as "get over here", "lets go", or "come here").  Dogs learn words best that are novel and distinctive. If you know a different language choose words or phases that you could use that your puppy will not hear all day long. Now you do not have to learn a 2nd language to train your dog, any words will do. This command can save your puppy's life because a dog who is under your control will not run off, or into traffic, or lunge at people. And they will not make a nuisance of themselves when you visit friends.  So pick any word you want, but use the same word or phase each time.

Caution Note: Never punish a dog for obeying you! Do not call your pet to you to reprimand them for something else. If you call them to come to you then punish them they will not come the next time, which defeats the purpose of this command.

Okay so lets start with call your pets name. Use the name in a happy, upbeat, tone of voice, complete with smiling, to elicit the orientation response we talked about in the previous post.
Then as they begin to approach you on their own say "come" adding a salutations as she walks toward you, followed by strokes and gentle handling. "G-o-o-o-d Come! G-o-o-o-d Come!" The word "come" and the intonation of your happy voice are now becoming connected to the pets happy feelings, and they will experience that happy feeling in the future opportunities to come when they hear the word.
The key to success here is to act as thought it was the dogs idea.  It is a technique that allows the dog to connect the action of walking toward you with your giving praise, and that she is responsible for "making" you give her the praise and attention when she hears "come here"
Try whispering the instruction and praise as she approaches. Both of you will be happy!

For getting the whole family involved with the "come command" try the following technique.
Have the family sit in a circle around the puppy, within leash length (a 6' leash works well here). After the first person has finished stroking the puppy, toss her leash to someone else in the circle who repeats the come command.
You may extend the distance as training  the Come proceeds.  You should also do come in different areas of the house, backyard, front yard, in "strange" territory like a park or playground, and so on, as you introduce your pet to those different locations in the next several weeks.

Now I have a hard time with this command personally, I like to use the word "here" or "come here" but I have not had a lot of success with training young pups that are easily distracted this command. So I have found for younger pups that the leash technique is best.

I hope this gives you the tools to help train and teach your pets. I will be back soon with a new command, but in the mean time keeping working with your pets with these two commands.

Good Luck                                                       

Susan
KCPS