Save Your Dogs Life - Train Them to Come
Every year many dogs are injured or killed when they run into traffic and are hit by cars.
You may save your dogs life if you train them to come.
Keep training positive Teaching a dog to come (also known as the recall) needs to be a positive, rewarding experience, even if they are doing something unacceptable.
If you call your dog to you, then punish them, they will soon learn that coming to you means that they are in trouble and that something unpleasant will happen.
"Come" should always mean that something good will happen.
Keep training fun Training should initially take place indoors or within a fenced area.
Using a long line (either store bought or a 30 foot long piece of rope or clothesline) attached to the dogs collar, let your dog explore for a short while, then bend down and call them in a happy, high pitched voice.
If they don't start towards you, give a gentle pull on the long line, and call once again, praising as they move towards you.
You can also run away from your dog calling them as you do.
Most dogs will chase after you thinking it is a game.
When your dog reaches you, praise them and reward with a treat or a favorite toy.
Vary rewards, don't just give treats as there will be occasions when you want your dog to come when you won't have food with you.
Repeat to succeed Repeat the exercise several times, but keep the session to a maximum of 15 minutes so your dog does not get bored.
Practice formally at least once a day, but in addition, at random times during the day just call your dog and reward them when they come to you.
Remember to only reward if they come after you called them.
When your dog comes the first time, every time you call, then add distractions to your training, keeping your dog on a leash or long line so you can attract their attention with a gentle tug if they lose concentration.
Distractions should include any situation you would expect to encounter in everyday life, for example children playing, the mailman, cars driving by, or cats in the neighborhood.
Advanced training When your dogs recall is reliable every time despite distractions, move back to your fenced area and start to train them to come without a leash on.
If they don't respond, try calling them while running away or bringing out a favorite toy.
No matter how long it takes, praise, not punish your dog when they come to you.
In this situation your dog has not fully understood what come means, so you should put your dog back on the long line and start training again from the beginning.
You may save your dogs life if you train them to come.
Keep training positive Teaching a dog to come (also known as the recall) needs to be a positive, rewarding experience, even if they are doing something unacceptable.
If you call your dog to you, then punish them, they will soon learn that coming to you means that they are in trouble and that something unpleasant will happen.
"Come" should always mean that something good will happen.
Keep training fun Training should initially take place indoors or within a fenced area.
Using a long line (either store bought or a 30 foot long piece of rope or clothesline) attached to the dogs collar, let your dog explore for a short while, then bend down and call them in a happy, high pitched voice.
If they don't start towards you, give a gentle pull on the long line, and call once again, praising as they move towards you.
You can also run away from your dog calling them as you do.
Most dogs will chase after you thinking it is a game.
When your dog reaches you, praise them and reward with a treat or a favorite toy.
Vary rewards, don't just give treats as there will be occasions when you want your dog to come when you won't have food with you.
Repeat to succeed Repeat the exercise several times, but keep the session to a maximum of 15 minutes so your dog does not get bored.
Practice formally at least once a day, but in addition, at random times during the day just call your dog and reward them when they come to you.
Remember to only reward if they come after you called them.
When your dog comes the first time, every time you call, then add distractions to your training, keeping your dog on a leash or long line so you can attract their attention with a gentle tug if they lose concentration.
Distractions should include any situation you would expect to encounter in everyday life, for example children playing, the mailman, cars driving by, or cats in the neighborhood.
Advanced training When your dogs recall is reliable every time despite distractions, move back to your fenced area and start to train them to come without a leash on.
If they don't respond, try calling them while running away or bringing out a favorite toy.
No matter how long it takes, praise, not punish your dog when they come to you.
In this situation your dog has not fully understood what come means, so you should put your dog back on the long line and start training again from the beginning.
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