Be Tenacious When Teaching Your Dog to Come

By Stewart Staubber

A dog is not naturally stubborn, but he definitely does not understand what he needs to do. That is the reason why it is necessary for the owner to establish that he is the alpha in the house. This enforcement of proper behavior can be done by being firm and patient. And that can be seen when trying to enforce the command of 'come'.

Dogs enjoy exploring their environment naturally by sniffing all around the area, digging, turning things around and running away with little objects. A training session is best done when you keep your dog away from other distracting voices and people. A clear yard without any little objects is the best idea for such a purpose.

Be sure to use any impromptu behavior you see. For instance when you see the dog coming toward you, execute a vocal command along with a hand gesture to support this behavior. Try to use a word and gesture that you don't regularly use during your teaching sessions.

Put the dog in a sitting position facing you. Reinforce the command of 'stay' as you move away. Use hand gestures and voice commands. Praise the dog if the behavior is correct. Do not reward the dog for an incorrect or partial response.

Keep repeating this, as you move back. If your dog comes towards you too quickly, use 'sit/stay' commands again. If the dog does not move try coaxing with treats or toys.

Some dogs may be reluctant or slow to learn. This is where you might need to do some leash training. The dog should be put in the sit position with the reinforcement of the 'stay' command. Start backing up, while letting the leash go loose and slack. A firm tug is needed upon the leash along with the appropriate voice and hand gestures, if the dog does not move.

If the dog is too eager to come to you, use either a long leash or a rope which should be wrapped around a tree or fence rail. If the dog tries to move, the leash should be tugged as you say 'stay'. This training can be done with the help of another person, but the dog is going to get confused about whom to obey. That is why it is sensible to have the dog's focus on just one trainer.

Consistence as well as patience is necessary during training sessions. Human induced commands like sit, stay and come are not naturally understood by dogs. Yelling at the dog when it makes errors or does not obey your orders is quite a counterproductive exercise. You have to establish your alpha status by your body posture, a firm voice, and your patience while you wait for it to obey you. Physical leading and restraint is not such a helpful technique.

Dogs respond extremely quickly to praise when they execute proper behavior. You need to be resolute and make sure that they come when you order them to. - 29895

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