The Come Command
The most important lesson for any dog to learn is to come when called. Many trainers believe that your dog’s knowledge of this command is central to everything else that will eventually be taught to him. Learning to come teaches the dog that you are in command – you are the ultimate authority that must always be obeyed.`
It is recommended to always use the command with the dog’s name. Therefore, it is very important that even a very young puppy learn his name as soon as possible. Constant repetition of the pup’s name usually does the trick. Use his name every time you speak to him. “Want to go outside, Lad?” “Come, Lad, come!”
Learning to come on command could save your dog’s life when the tow of you venture out into the world. The come command must be obeyed without question, but it should represent nothing but positive things in the dog’s mind, It is your duty to help the dog associate the word with life’s pleasantries-praises, pats, treats, and you, of course. He should never associate this command with fear. All too often, novice trainers get very angry at their dogs for not responding immediately to the come command. When the dog finally does come or gets caught by the owner after a chase, the owner scolds him for not obeying. The dog then begins to associate the word “come” with an unpleasant result.
Use the command initially when the puppy is already on his way to you or give the command while walking or running away from the youngster. Clap your hands and sound very happy and excited about having him join in on this “game”. The very young dog will normally want to stay as close to his owner as possible, especially in strange surroundings. When your puppy sees you moving away, his natural inclination will be to get close to you. This is a perfect time to use the come command.
Later, as the puppy grows more self-confident and independent, you may want to attach a long leash or rope to his collar to ensure the correct response. Again, do not chase or punish your puppy for not obeying the come command. Doing so in the initial stage of training makes the youngster associate the command for punishment, and this will result in avoidance rather than the immediate positive response you desire. It is imperative that you praise your pup and give him a treat when he does come to you, even if he purposely delays responding for many minutes.
be sure that you repeat this command in exactly the same way every time you expect the dog to respond to it. Don’t say, “Come, Shep, come,” one time and “Here boy,” the next. It’s just as if someone asked you to do something in English one time, in Swahili the next, and in Martian the time after that. Be consistent in the way you ask your dog to do something, and, in no time, he will consistently obey.
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