Read About Come Command

The Come Command -- Keeping Your Pet Safe and Sound

There is nothing quite like the security of knowing that your precious pooch will obey when she hears the Come Command. Taking your beloved friend out and about in the world will also become a whole lot safer when Imageyou are confident she will return immediately upon request. It's also nice to have a dog that doesn't head for the hills if given the chance to slip out the front door.

Teaching the Come Command

Some dogs come when called with relatively little training. For most pet owners, though, teaching the Come Command will take a fair amount of time and patience.

For starters, treat your pet well every time she comes to you naturally. Speak kindly and offer up a few pats on the head to engender friendly feelings between you and your pup. Another important thing to remember is to keep your dog on a leash during training so you can reel her in if she gets a little stubborn or distracted.

Avoid These Common Mistakes

As with many other common commands, the Come Command can easily be taught over time as your pet comes to you on her own. Give the command and a reward--praise and maybe a little treat. She'll catch on if you're consistent. Once she starts to show signs that she links the behavior with a reward, take her out on a long leash and issue the command, once and only once. Reel her in if she doesn't come on her own. Do not train your dog to come after the fifth time you've issued the Come Command. This is a recipe for confusion and frustration. Keep the training sessions short and quit if you're feeling irritable. Chasing the dog and then swatting her in frustration will instill fear and set your training back.

ImageWhen teaching the Come Command, as with any other dog training, it's important to send the message that you expect the dog the come the first time you issue the command and that you are prepared to immediately reinforce the command. Just like children, dogs will learn to exploit your weaknesses and test the discipline boundaries. Behave in a clear, matter-of-fact way and better, faster results are almost guaranteed.

It make take many months before your dog immediately and consistently obeys the Come Command. But the next time you're out walking along a busy street or your dog is headed straight for a thicket of briars in the park, you'll see that the time and effort pay major doggie dividends.