The Complete Idiot's Guide to Puppies by M. A. Gorman

Author:M. A. Gorman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin USA, Inc.

Come

The most important command for your puppy to know and obey is the Come command. Your puppy must come when called in different situations and environments. Having this command thoroughly entrenched in your pup’s obedience repertoire will not only make your life easier, it will make her life safer.

The puppy that is always made to come when called and is praised well for his effort will always come. The puppy who is allowed to not come when he is called will consistently not come until he is good and ready. If what you really want is a reliable (no matter what) response to your command, you must be consistent in your expectation and in your followup. This means that when you call your puppy, he must come, even if you have to go and get him, put on his lead, and firmly but patiently back up, calling “Come” until you reach the spot where you called him in the first place.

Puppies are easily convinced that you are the most attractive object in their environment. This is a terrific beginning for teaching the Come command. Begin by having your puppy follow you, indoors at first, then out of doors if you can. Walk slowly. Click your tongue. Call out in a cheerful, cooing, high voice, “Puppy, puppy, puppy, Come!” Change direction often to see whether your puppy will stay with you. Bend and let your puppy catch up for kisses and praise. But don’t stop practicing after your puppy follows well. You want him to form a strong habit, so keep working at it every day.

Now it’s time to move to the formal Come command. Using a standard six-foot leash, stand facing your puppy and give her the Stay command. Step back from your puppy slowly, making sure she holds her Stay. Hold the leash loose in one hand as you command “Come!” If your pup moves toward you immediately, give her a tasty treat. If she remains in the stay or moves away from you, give the leash a pull and say, “Come!” again. When your puppy reaches you, make sure you praise her and give her a treat.

After your puppy has learned the “formal” Come, start experimenting with longer leads (15-50 feet). Using the same technique as previous, place your pup in a Sit-Stay, and then move to the end of the lead. Wait until your pup is distracted and then give the Come command. If the command is ignored, use a quick snap on the lead to get her attention. When your puppy turns to you, give her lots of praise to get her to complete the command and move toward you. Have a juicy treat ready as a reward for coming from such a long distance. Repeat this exercise every day in different situations using different distractions.

Be creative when teaching the Come command, and make it fun for your puppy to come to you. The Come command can also save your puppy’s life if needed. So learn it well.

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