How do I teach a puppy to come when called?

Question

I have a 8 mo old Border collie/cocker he is intelegent and I have not be able to get this point across to him. He is good in the house and great on the lease. I have taken him on wlkes in the woods and on local trails and he does not run off but, in the neighborhhod he just runs to other houses and I have to stop this behaivior.

Answer 1

OK first put him on a long leash, then call him and if you have to give the leash a tug then when he comes give him a treat. Eventually about 1,000 times he will think if i come when called i get a treat. And if he runs off don't yell at him it will scare him and don't chase him he will think you are playing. And then that gives him the idea that what he is doing is OK, that its fun.

That has worked for me hope it helps.

Answer 2

One, if he is in the neighborhood he should be on a leash! he could get hit by a car or attacked by a larger animal if he is running loose or just take off and you might not find him again. Check around and see if there is a dog training class somewhere you could attend with him. Lots of pets stores offer classes or know of someone that does. These are usually not expensive and are beneficial to both of you because they teach consistancy.

If not, try getting a retractable leash and let him run to the end of it and when you retract it tell him to come he will probably fight it the first few times but treat and praise him and it may eventually work for you. But, he does need to be on a leash at all times when he is in the public. Just for safety sake!!

Answer 3

Practice where you have the dog in front of you and then hold a treat up to his nose. Slowly back up and as he follows say , "come come come". Do it for a few seconds then make him sit in front of you and give him the treat. The idea is he learns to come toward you and sit in front of you. It's important to have the treat in front of you and not on your side. If you have it off to your side, he will learn to bypass you. Practice it this way for about a day. Then practice where you move away a short distance from him and tell him "Come". Have him sit in front of you. Eventually, it will work up to him coming and sitting for you without you asking him to sit. I would be careful about not having him on a leash in the neighborhood. Even the most highly trained dogs will want to wander off at the spur of the moment and he could get hit by a car. Or maybe he'll run into an aggressive dog and you will be too far away to stop him from getting hurt. I am a Dog Training Instructor and have had quite a few people who were "shocked" that their dog got hit by a car or seriously injured when their dog was trained to walk without a leash.

Answer 4

Start out with a 8ft training leash and training collar. When the puppy's attention goes else where say his name in a firm voice the command "come" then pop the lead in your direction firmly causing his body to go move towards you then praise ...good puppy and run backwards a few steps to get puppy to come to you briskly. NEVER call a dog to you to punish them! always go to them for punishment! As the puppy learns to come to you go farther and farther away...get a longer leash...if you are limited on funds get a dollar clothes line rope and tie a clip to the end making a long line. let the dog wonder to the end....call the dog...Name and Come....he should respond immediately...never call twice...pop immediately and reel in if necessary praising all the way....he will soon get the idea it is fun to come. Run the opposite way Border collie in him wants to chase in fact all dogs like to chase so once you call if you act like you are going to run from them it will get their attention until they understand. But the key is they must be on a leash and learn they have to come every time they hear you call the first time you call. and it has to be a command not a request.

Answer 5

I read in a book to put a retractable leash and call the dog w/ a treat and when he come reward him.... not with some like a big bone but maybe part and just do it for 5 mins a day for a week and every week increase by 5 mins and soon the dog will come whne you call...

Answer 6

Assume the puppy does not know what the word come means.
Start with two people (if at all possible) that the puppy knows and loves.
Sit down on the floor, a short distance from one another. The pup should only have to wheel around and take two or three steps to get from one person to another.
Both people have soft small treats, that the dog can devour in the time it takes to say "good boy".
The first person feeds the dog a treat, and happily talks to and pets the dog. While this is occurring, the second person calls the dog in a happy voice, waving the treat, clapping, or slapping the floor, whatever it takes to get the dog to start toward you.
as soon as the dog looks in your direction, use words of encouragement, cheerleading... hey, yea, good boy.... don't repeat the command to come!
If you do it right, the dog will begin to take the food, and run to the other person, before you even call him. That's great, just continue to use the come command.
I have people use the dog's name, followed by the word come. ex... "Alexander...COME" in a HAPPY tone. Your voice should promise him the world.
IMPORTANT: while you are in the teaching phase of this exercise, never call the dog (using this method) if you can't reinforce it. You don't have to have food all the time, but pet and praise. Don't call him in from out side to end his fun, don't call him to you to cut his nails or put him in the bathtub or his crate. In the beginning you want only the positive association with the word come.
As the puppy catches on, the two people move farther and farther apart.
Add small distractions, like a dropped piece of food, or another person in the middle.
As the dog gets better (2 days) hide around a corner, or behind the sofa, and act like a fool when the dog finds you! Praise extravagantly for the slightest thing.
If you have a two story house, call up and down stairs.
You are not only working on an immediate response, and a dog that will fly to you upon hearing the word, you are tiring him out as well. A tired puppy is a good puppy.
After you are certain that the dog knows the word come, and you have worked on distractions in a controlled environment, you can take the dog outside.

I start with a retractable lead. I let the dog know that I have treats. I let him go out to the end of the lead, sniff around, or do whatever, and then I call, ex.... "Alexander Come" in the SAME HAPPY voice. If he fails to come, and he may, this is a new environment, pop gently on the leash, run backwards, use encouraging words, and praise when he starts in your direction. Reward him with a treat, delivered close to your body (don't step forward and offer the treat with outstretched hand, or you will teach him never to come close.) Use a release word (I use OK) and send him away again. Repeat over and over until he flies to you when you call. This teaches him that just because you called him, it doesn't mean that it's the end of his fun. You will release him again as soon as he comes to you.

After he is proficient at this, take him to a small, new, enclosed area, like a tennis court. Play the game on lead, then remove the leash. Call him before he gets too far away. Release him, call again and again. If at some point, when he is 10 ft away, he doesn't come, walk calmly to him, attach the leash, repeat come in a sweet voice, and bring him to the place where you called him from. Praise him. Release again. If he doesn't come to you 3 times in a row, he is not yet ready for off lead, or you are letting him get too far away before you call.

Don't wait for a response. You have spent a week at least, teaching an immediate response, don't give him the wrong message now, that he can take his time, or you will undo all the previous work.

While teaching come, if you need to call the dog inside, or put it in the crate, use some other words, lets go, comeon, etc.

If you don't have another person to play the game with, just let the pup wander around, come close to him, wave the treat, and run backwards. This works well.

After training in the enclosure (tennis court, school yard) take him to a strange place, and when he looks away, run and hide behind a tree or a building. If you do this with the right attitude, and make a game of it (act like a fool when he finds you) the dog will never let you get another chance to "disappears" on him. Sometimes, you can even just lie down in the leaves (or snow). It's such fun to watch the look on their faces when then think you are gone, and when they find you!

Have fun. I think you will love the response this method brings.

Answer 7

Put your dog on a 4 foot leash, say his name and come. At the same time pull him to you. Until he understands your command to come, try not to let him loose outside. It won't take long for him to learn that you are the boss. Always praise him when he comes to you no matter how long it takes him.

Answer 8

When you call him, have a treat handy. He will then most definitely come to you then and make a big fuss of him when he comes but when you call him make your voice stern. Good luck!