How to Teach Your Dog to Come When Called

One thing every dog owner wants is for their pet dogs to come when they’re called. That’s one basic thing each dog should learn. But not all dogs are easy to call. Some intentionally dismiss the voices of their master, especially when the pet’s at play or occupied with something else.

If you have a dog like that, then you’re in luck. This article teaches you how to train your dog to come when called. So read on for more information.

Are There Different Ways to Call Your Dog to Attention?

Yes, there are different cues and signals you can use. Here are some suggestions:

Teach and help the puppy or new pet learn its name. Some dogs don’t easily come when called because they have yet to recognize their name. And they have yet to recognize how you sound when you call out to them. Most of the time, you just need to call out their name and they’ll come running to you.
Teach a command word. There are different words you can use to motion for a dog to come when it’s called. You decide what you want and be consistent in using that word to call your dog to attention.
Use a sound to beckon your furry pet. Some dog trainers don’t use sounds. And they don’t use the dog’s name to command them to come. They use a particular sound and once the dog master’s that cue, it will come to its owner.

Is it Important to Properly Train a Dog to Come When Called?

Yes, it is. Being confident that your dog is well-trained in coming to you each time you call is a big advantage in many ways.

In emergencies, you’ll be able to quickly retrieve your dog and get out of a risky situation together.
When you lose sight of your dog, you just need one cue or signal. And if your dog is within reach of hearing and recognizing the sound, it will come to you.
You can easily stop a dog from misbehaving by calling it to come to you.

What Steps Do You Take to Train Your Dog for Recall?

The following are suggested steps in training your dog to come when called (otherwise called ‘recall’).

Decide what cue or sign you will use. Is it going to be a command word? Or is it going to be a sound? Choose and always use that every time you train with your dog.
Keep it short. Train him for a short period. Do some repetitions. Then take a break. Resume the training after some hours. Then stop and resume on another day. Dog training may take a long time, depending on how quickly your dog can learn. But after some time, you’ll see your dog responding to your cue or signal.
Limit distractions. It’s hard to teach your dog this command if it’s distracted. Turn off the TV or radio. Remove its toys. This way, you’ll have more of its attention since there’s no competition.
Keep your rewards handy. Be ready to give your dog some treats each time it comes to you when you call out to your pet.
Start training with short distances. Then slowly increase the space between your dog. Soon, you can call out from the other room and your pet will come to you.

Final Thoughts

Train your dog to come when called so you can easily get a hold of your dog when you need to. Be patient. And be gentle. Above all, be regular in your training time. Follow the other suggestions mentioned to help you train your dog to master this trick.