How to get your dog to COME WHEN CALLED in 6 weeks

Note:  You will need a long leash (30 foot tracking leashes are available at pet stores) or clothesline for weeks 3-6.  Measure and mark off each foot with a magic marker on the leash or line.  If your dog is over 1 year of age use "Here Now" instead of "Come" in the following instructions.

Weeks 1 & 2:  The Learning Period

Say "(Your dog's name), COME" to your dog no more and no less than 3 times per day each day and only when all of the following applies:

1.  You are 100% certain your dog will come to you:

You are inside your house and the dog is no more than 3-6 feet away, or

You are inside your house and the dog is on leash for you to reel him in if necessary, no more than 5-10 feet away from you, or

You are inside your house and your dog is happens to already be heading toward you.

2.  You are prepared to IMMEDIATELY reward him with 3 huge rewards EACH TIME when he gets to you

Example 1:  A small bowl of macaroni & cheese + then a 5 minute game of fetch + then a new peanut butter stuffed Kong toy

Example 2:  10 dime-sized pieces of hot dog given one right after the other + then a 3 minute tug-o-war game + then an immediate walk around the block

Example 3:  A small pop-top can of cat food + then a dog biscuit in small pieces given one at a time in quick succession + then a new smoked bone or rawhide

Example 4:  Dinner + then a new toy + then an immediate romp at the park

Use your imagination.  Use anything he really loves including his regular meals, walks, games or any treats you normally give him "for free".  Rewards must be given IMMEDIATELY, quickly, and in quick succession with lots of verbal praise so that he knows he is getting these rewards just for coming to you from 3-5 feet away.  Your dog's response time is directly affected by the quantity & quality of the rewards, so don't be stingy!  You say "come" 3x per day x 3 rewards each time = 9 total rewards per day.  Some of these 9 can be the same reward but they must all be highly prized by your dog.

3.   You will praise the dog continually "Good come! Good come!  Good come!" the entire time he is heading toward you.  Your enthusiasm level will be the same for these short distances as it would be if your dog had run out onto the road, chasing a squirrel, and when you called him he immediately screeched to a halt, turned on a dime and raced back to you.

4.   You NEVER  put your dog into a sit, a down, or a stay before calling him.  Rather, you try to call him when he's not looking at you.

5.   Your dog does NOT know that you have treats, food, games, a walk, or anything special planned.

6.   You NEVER say "come" to your dog any other time than during these 3x/day.  You NEVER command "come" more than once per trial (however while he is actually coming you do praise him "good come" repeatedly)

You NEVER "cheat" by moving to higher levels of difficulty during these first 2 weeks.

8.   If your dog EVER does not come IMMEDIATELY during these weeks, decrease the distance to the level he will come for another day or two, then try to add another foot again. 

Weeks 3 & 4:  More Learning

 Each day, pick 3 of the following exercises, making sure to do each one several times during this 2 week period (Remember, points 2-7 above still apply):

Inside your house, off leash, you call him from 7 feet away.  Reward as in weeks 1 & 2.  Add 1 foot per trial as long as he keeps coming each time.

Inside your house, off leash, your dog is 5 feet away and someone stands next to your dog and calmly talks to him.  Call him and reward as in weeks 1 & 2.   Add 1 foot per trial as long as he keeps coming each time.

Inside your house, on leash, you call him from 12 feet away.  Reward as usual.  Add 1 foot per trial as long as he keeps coming each time.

Outside your house, on leash, with no distractions (in your yard or right in front of your house, after a walk), you call him from 3 feet away.  Reward as usual.  Add 1 foot per trial as long as he keeps coming each time.

If your dog EVER does not come IMMEDIATELY during these weeks, decrease the distance to the level he will come for another day or two, then try to add another foot again. 

Week 5:  More Learning!

Each day, pick 3 of the following exercises, making sure to do each one several times during this 2 week period (Remember, points 2-7 above still apply):

Inside your house, someone holds a biscuit or toy in front of your dog and you call him from 5 feet away.  Reward him with 3 really great things as in the past weeks.   Add 1 foot per trial as long as he keeps coming each time.

Inside your house, someone stands with your dog, praises your dog very enthusiastically and you call him from 5 feet away.  Reward as usual.  Add 1 foot per trial as long as he keeps coming each time.

Inside your house, you call him from 15-20 feet away.  Reward as usual.  Add 1 foot per trial as long as he keeps coming each time.

Inside your house, you call him from a place that he cannot see you but less than 10 feet away.  Reward as usual.   Add 1 foot per trial as long as he keeps coming each time.

Outside your house on leash, no distractions, you call him from 15 feet away.  Reward as usual.  Add 1 foot per trial as long as he keeps coming each time.

Outside your house on leash you call him from 5 feet away while someone else is standing with him praising him (no sit, stay, down required for this praise please).  Add 1 foot per trial as long as he keeps coming each time.

Outside your house on leash you call him from 5 feet away while other people and dogs are a minimum of 30 feet away.  Reward as usual.  Add 1 foot per trial as long as he keeps coming each time.

Outside your house off leash (in fenced area) you call him from 5 feet away AFTER he is done sniffing, peeing, playing, barking at the dog next door, etc.  Add 1 foot per trial as long as he keeps coming each time.

Week 6:  Still…. More Learning!

Each day, pick 3 of the following exercises, making sure to do each one several times during this 2 week period (Remember, points 2-7 above still apply):

Inside your house, someone holds a biscuit or toy in front of your dog and you call him from 10-15 feet away.  Reward him with 3 really great things as in the past weeks.   Add 1 foot per trial as long as he keeps coming each time.

Inside your house, someone stands with your dog, praises your dog very enthusiastically and you call him from 10-15 feet away.  Reward as usual.  Add 1 foot per trial as long as he keeps coming each time.

Inside your house, someone stands with your dog, holds very good treats in front of your dog and plays and praises your dog very enthusiastically.  You call him from 10-15 feet away.  Reward as usual.  Add 1 foot per trial as long as he keeps coming each time.

Inside your house, you call him from 25 feet away.  Reward as usual.  Add 1 foot per trial as long as he keeps coming each time.

Inside your house, you call him from a place that he cannot see you from 15-20 feet away.  Reward as usual.   Add 1 foot per trial as long as he keeps coming each time.

Outside your house on leash, no distractions, you call him from 20-25 feet away.  Reward as usual.  Add 1 foot per trial as long as he keeps coming each time.

Outside your house on leash you call him from 10-15 feet away while someone else is standing with him praising him (no sit, stay, down required for this praise please).  Reward as usual.  Add 1 foot per trial as long as he keeps coming each time.

Outside your house on leash you call him from 10 feet away while other people and dogs are a minimum of 20 feet away.  Reward as usual.  Add 1 foot per trial as long as he keeps coming each time.

Outside your house on leash you call him from 15 feet away while someone else holds a biscuit in front of him.  Add 1 foot per trial as long as he keeps coming each time.

Outside your house off leash (in fenced area) you call him from 8-10 feet away BEFORE he is done sniffing, peeing, playing, barking at the dog next door, etc.  Add 1 foot per trial as long as he keeps coming each time.

Outside your house off leash (in fenced area) you call him from 15 feet away AFTER he is done sniffing, peeing, playing, barking at the dog next door, etc.  Add 1 foot per trial as long as he keeps coming each time.

Outside your house off leash (in fenced area) you call him from 8-10 feet away BEFORE he is done sniffing, peeing, playing, barking at the dog next door, etc.  Add 1 foot per trial as long as he keeps coming each time.

Post 6-weeks of training

Try to use your recall command only when you really need it - Shouting "Come! Come!" over and over  to your dog simply dilutes the power of the command.  If you continue to reinforce with great praise and rewards, your dog's recall will continue to be reliable.  If you reinforce a little or just sometimes, his recall may deteriorate over time.  If you do not reinforce at all, his recall will deteriorate.   Why not reinforce for each recall?  It could, after all, save his life, and it gives you a great way to reward your dog while keeping him in "continuing education".  On the day that your dog heads into the street after a squirrel and you don't have any rewards on you, it'll work as if you did.