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Teaching
Command Come
Informal
Get a pocket full of treats and hook the pup up
to a long line, rather than a short leash. Go out in the front or
back yard and just follow the puppy around. When he's not paying
attention to you, call his name and say "Come!" use the happiest
voice you can muster to say it, then "reel" him in! Get down on his
level and praise, praise, Praise with LOTS of PETTING and
TREATS. After everyone calms
down a bit, get up and walk around the yard again until he's lost
interest in you, then call him again, if he
doesn't come, reel'em in and go through that whole routine of
praising and treats. I like to do this exercise about 3 times then
quit for the day.
The next time you do this exercise pick a
different spot if you were in the backyard, go to the front.
After your puppy starts anticipating your little "game", you'll need
to go to a place where there is more of a distraction - like a park
or a school yard, etc. It doesn't take long for the
puppy to get the hang of this exercise. You should gradually leave
off the treats and go with the praise, we don't all walk around
with treats in our pockets on a normal day!
The Formal
( also known as The Recall):
Your puppy should be steady on the sit/stay if you are working
alone. If you have someone to help - even better! Begin with laying
out a long line....about 15-30 ft. Have the puppy to sit and hook
the line to his collar. ( If you have a helper, have them stand
behind the puppy so they can hold the collar lightly when you walk
off.) Tell the puppy to "Stay" or "Wait" and walk to the end of the
long line, turn and face him. Get down on your knees or sit on the
ground put a big smile on
your face, look inviting, call the puppy's name and say "Come"
then clap your hands and/or throw them out
wide - it's that "invitation" thing. Puppy should come barreling
at you, if not, use the long line and reel him in. Either way,
praise and pet for one full minute as if he had done it perfectly!
Do this part of the come exercise for one week, then move on to the
second step. Be sure to vary the time between when you get down and
call the dog. Otherwise, they will begin coming when they see you
get down on the ground.
Never use "Come" to call your dog to do
something to him he doesn't like - a bath or cutting his toenails,
for example. You should just walk over and get him in those
instances.
Second week of the formal COME starts out similar to the first. The
basic difference is instead of getting all the way down to the
ground, you get on your knees but are upright, so you are getting
taller all the time. You still give the sit and stay commands, call
his name and tell him to "come", give lots of praise, but as you are
praising, gently touch his rump and ask him to sit, then continue to
praise.
The third week, you bend down or if you still have good knees, you
squat down, call the dog and as he starts to you - straighten up.
You still ask for a sit and give praise from the upright position.
By the fourth week, you are standing upright as you call the puppy.
Now you can start adding a formal hand signal if he's coming
straight to you and not swerving off to smell the bushes or running
right passed you. Visualize this - how do you motion for someone who
is a good distance away? Arm out and swing it into and across the
chest.....something like that? Well, this is also a good hand signal
for the "Come". When you get ready to call the dog, say his name and
give both the command "Come" and the signal at the same time.
Eventually, all you will have to give is the signal and you'll
be able to wow those relatives with you silent signal to call your
pup! As with the informal COME, you gradually leave off the treats
but be lavish with the praise!
-Home-
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