The goal of most dog owners is to have a dog that comes when called; in any situation and under any circumstances. Unfortunately, only a small percentage of dogs will consistently come when they are called in a new environment or in a difficult situation.
From the moment you bring home that darling puppy and begin to teach the command "Come" you must achieve 100 percent success each and every time he hears the command. Total success means the puppy immediately responds to the command by enthusiastically running directly to his owner. It does not mean," In one minute, I'm sniffing something" or "Wow, look what I found along the way!" or even "I'm here but I've got to leave cause the kids are playing ball over there and having fun." Allow any of these canine "excuses" and you are off to a poor start.
At approximately six months of age, your puppy enters the difficult "teenage" years. He exhibits selective hearing and becomes unpredictable and undependable while showing great curiosity about the world around him.
This is the time in a dog's life when commands will be challenged. Upon hearing "Come" he might look at the owner but then look away. Perhaps he will not even look, continuing what he was doing, or simply run away, realizing he is being asked to leave his outdoor fun.
Unless the dog is on-leash, owners usually follow one of three incorrect options. First, they repeat the command, thinking the dog did not hear. Repeating the command will only teach the dog he does not have to obey the first command. He will get another chance. Second, the owner chases the dog. Once the chase game begins, dogs learn very quickly that they are quicker and more agile than their owners. This reinforces, in the dog's mind, that if he does not come when called, the chase game will start and it is a lot more fun than being taken inside.
Third, the owner might give up and walk away, perhaps going indoors for a treat to bribe the dog to him. Choose any of these three options and the dog will recognize the command "Come" is meaningless since it is not reinforced.
Another critical mistake is calling the dog to "Come here" for punishment. The dog regards the owner as unpredictable and not to be trusted since sometimes "Come" precedes a treat and sometimes it brings punishment for unknown reason. When a dog mistrusts his owner because of the owner's unpredictability and inconsistency, the dog will not come when called. Who can blame him?
Remember that although your dog might be reliable on the "Come" command in your home or yard where the distractions and scents are familiar, he may not automatically respond when away from home. To gain success with this command, it must be taught slowly and with consistency, teaching and proofing the command with a variety of distractions.
For the sake of your dog's life, NEVER have your dog off-leash unless he is in a safe area away from traffic, he is properly trained to obey all commands off-leash and he has been adequately proofed in all challenging situations.
Having a well-trained dog is a joy for any owner. But, keep in mind, it is more important that your dog be safe, alive and on-leash. Too many dogs are killed each year due to owners carelessness. Train your dog properly now so you can enjoy him for many years to come.
