Coming when called—it’s the most important thing you can teach your dog, after bite inhibition (not biting down on human skin). So why do a majority of pet dogs fail at it?
It’s simple: dogs that don’t come when called don’t find it rewarding.
In many cases, dogs that don’t come when called have experienced *bad* results. Those dogs are quite sure that coming when called will result in something unpleasant for them. For example, imagine that your dog doesn’t like to be brushed. You call the dog to come, grab him, and start brushing. The next time you call that dog to come, he’ll be thinking, “No way. I don’t want to be brushed!”
Sometimes the bad results for the dog are even more subtle.
Maybe you’ve overheard a neighbor. “Come here, Rex!” Rex finishes what he is doing, then comes to his person. “Rex, you’re an idiot! What took you so long? Bad dog!”
Your neighbor is not going to convince Rex that coming when called is a good idea unless Rex believes that there is “something in it for the dog.” In other words, coming when called must be rewarded in terms the dog will understand. The dog must feel safe to come, knowing that when he gets there, the results for him will be positive … in ways a dog can understand.
What’s rewarding to your dog? Not all dogs agree!
What dogs find rewarding might include praise, petting, treats, a chance to fetch a ball or a frisbee, a walk, a game of hide and seek … and even, for a happy few, a brushing!
For most dogs (though not for all), food is a powerful reward. You have a chance to reward your dog for coming when called every time you feed him. Don’t just put that full bowl on the floor and walk away! Hold the bowl of food in your hand and call the dog to come.
At first, the dog can be standing beside you—make it easy for him. “Here, Fuzzy! Here!”
Fuzzy leaps to your side, eagerly awaiting dinner.
“Good here, Fuzzy! Dinner!”
Later, as Fuzzy gets used to being called for dinner, make it more challenging. Wait until Fuzzy is much farther away, then call. When he gets really good at coming to you when he can see you, lengthen the distance between you and him, eventually going completely out of his sight. Ask a friend or family member to take Fuzzy to another room, near where you feed him. Once your dog has started to run like heck from another room to get to that full dinner bowl, make the game more fun—call him to come for dinner from upstairs or downstairs or even out in the yard! What you want—and should get—is a dog that comes running to his food bowl for every single meal.
Next Week: Coming When Called – Part Two: For Treats, Toys, and Play
