Know How To Call A Dog Infallibly
Calling a dog is one of the basic commands we all must master. Some are able to learn on their own, but for those who find this a little more difficult, we will help you with this very useful command.
The importance of calling a dog infallibly
Of all the orders a dog can learn, responding to a call is perhaps the most important. We not only use this when it’s time to leave the park and leave: this command can also be essential if the dog is about to put himself in danger and we want him to come to our side.
That’s why it ‘s important to start training to call a dog as soon as possible and do it in a way that always works. You don’t know when you’re really going to need it.
Puppies learn very quickly and it is an order they will use throughout their lives. However, adult dogs can also learn. Dogs never stop learning : if your dog is over five years old, he can still incorporate it into his repertoire.
use positive reinforcement
To call a dog infallibly, it is necessary for the dog to relate us to something very pleasant, so good that it encourages him to stop what he is doing to come to us. For this order, it is essential to use positive reinforcement: give a reward when he does something right.
As a reward, we can use many different things, but the most succulent and tempting is always the food: sausage pieces, dried meat or dog biscuits are the most used prizes. It doesn’t always have to be the same prize: find out what your dog likes best by trying out different appetizers.
Don’t correct him if he ‘makes a mess’: part of learning is making mistakes. If he doesn’t know what it is to do wrong, he won’t be able to know how to do it right. Be patient the first few times you practice this order and just focus on what he does correctly.
set the order
To call a dog infallibly, the first step is to decide the keyword, which will be the one we will use to call the dog. The most common is “come!”, but any one is worth it. Choose just one word and tell the rest of your family to use only that one.
To teach an order, you will say the word only once, followed by your dog’s name. The moment he gets to you, give him the prize. Don’t wait for him to sit down or ask you: don’t give him anything else to come to your side. This will make you relate to approaching the prize and not other things.
To test this call and execute it accurately, follow these steps:
Step 1
Start practicing this exercise indoors, with the dog a few feet away from you. This makes it easier to understand what you’re asking for, and avoids other distractions that might be found on the street.
- Say your chosen word, followed by your dog’s name.
- If he ignores the word, you can try other words, sounds, gestures … but the order should only be given once. Repeating it will confuse the message.
- The moment the dog reaches your side, give him the prize.
Go a few meters and repeat these steps. In a few repetitions the dog will have understood that when you say that word, you want it to come to your side. When you say it and your dog starts walking to your side, then you can increase the difficulty level.
Step 2
This step will also be done at home, but you will need help from family or friends. Sit in a circle in a large room or place people in several rooms. Explain how this order works, and you will say the order at random for the dog to go to each of you. Remember if:
- The order is given only once. Other words, sounds or gestures are allowed to get the dog’s attention.
- The prize must be given as soon as you reach your side.
Do a few rounds of calling, and when the dog has mastered this exercise, you can then go outside and practice outside. The increase in difficulty must be progressive: first wait until you dominate at home, then at home in groups, then at home with a lot of distance between the people who call you.
When you go outside, first try to have few distractions and few people. Then increase the number of times you call him, and only later can you try to stop playing with another dog, for example, when you call him.
Keep in mind that on the street there are many other stimuli for him to pay attention to. Be patient if your dog takes a moment before arriving at your side: the important thing is that he comes, not that it is done quickly.
It is very important that this difficulty increases little by little: if you want to go too fast, you will be demanding more from your dog than he can give you and the order will stop working. You should experience new environments and challenges gradually, so that he knows there’s always a prize and it’s worth stopping what he’s doing to get to you.
From now on
Once calling a dog works in the park, surrounded by more dogs, with other noises in the environment, then the lesson can be considered learned. However, it is such an important order that you should never stop practicing it.
From time to time, take prizes to the park and rehearse the order a few times. You might even get into the habit of always giving out a few treats by calling your dog at the park at random.
Calling a dog is a much needed tool for security and living at home. It’s a very simple order to learn and practice, so even when the dog has mastered it, never stop practicing it.
