How to train your dog to come when called every time?

For many dog ​​owners, it is not easy to get dogs to respond quickly when called in any situation. Training a dog's "recall" ability is not only a skill training, but also a process of deepening the emotional bond between people and dogs. It contains professional training skills and full of love. ​

Dogs are social animals. In their cognition, the owner is the "leader". However, external temptations such as other small animals and novel smells often distract their attention and make them temporarily forget to obey their owners. If you want to train a dog to come when called, you must first establish a solid trust relationship. From the moment the dog enters the house, daily interaction and care are the cornerstones of trust. Gentle touch, patient companionship, and soft communication, these seemingly simple actions are silently telling the dog: You can rely on me, I will always be your most solid support. ​

In the early stage of training, it is crucial to choose a quiet and less disturbing indoor environment. This is like creating a good atmosphere for learning, which can make the dog more focused on training. Call the dog's name and give a fixed recall command, such as "Come here". This command should be concise, clear, and remain unchanged during the training process to avoid confusing the dog. When the dog hears the call, even if it just turns its head slightly to look at you, you should immediately praise it, say "good boy" in a cheerful tone, and give it its favorite snacks as a reward. This positive feedback can make the dog understand that responding to the owner's call will bring pleasant results. As the training progresses, gradually increase the distance between the call and the dog, repeat the above steps, and continuously strengthen the dog's memory. ​

When the dog can skillfully follow the recall command indoors, the training venue can be moved to the outdoors. The outdoor environment is more complex and full of various temptations, which is a greater challenge to the dog's concentration and obedience. At the beginning, choose a relatively quiet corner of the park or a road with fewer pedestrians in the community, and be sure to tie a leash to the dog. This is to ensure the safety of the dog and prevent it from running away due to sudden fright or temptation, and to guide it in time during the training process. When the dog runs towards you after hearing the recall command outdoors, give it rewards and praise in time to let it know that it is right to obey the owner's call no matter where it is. ​

During the training process, it is inevitable that the dog will be disobedient. For example, the dog is attracted by other animals in the distance and turns a deaf ear to your call. At this time, never yell or punish it. The way of thinking of dogs is different from that of humans. Punishment may make it fearful and resistant, which will destroy the trust between you. You can use a leash to gently guide it back to your side, and then give it rewards to let it understand that good things will happen only when it returns to its owner. Every training is a gradual process, which requires the owner to maintain sufficient patience and tolerance. ​

In addition to basic training methods, some details in daily life should not be ignored. Often call the dog's name in a pleasant tone to make it have positive associations with its own name. During the play process, issue the recall command at the right time to integrate the training into a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere. At the same time, be careful to avoid letting the recall command become a "nightmare" for the dog. For example, don't take it home, end the play, or feed it medicine every time you call it back, which it doesn't like, otherwise the dog will gradually resist the recall command. ​

When the dog gradually masters the recall skill, it still needs to be consolidated. You can invite friends to help, call the dog in different scenarios, and test its reaction. You can also simulate some emergency situations, such as pretending to fall, calling the dog, and see if it can quickly come back to you. Through these diverse training methods, the dog's recall ability is constantly strengthened, so that it can respond to the owner's call at the first time in any situation. ​

The encounter between people and dogs is a wonderful fate. The process of training dogs to "come when called" is like a practice full of love and patience. In this process, we not only teach the dog an important skill, but also deepen the feelings between each other in the day-to-day interaction. One day, no matter where the dog is, as long as it hears your call, it will run to you without hesitation. That full sense of happiness and accomplishment will make all the efforts worthwhile. Let us use professional training methods and endless love to create a world full of security for dogs, and gain unique warmth and companionship for ourselves.