How to Train Your Dog to Come

One of the most basic training methods is to train your dog to come – it is an extremely useful command for your dog to know, and increases their safety exponentially. Whether you see them sniffing at a yellow jacket, or a vehicle is bearing down on them, being able to call your dog to you can be crucial in keeping them safe, alive, and out of trouble. The “come” command is also one of the easiest to teach, so it is a good starting point for a training regimen.

I have found that bulldogs, due to their stubborn and independent nature, are not the best dogs for detailed training despite their high intelligence. However, even these dogs can be easily taught to come. A golden retriever, with their preeminent trainability – they are probably one of the most trainable dogs on Earth – will learn how to come in a snap, and, given the eagerness with which they attack all kinds of work and activities, will be glad to come most of the time as well.

Training a puppy (or a grown dog) to come is a fairly straightforward process. Put a harness with a long leash on them – the longer, the better. If you can corral another person into helping you, preferably one that the dog will be in frequent contact with (in other words, another member of your family), then so much the better. Find a good spot where you can be as far away from the dog as the leash allows, and begin.

Move away from the dog to the end of the leash. If they show a tendency to follow you, have your helper hold them in place with a hand through the harness-strap until you are in position. Then, tell the dog to come, while beckoning to them. Call them by name, and use the command “come” over and over. Use a friendly, encouraging voice. If the dog doesn’t come – and most don’t, the first few times – then slowly and gently pull them over to you with the leash.

Once the dog comes, pet them, praise them, and give them a small treat (a tiny morsel of food will do). Then, throw the leash to your helper, and have them call the dog to come, in exactly the same way. Move the dog back and forth between you. About 10 minutes is probably long enough. After a few repetitions, the golden retriever will have learned to come without the leash.