Command ‘Wait’ must already be learnt The aim of this exercise is to get the dog to come to you from a distance when called. It should return immediately and happy at a reasonable speed and sit in front, so with this in mind, at no time should the dog associate coming to you with something unpleasant. It must always be enjoyable to return to you. It is important that the dog is NEVER scolded when it has returned, (I know this is difficult, it’s pouring with rain, your running late and you didn’t really want a dog anyway). It cannot be expected to understand that it has been scolded for taking its time and naturally it connects the scolding with coming back. Likewise if every time the dog returns it is put on a lead and taken home it quickly learns that if it comes back the fun is over. When out walking the dog, call the dog to you, praise it, give it a treat and release it again. . If your dog fails to come at first, whatever you do, don’t scold the dog when it finally does come. As said, the dog will associate the scoldingwith returning to you and will become more reluctant the next time. When the dog actually understands the command and ignores you then by all means scold the dog whilst it is ignoring you, but as soon as it turns towards you change your tone of voice and encourage it to come to you. But I repeat again don’t scold the dog when it finally does come.

Consider the following article by Pam Young, LVT:

When people enrol their puppies in any type of training class, they almost always have one or both of these complaints as their number one reason for attending: "I can’t keep him from jumping on everyone" "He doesn’t come when I call him"

Picture this:

Penny the puppy is having a grand time digging in the just-watered garden. Mud is EVERYWHERE, plants are uprooted, and Penny has a wonderful Petunia hanging from her mouth as her owner rounds the corner of the house. Penny, seeing the rigid, angry body language that her owner is displaying, takes off. Owner then says, “Penny, COME!!!!!! You bad dog; COME HERE RIGHT NOW!!!” Penny slowly creeps toward Owner, sensing impeding doom. Owner grabs her collar harshly, and drags Penny to the scene of the crime. Owner then proceeds to tell Penny what a cur she is and what a dastardly deed she has done, and how COULD she have even thought she could get away with that, anyway. Penny, in the meantime, makes a HUGE mental note (hmmm: this "COME" and "COME HERE" command really means bad news. I think that is something to avoid at all costs in the future!) Sometime later (could be a day, week or whenever) Owner calls Penny to come into the house. Penny, being a very resourceful puppy that remembers her lessons well, hears “COME HERE” and ignores Owner. Owner calls again. No response. Owner, a little more angry, steps out of the house, looks for Penny, who is behind a tree, and calls again: “Penny, COME HERE!” sounding a little more irritated. No response. Owner then really loses it, runs outside after Penny, reaches and grabs for the collar, and DRAGS Penny into the house muttering “STUPID DOG!! How come you don’t ever COME when I call you? Puppy makes another mental note (Hmmm: seems to me my memory of “COME HERE” is still accurate – don’t want to respond to that – after all, “COME HERE” means I am in BIG TROUBLE!) And picture this:
Owner knows to teach Penny to COME, he must use the command often, and praise when Penny comes. So, with full intention of practising COME, he takes Penny into the garden and lets her go. “Penny, COME”, he says. Penny looks up, gives a little waggle of her tail and chases a blowing leaf. “Penny, COME!” Owner says, a little more sternly. Penny, hearing this tone in his voice, looks back – a little sorry – and thinks for a second: “Nope, I don’t think so”, then grabs a stick and runs around the garden. Owner, getting REALLY angry, storms after Penny, chases her, grabs her and says, “I TOLD you to COME!! DON’T YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS???!!” Of course, Penny says to herself. It means I’m in trouble! The sterner my owner’s voice gets, the more trouble I’m in. I think I’ll just chase a leaf or grab a stick to relieve some of the stress I’m feeling. NOW…
The RIGHT and FAIR way to teach Penny to COME! Remember that dogs know ONLY “dog language” when they come to live with us. WE must teach them our language. In the above examples, Penny did not learn OUR translation for the word “COME”. She learned “COME,” meant “angry owner – I’m in trouble now. Better scram out of here!” We want Penny to learn that “COME,” means “Get to me in the fastest way possible – NO EXCEPTIONS!” Your dog needs to understand that COME means GOOD stuff – ALWAYS! Rules for "COME" Whenever the "COME" command is used (during the stage where the dog does not yet understand what come means) a leash MUST always be attached to the dog, with YOU at the other end see ‘Puppy Recall’. NEVER give a command you cannot follow through or control. NEVER use your recall word ("COME", or whatever word you choose) to call your dog to discipline him, correct him, tell him what a bad dog he is, or for any negative reason. Bad deeds MUST be caught IN THE ACT in order to be corrected. If you still need your dog by you for a negative reason, give him a firm ‘SIT’ command and go get him. No matter how MAD you are, "COME" should ALWAYS end positively – with happy praise, food or whatever. Wherever you want your dog to come reliably that’s where you should practice. In the park with other dogs around, down the street where his favourite game of ball is being played, with children running around. Anywhere and everwhere. When you practice recalls (COME) with your dog, keep the practice to 5 minutes minimum to 10 minutes maximum per practice session. Too few and the dog won’t learn the concept well. Too many and the dog will get VERY bored and tune you out. Practice sessions should be done at least once daily - up to two or three sessions per day. If your dog gets out of your house, garden, or car without your control DO NOT CHASE HIM! He will just think of it as a game and keep running. Instead, YELL his name to get his attention and TAKE OFF in the OTHER DIRECTION! Then YOU are IT in the “game” and he will chase after YOU instead. Then, pounce on him at the first opportunity. Don’t bother to use COME either – your dog will almost certainly ignore you then. You can practice this emergency exercise in the safety of your back garden too. Teaching “Recall” Puppy recall should have already been taught and going well.




Start the exercise with the dog sat by your side. Say the dog’s NAME, give the COMMAND ‘WAIT’ and step away with the right leg and go to the end of the lead. Turn and face the dog, place your feet apart the width of the dogs shoulders, (you don’t want it to look like a brick wall to your dog). Wait for say 5 seconds then give the COMMAND ‘COME’, COMPULSION is minimal and only with the lead if and as necessary, control is mainly by encouragement.




EXTEND THE DISTANCE by using a longer lead or line.



Command the dog to wait---------- Leave your dog------------ Face your dog, pause




--------Call your dog---------------------- Gather lead --------------------------…….





-----------Dog in close---------------------------- Command to sit---- Complete

PRAISE YOUR DOG. If your dog is reluctant to come in close, try stepping back with your right leg and repeat the command ‘Come’ and when he is close, step forward with the right leg. Praise and pet him let him know it’s ok to be this close.



When this is going well, repeat from the beginning i.e. a few paces in front of your dog but with the dog off lead. Completely remove the lead, don’t just drop it in front of the dog and then call the dog to you, because if it steps on the lead this will cause it pain and it will associate the pain with returning to you. Gradually extend the distance as before. The finish where the dog returns to the heel position is taught as a separate exercise as the dog starts to anticipate and moves before commanded.
Hint: A moving target is much more interesting to a dog than a stationary one. Standing in one place will look very boring to your dog in the training stages. Once you call your dog, back up quickly, creating a target. Dogs love to chase! Call “Penny, COME!” tug, then turn and run! Stop and face your dog who should have ‘caught’ you and give lots of praise. Dealing with Problems: My dog cringes and doesn’t want to come to me
First off ask yourself why? Have you called him then scolded him etc? Start at a very small distance away. Use gentle lead tugs and crouch down. Use a high-pitched voice in an encouraging tone and lots of praise words “Yes, that’s it!” “Yay!” “Let’s go, atta girl!” Use treats, just make it that coming to you is great. Dog is in garden, not on a lead and won’t come in.
Use the informal ‘Recall’, don’t forget the treat.