No-Fail Tricks to Make Your Dog Come When You Call

No-Fail Tricks to Make Your Dog Come When You Call

Last update: 09 June, 2018

When you call your dog and they completely ignore you, it can be quite frustrating. Maybe you’ve tried everything to get them to obey commands, but you’ve had no success. Well, today we have some no-fail tricks to make your dog come when you call.

There are a lot of different tips and methods, and while it’s not easy to teach an animal commands, with a little patience and education, you can do it! We’ll help you.

Steps to make your dog come

Make your dog come when you call.

If your dog gives you nothing more than a sideways glance when you call them, it can be exasperating. Here are the steps to success:

First practice with a leash

For this exercise, an extendable leash will be helpful. It will give your dog the opportunity to move a short distance away, so you can teach them this command. It’s important to be in the right mindset: be aware that your dog isn’t going to obey you the first time you call.

It will take time to teach them. So arm yourself with plenty of patience. Your dog will notice if you’re angry or upset, and you might get the opposite of what you’re looking for.

Start with short but regular sessions on the leash, because animals have a very short attention span. Don’t yell at your dog if they don’t come the first time, or else they may act out during next round of exercises. Give them little tugs on the leash after saying “come” so that they understand that they need to move.

Find a suitable location

The environment should be familiar to your dog, and with as few distractions as possible. This way your dog can concentrate. Remember to tell the family that you’re training so they won’t interfere and distract the dog.

Work with them

Don’t give them an order and then be still. Use your movements to make things easier for them to understand. For example, say “come” and take a few quick steps backwards. Your dog will naturally want to move towards you. Repeat this step a number of times, giving your dog time to relate the word with the movement.

Use your hands

Hand gestures are also something that dogs understand and can help them respond to commands. For the command “come”, gesture to yourself. Make a welcoming gesture or put your hand out in front of you. Always make sure to be saying the word at the same time so that your dog links the command and the gesture.

Look behind you

One way to make it easier for your dog is to take a few steps away so that they will follow you. Say “come” as you move back and let them follow you.

Use positive reinforcement

When your dog doesn’t obey you, yelling at them will get you nowhere. But if you reward small achievements, they’ll relate the training to something positive and will be more willing to obey.

Increase distance and add distractions

Training your dog.

Eventually, you want your make your dog come every time you call them. To work towards that, add distractions to your training space. You can go to the park, for example. Once there — using the leash — try the command without moving. If they obey, try once without the leash and see how they react. Remember not to move away too much the first few times.

What do you think of these tips? Does your dog come when you call?


This text is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace consultation with a professional. If in doubt, consult your specialist.