Free Tips on How to Train a Dog to Come to You

For this Omaha dog training session we worked with 1 year old Shih Tzu mix Finn and 3 year-old Jack Russell Terrier O’Malley, sharing tips on how to train a dog to come to you.

I have observed that when dogs do not come when called it is typically because of inadequate training or lack of motivation.

How to Train a Dog to Come to You

Dogs may also avoid coming because they associate it with the end of playtime. This is usually the result of people calling their dogs in from outside when they are barking to make sure they do not disturb the neighbors. To the dog, come = end of fun.

Stopping a dog from ignoring a come command is all about making sure it has proper motivation. For a high-value treat, I asked our booking coordinator to bring some Chipotle chicken. I wanted her to teach the guardians how to make a dog come when called. If your dog doesn’t come when you call, watch the free positive dog training video below.

It was wonderful to see how well the dogs responded to this positive dog training exercise. I suggest practicing calling your dogs a few times a day when they don’t need to come inside.

This will help them learn to come when called. This will ensure that the dogs don’t associate the come command word with the end of fun. After some practice, the dogs will understand that they need to come when called to get tasty rewards.

Train a Dog to “Come” and other Helpful Commands 

After we shot the video, I showed the guardian a few other secrets to get dogs to come when you call them. One exercise is using a lure, while the other is practicing with guests. The guardian should also make an effort to mark and reward the dogs every time they come to them on their own. We like to call this passive training but some dog trainers call it capturing.

Whatever the name, rewarding a dog when it does things you like is a very effective way to get a dog to do anything. The more you give your dog attention for an activity, the more the dog will repeat that activity in the future. So petting your dog when it comes when you don’t call is a sneaky easy habit to get into. It may be the easiest way to train a dog to come when called.

Fixing a dog barking problem involves identifying why a dog is barking in the first place and then address the root cause.

Finn’s family adopted him during the coronavirus pandemic, and the shutdown prevented him from receiving proper socialization. As a result, he barks a lot at people, noises, and when the neighbor comes outside.

I provided advice on dog behavior to help the dog feel more at ease. I also suggested ways for the owners to meet the dog’s physical and mental needs.

I want them to help him exercise more. I also want them to keep his mind busy. Additionally, I want them to do some training for a month to see if it helps with his barking.

If he keeps barking at things outside, we may need another session to help him learn not to bark at sounds.

We covered a lot of useful dog training information during this in-home session. To help the owners remember the dog training tips, we made a “roadmap to success” video. You can watch it below.