How to teach a dog to me? Learning commands from scratch

How to teach a dog to me? Learning commands from scratch

Teaching your dog to come on call is an essential part of properly training your pet. Training your pet to obey me will help keep him under control while giving him a little leeway while running without a leash. So how do I teach a dog to me?

How to teach a dog to me

The art of choice

Teaching the dog the command to me it is not easy because his attention is distracted by many things around him. Each time we summon a dog to us, we require it to stop doing what it likes, i.e. turn away from interesting smells, dogs or food. Therefore, we have to convince (teach) the pet that being around us is the coolest thing it can do. The situation that also benefits him the most. 

How to teach a dog to me? 

We are planning short training sessions

Command dog training to me it's not complicated, but some pets take longer than others. It depends a lot on your ability to concentrate. Teaching should be conducted regularly, in short training sessions of 5 - 15 minutes, at least three times a week, but not more than twice a day.

We organize optimal conditions

During training, your dog will need to learn to filter out some distractions, so avoid an environment in which it will be over-stimulated by noise or odors. The ideal place to start learning is at home, in which the pooch is familiar with the conditions (light, sounds of the environment, household members). It is worth taking advantage of everyday, home situations, e.g. when the dog is lying on the bed on the other side of the room and we want to recall him. We start learning from short distances and gradually increase them.

We use delicacies

At the beginning of the training, we use the dog's favorite toy or treats. We make eye contact with him, pick up a toy or treat, and then say the dog's name. Moments later, in a clear and cheerful voice, we give the command to me. If necessary, we include gestures such as tapping the hand on the knee (thigh) and backing up to the verbal command. Repeat the instructions until the dog comes up. If he does, we reward him and then praise him, without showing excessive euphoria.

We repeat the exercise and increase the distance

We repeat this exercise over longer distances five or six times, moving to different rooms of the house. If that doesn't work, we go back to the previous room and practice a few more times before trying another one. Repetition is key. 

We train outside in compliance with safety rules

If the dog begins to understand the command, continue exercising outside the home, where conditions are more distracting for him. You should choose an area where you will be able to run away from your pet for a dozen or so steps without the risk that it will fall under the wheels of the car or run after the cyclist. 

It is best to train in a fenced estate, in a park or garden, where there are no cars nearby. In this way, we prevent escape and ensure the safety of the person under our care. We avoid places where there are other dogs. There will be time for that. We observe the behavior of the pet and train where fun is the most important for him.

We gradually increase the distance. At this stage, we can use a training rope or a longer leash. When your pet responds correctly to the command to me on a long cord, we practice doing it without a cord. At first, only in a fenced area. Of course, we remember to reward with treats and praise.

We are slowly reducing rewarding with delicacies or toys, but we still praise the pet.

We increase the difficulty of training

If the quadruped carries out the command correctly to me and joyfully runs towards us, we start training in more difficult terrain. However, one should remember about the gradation of difficulties. We can choose a busy place near the children's playground. We start learning some distance from the square. In the next steps, we approach this area and repeat the exercise until the pooch stops responding to distracting stimuli.

Similarly, we train him near a bicycle path or a place where other dogs run around. We train consistently. We do not give up even when a pet for some time is more interested in chasing a cyclist than cooperating with us.

Training Tips:

  • We never give a command to me in an angry tone.
  • We never apply penalties if the dog does not obey the command.
  • We try to make the training fun for the dog. 
  • We always use the same words for a recall command to me. 

How to teach a dog to me –zabawy related to learning a command.

In training, playing "hide and seek" can be helpful - we hide from the dog behind a tree, wall and other objects we pass and call the dog to us by command to me. The dog will learn to pay attention to us. Besides, the training will become more interesting for both parties. 

Playing "warm potato" can make the training more attractive. We engage several family members (friends) and give them the pet's treats. Then, in turn, each person summons the dog. A pet is rewarded with a treat every time it comes to the person who called it.


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