The command to “come” is one of the most important for safety reasons. You never know when something unexpected will startle and confuse your dog, hearing you give a familiar command that has become routine will be reassuring and possibly life saving.
Begin this lesson by giving the command “come” and immediately offering a treat.
By doing this the puppy associates the command “come” with simply being at your side.
Do this several times a day until the puppy is expecting a treat with the word “come. It may take a few days, it’s important to establish this connection between the command “come” and his reward before you begin actual training.
Practice with Leash:
If the puppy is trained to walk with a leash, an easy practice is to sit on the floor with the puppy. As he wanders say “come”, at the same time tug on his leash – reward when he gets to you.
Practice with a game of chase.
During playtime in the yard, play with the puppy to get his attention, begin running away from him saying “come”. Allow him to catch you; praise and reward.
This is a fun lesson to practice with the family. Begin by sitting in a circle, everyone has a few treats. One person calls the puppy and rewards with a treat – then the next, around the circle. The next step is to mix up the directions, back and forth, making the circle larger as he masters each new challenge. Eventually, each family member will be in a separate room.
This lesson needs to be practiced in increasingly distracting surroundings. Always use a lead when not in a confined area.