The GAMES of Come!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

"Never scold (punish) your dog for running away after the dog  has returned to you. When he finally comes back, shower him with love and affection. If you yell at him and punish him, he will never run back to you again.

You wouldn't want to come back to an angry, upset person and neither does your dog"

A few people wrote me this week asking what games I play with my dogs to get them to come and keep my frustrations down while teaching the command, and making it more fun for both you and the dog.

Here are Two:

1.  Come/Sit Come/Sit

While your dog sits, stand in front of the dog.  You two are facing each other.  Take 3 steps back.  Tell the dog to come/sit.  Reward.  Repeat.  Add more steps backward--4, 6, 15.  Do it ten times each time they sit in front of you treat!

Do it everyday.  I do it in my tiny kitchen just because I want to treat my dogs!  I do it in the hallway.  Make it fun for YOU and the dog.  Over and over, one treat at a time all day long.  It becomes a habit for You, it becomes a habit for the dog.  It's sweet and simple and does not feel so much like work.

Spud thinks this is a JOKE, but Starlit loves the game. 

2.  Chase me

Take off running the other direction. Make the dog chase you while saying, " Come, Come"  treat along the way.  It is a great game of chase that the dogs love, you use the word COME while playing the game. 

These sound so simple and they are simple but we feel that after we have already taught them to come they should already obey this command!  Yeah, well they don't on many occasions but it is the most important command they should know and worth many REFRESHERS along the way. 

Please add your own games to the list!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

BruceGirl has a really fun game of Hide-N-Seek. I've invited her in here to tell us how she does this game. It is so much fun for both the dog and the trainer!

Calling---BruceGirl

[Julie, Izzie & Max]

Thank you, Joanne! I am so glad you started this discussion. I will definitely follow. I have been researching this topic this week and am going to try out some new training games this weekend. If they are fun and successful, I will post them here.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Julie, so glad you may have some new ideas too! Can't wait to hear what is working for you and the dogs. Have fun. Enjoy Training!

[Linda and Murphy]

Joanne, thanks for the post. This is what my instructor taught.

When teaching it when he was a puppy, I gave the boys Murphy treats and we would randomly say "Murphy, come".
He would sit, get his treat. Then someone else would call him. Repeat.

Come is an emergency command for us. I rarely use it. (I use "Murphy" or "Murphy here) When training, I was taught never use it unless you are in a position to enforce it and reward with the highest value treat.

I have mentioned this before. During class we were performing a recall. Murphy (11 mos, 90 lbs) was in a sit/stay at about 30 ft. The exercise was (with him focused on you) give the "come"command and run away from him with his high value treat in your hand. I made it about 10 ft and he literally tackled me....in an asphalt parking!!

[BG and Gavin]

Here I am Joanne!

DH stands at one end of the yard, me at the other, with some super high value treats (chicken) and call Gavin back and forth. We hide behind trees, the shed, the BBQ etc. Gavin LOVES this game.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

See, even BruceGirl CAME when Called! Everyone give her a cookie!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

This sounds like A LOT of fun. I'm going to do this one too.

[BG and Gavin]

I could say that I'm not food motivated, but that would be a lie!!!

[Linda, Webber and Seda]

My neighbor took their dog to a reliable recall class. They said to pick a word other than come, and give the dog very high value treats for coming immediately. You say the dog's name and the magic word once. No treats for sloppy responses. For emergency recalls you want them to do it, and the first time, since it can save their lives. I use the word "treat". Webber is very responsive to treats. He still isn't perfect but we are still working on it. I find getting his attention if he has spotted a deer, squirrel or doggie friend is nearly impossible if he has gotten in "the zone".

[Jodi and Stella]

Thanks Joanne! I just "played" the come/sit come/sit game with Stella and it went quite well.