7 Steps to the ‘Come’ Command

K9 Solutions Training Tips by Sylvie Pleasant

• Make coming to you the most exciting thing in the world! Use lots of enthusiasm, praise, and a cheerful tone to encourage your dog to return to you.
• Ensure that you have your dog’s full attention before using the word “come.”
• Use the word “come” only once, then immediately go to your dog and cheerfully lead them back to where you originally called them from. Shower them with praise, even if you have to go a few blocks to retrieve them!
• Never call your dog using the “come” command for punishment or unpleasant tasks like nail trimming. They will start to associate coming to you with negative experiences and begin to avoid completing the command. Avoid using an angry tone as well, as this will cause them to hesitate or ignore you out of apprehension.
• Only use the word “come” when you’re confident you will be able to follow through and retrieve your dog if they choose to ignore you, don’t leave the command to be ignored or misunderstood without a conclusion.
• If your dog ever runs away, try kneeling down, flopping on the ground, or running the other direction to encourage them to return.

Teaching the Come Command

• Turn coming to you into a fun game! Encourage your dog to chase you for a few feet.
• As your dog approaches, turn and say “come” with enthusiasm.
• Praise your dog generously and reward them with one treat at a time, giving a total of ten treats.
• Repeat this exercise four times in each session, 1-2 times per day, for two weeks.
• After two weeks, maintain a reliable “come” by practicing 1-2 times per week.
• Once your dog reliably responds to the command, start reducing the frequency of treats. Sometimes offer a couple, sometimes none, and occasionally give a jackpot of treats so your dog never knows when they’ll get rewarded. However, always maintain your practice 1-2 times per week.
• If your dog ever ignores you, show them what they missed by offering the treat to another dog or throwing it in the trash in front of them. Alternatively, get them to chase you to reignite their interest.

Good luck and have fun!

About Sylvie Pleasant

Sylvie Pleasant is a Certified Dog Trainer and Behavior Consultant. A dog lover her entire life, Sylvie become a professional dog trainer after watching her fear-aggressive corgi gain confidence to the point where she interacted with other dogs and people with joy instead of lunging and snapping at them! Sylvie studied with several of the Greater Raleigh Dog Training Club trainers both before and during teaching her own group classes. While studying at conferences nationwide, she also branched off to offer private sessions and sessions regarding aggression. Sylvie was certified in 1999 by Canine Training Inc.

An avid community supporter, Sylvie started the volunteer companion program at the SPCA of Wake County in 1992 and coordinated many facets of the volunteer force until 1996. This included training volunteer adoption counselors to educate and serve customers with selecting their new furry family member and also formed and coordinated the volunteer lost/found program. A corporate burn-out, Sylvie took the plunge and started Sylvie’s K9 Solutions Inc. in 2001 and later merged with Donnie Hult to form K9 Solutions LLC.