How to Teach Your Dog to Come When Called

Krista Catrell: I have a two mind stream that he’s trying to learn the command that may save our dog’s life and thanks for being with us again. Female: It’s great. Krista Catrell: It’s great to see you and we of course have you sit your old golden with us again Logan he is so handsome and he is so nervous. Female: Yeah, I can see that. Krista Catrell: He’s getting more and more—you're a good boy, yes you are. Female: Okay, now you're going to show us what you call Smart Play, what is that? Krista Catrell: Well, Play Smart says let's have fun and I want to have fun, you want to have fun and I want to save my dog’s life at the same time and teach come. Female: Okay. Krista Catrell: So I bet I can use a happy voice and instead of going “Logan come” I can go “Logan Marie Come” and he comes because I'm moving back and I'm happy and I am having fun. Okay, well I start teaching come with the dog on leash but then its time to make it part of my day and guess what everyone has everyday. “Wait Logan” we feed our dogs breakfast. Female: All right, okay. Krista Catrell: And so if you’ll hold Logan for a second. Female: Okay and I can say “Logan come, breakfast” and what is he learning, he is learning to come and he gets a huge food reward. Krista Catrell: So you always make sure you're using that, use that term whenever you get the opportunity. Female: Absolutely, okay we have an empty dish but now I want to play another game because what if I have kids right and kids want to do something would you consider holding Logan immensely. Krista Catrell: Give me. I would love to hold him. Are you ready, I'm going to hide. Female: Now let's see if Logan can find me and I'm going to have a reward this time if he does and I'm going to say “Logan come” and he found me, what a good dog. Now what if you and I want to play a game, would you like to play a game with me? Krista Catrell: Oh, yes, sure. Female: Well, I just happened to have some food treats because kids like to have fun and so do moms and dads and puppies and so we’re going to ask them and to go in between us, call and say “Logan come”. Krista Catrell: “Logan come” good boy. Female: Yes, I'm feeding and don’t go “Logan come”. Krista Catrell: That was a good treat, aren’t they Logan. Female: And so we can play a find me game, we can start with breakfast and then we can play games back and forth and if we want, we can even add something else. Krista Catrell: And how can this help to save a dog’s life? Female: All right, the door is open. There is the street, the dog runs through the door and a car is in the street. I don’t want my dog to be hit by a car, instead I want to be able to say “Logan come” and he comes, first time every time. Krista Catrell: And then so many dogs that don’t know how to do that are out in the street considering right there, it was like that chubby chase movie where the dog just taken off, exactly. And you mentioned that this command illustrates a positive relationship with your dog that’s very important in everything, isn’t it? Female: Absolutely, yes I want him to like working with me as much as I want to work with him and that’s when I say we need to play smart and make everything fun and then he wants to be with me. Krista Catrell: Oh, he is just absolutely beautiful and where can we find out more information. Female: You can go to my website.