| Most of the time the pup will come when you call | | | | him, issue a reprimand and give him the sit-stay |
| him. Notice we said most of the time. That is not | | | | commands. Move back from him and repeat the |
| enough. You want him to come every time you call | | | | command "Come!" If he still insists on giving you the |
| him, not when he feels like it or expects something. | | | | "you-chase-me" treatment, go to him, chastize him, |
| You cannot consider your dog properly trained unless | | | | and make him sit-stay again. |
| he instantly obeys your command to come. There | | | | This time fasten a twenty-foot rope to his collar. |
| must be no hesitation on his part; come means come. | | | | Walk to the end of the rope, turn around and give |
| In addition to wanting to please you, the pup also | | | | the command "Come!" As you give the command, |
| wants to come to you. In fact, it's all he can do to | | | | tug on the rope. If he digs in, haul him toward you |
| restrain himself from dashing over to you. Fine. This | | | | and keep repeating the command. |
| makes a good place to start. Later, you will want him | | | | He'll come to you when you pull him, albeit very |
| to come from any position and place. | | | | unwillingly. But when he gets hauled over to you |
| Before starting the "Come" lesson, give the pup a | | | | three or four times, he'll prefer to come without the |
| warm-up. Run him through the sit-stay a few times | | | | rope. Try him. If he goes astray, put him back on the |
| to get him into the spirit of the lessons. | | | | rope. |
| Next, give him the command or hand signal to sit, | | | | Some trainers use a hand signal for "Come!" This |
| follow it with stay, then move off about twenty | | | | hand signal has its uses, mostly in the field. But even |
| feet. Now, give the sharp, clear command "Come!" | | | | in the field it is limited, especially when you are out of |
| (or use his name), at the same time slapping your | | | | sight of the dog. For general use, the voice command |
| knees as you bend over. | | | | is best or you can use a "silent" whistle. |
| If the pup dawdles or bolts away for a romp, go to | | | | |