How to Train Your Dog to Come With Distractions
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Introduction
Your dog knows how to come. You’re sure of it. You’ve spent hours working on it in the house and backyard, along with all the other basics like 'sit', 'down' and 'heel'. Every time you call, your dog comes running, hoping for a good treat or toy, but happy to accept an ear scratch and an “atta boy”. You have no concerns as you bring your dog to the dog park. Surely she will behave herself. Several hours later when you are ready to go home, you are humiliated to find that you are the one chasing your dog all over the park, calling until you’re hoarse. Anyone would think your dog had never heard her name before! All those longs hours of training--wasted.
Your training wasn’t wasted, and although it seems like your dog has forgotten it all, she really hasn’t. It’s just that when we introduce distractions, it becomes much more difficult for our dogs to obey. This may be because your dog hasn’t developed the self-control to overcome the desires inspired in her by all the new distractions, or it may be because your dog doesn’t understand your command to come in this new context of a dog park, or it could be because your dog is testing the limits of your authority. Most likely it is a combination of all three.
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Defining Tasks
Dogs that are bred to follow their nose or chase down game may have a harder time overcoming distractions and coming when called than retrievers or general purpose work dogs. Dogs that track or chase have been bred to be independent of their owner and focused on their quarry. In the field, such dogs have typically been followed by their owner until the prey was treed or taken down, depending on the breed. Because of these predispositions, such dogs may have a harder time coming when called, even if you work very hard.
Successfully training your dog to come with distractions depends on a good deal of patience. Having your dog run off on you can be extremely frustrating, and feels like a betrayal. It does no good, however, to lose your temper. Your dog is not refusing to come because she doesn’t love or respect you, but because of complex factors, many of them beyond her control. Identify why she isn’t coming and work gradually with her towards success, while using external controls like barriers and long leashes to keep control of the situation and keep everyone safe.
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Getting Started
Training your dog to come with distractions is similar to training her to come without distractions. You need to have something that can motivate her to come, like yummy treats, a favorite toy, and of course, your enthusiastic praise and affection. If she is already coming reliably without distractions, you already know what motivates your dog. Bring these same tools to the distraction training.
Some additional tools are useful in teaching your dog to come with distractions. A more distinct attention-getting device than your dog’s name, like a whistle or horn, can prove useful in cutting through distractions. Long lines, especially a lunge line with some elasticity, are extremely useful both for having ultimate control of your dog and for nudging her into paying attention. An elastic line is good because it prevents a sharp pull if your dog suddenly bolts against it. This protects both you and your dog.
Finally, for dogs that are struggling to break out of their focus on other things, the opportunity to practice every day is key. Keep the training sessions to 10 or 15 minutes, keep the sessions fun, and always end on a positive note and when the training is going well. Don't wait until your pooch has had enough and stop at that point. That gives the session a negative vibe.
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The Look for Me Method
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Find a safe place to play
Choose a dog park or friend’s house that has places for you to hide and a secure fence from which you can exit.
Introduce distractions
Make sure there are interesting distractions for your dog to become immersed in. Wait for your dog to wander off and become interested.
Call your dog
Call your dog using the whistle or call to which she has been trained to come. If she comes, reward her and let her wander off again. Wait some time and try again. If she keeps coming, introduce more distractions. When she doesn’t come, move onto the next step.
Hide
Make sure your dog isn’t looking at you and go hide. Wait her out. It may take some time for her to come looking. If she does come looking, reward her enthusiastically and go with her back to the distraction area. Wait some time and practice again. If she doesn’t come after a half hour or more, move onto the next step.
Pretend to leave
Call your dog. If she refuses to come, pretend to leave. Make a show of closing the gate, even start your car. She should come running to the fence. As soon as she does, go reward her enthusiastically and make a great show of your reunion.
Practice
Practice over and over in many environments, until your dog learns that it is her responsibility to listen for your call and come, or else she may lose you. Over time, this fear will cut through all distractions.
The Long Line Method
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Safety first
Use a secure and comfortable fitting harness so your dog won’t be injured if she bolts on a neck lead. It is best if your line has some elasticity, to protect you and your dog from sudden jolts. Be very careful that your line never gets wrapped around your dog’s legs or gets twisted around a tree.
Range freely
Let your dog range out from you, pulling line freely behind her. Follow her discreetly, being careful that the line doesn’t get hung up on anything.
Call your dog
When she has taken a good bit of the line, take up all slack without actually pulling on your dog at all, and call her. If she comes, reward her enthusiastically. If she doesn’t, move on to the next step.
Get your dog’s attention
If your dog doesn’t come when you call, give one quick, firm pull on the line while calling again. The pull should be just enough to jostle her and get her attention. If she still doesn’t come, call and pull a little harder, until she starts coming to you.
Praise the return
Praise your dog enthusiastically as she returns to you. She may be sheepish, knowing she should have come, or she may seem reluctant. No matter how she is, be enthusiastic and shower her with praise all the way back to you and rewards when she gets to you.
Practice
Keep practicing in different settings. When you feel confident, remove the line. The first time your dog doesn’t respond, put the line back on. Soon she will have practiced enough to have built the self control to come no matter the distractions.
The Short and Sweet Method
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Train when the timing is right
Although when to train should always be your decision, don't push your dog into a working session when they are obviously out of sorts, bored, or already distracted. Start with a fun walk, and then get to work.
Come inside
After the walk in the fresh air, start training inside, in a small room. The area should be quiet. Work on the basic recall command that your dog already knows. Success should be relatively easy, based on the close quarters. Wrap up the session for the day.
Move around
Work in different areas of the house such as a larger room where other people may be present. In combination with the mild distraction, stand further away when calling your dog. Give the recall command you typically use. When your pooch comes, reward her with enthusiastic praise, and occasionally a treat. Again, wrap up the session after a few minutes.
Bigger and better
Once your dog is getting the idea, move the session to the backyard, where distractions like squirrels, passers-by, and other distractions may play a part. Stand at the opposite end of the yard. Practice as usual with praise and treats, and extend the training session length.
The test
Keep practicing. Your dog may get to a place where just the call or whistle can get her attention. The ultimate test will be to go to the dog park, the beach, or anywhere that major distractions will be a factor. Have treats on hand for when your super-obedient dog comes to your call.
By Coral Drake
Published: 12/21/2017, edited: 01/08/2021
Training Questions and Answers
Cooper
Golden Retriever
7 Months
Question
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0 found this helpful
We have neighbors that also have a puppy as well. Whenever we take Cooper outside to potty, which we won't be doing soon anymore as we will have a fence in our backyard soon where when he has to go just open the door to the backyard, if the neighbors come out and if Cooper has possible wiggled out of his harness, or had a situation where he escaped and is free, he will be playing with the neighbors dog, and playing with them, and he will only listen to them when they call his name. If I say "come" to go back inside, he will not listen, even though he is my puppy which is strange. How in the world would he listen to me when others are around and when there are distractions? I really need to know because Cooper just ignores us when they are here. He is just running around, chill like we aren't annoyed and stressed that he's off leash out and free and anything could possibly happen. Also, the neighbors don't mind if their puppy is on the road, but I do. Now, he thinks its okay if he just runs out on the road. Can you make a solution to teach him the road isn't okay? If not, that's fine. Thank you, hope you reply. :)
Dec. 26, 2020
Cooper's Owner
Alisha Smith - Alisha S., Dog Trainer
257 Dog owners recommended
Hello! I am going to give you information on potty training, as well as teaching recall for running away. Recall: STAGE ONE – 'Catching' or Charging Up the 'Come' Cue Start in a distraction free environment so that your dog can focus only on you. Whenever your puppy or dog is coming to you on his own, wait until he is a couple of feet from you and then say his name and the word 'come.' When he gets to you, make a big fuss. With this exercise, your dog will learn that coming to you is a really good thing. After a while, you can lengthen the distance between you and start using the word when he is coming to you from a greater distance. Coming to you should always be rewarded, whatever the circumstance and no matter how long it took your dog to respond. Motivate your dog to come by being exciting, running away from him, waving a toy, or having delicious food for him when he gets to you. This will show him that coming back to you the best thing he can do. STAGE TWO – Solidifying the Cue Through Play Make sure you play the Back and Forth game with another person that your dog is comfortable with. Start the game in a quiet environment so it is easy for your dog to focus on you. Hold your dog back while the other person calls him excitedly. Try not to use his name or the cue word but talk excitedly to ‘gee’ him up. Do not release him until the person calls his name followed by the cue word “come.” When the cue word is given, release your dog and let him go running to the person calling. As soon as he reaches them they should praise and reward him with a game of tug or a food reward. When your dog has had his reward, have the other person hold him back as you call him and release as you say his name followed by the cue word. When he comes to you reward him with another game of tug or food reward. Repeat this game back and forth but only do a few repetitions so your dog does not get bored or too tired. Keeping it fresh means the game is always fun to play. STAGE THREE – Adding Vocal Cue With Hand Signal Inside Now your dog knows what the word “come” means you can use the cue word to call him to you while adding a hand signal to the word. Hand signals are always good to build with vocal cues so that even if your dog cannot hear you he will understand what the hand signal means. This is good if your dog is a distance away from you. Start in a quiet environment. Walk away from your dog and call his name followed by the cue word and a hand signal. Praise and reward him when he comes to you. Start increasing the distance you call him from and praise for his compliance. If he does not respond, go back to the previous distance and repeat. Only practice this cue for a few minutes so your dog does not get bored. The secret to success is to always keep it fun, exciting and fresh. When your dog recognizes the hand signal, try calling his name and using the hand signal by itself without the vocal cue. You will then be able to use a combination of vocal cue only, hand signal only and the two together. Now your dog knows what the cue word means you can start to call him from different rooms or from areas where he cannot see you. This will encourage him to respond even when you are out of sight. STAGE FOUR – Adding Vocal Cue With Hand Signal Outside Now your dog is consistently coming to you in a distraction free environment you can proof your recall cue by taking it outside. Practice the recall in your yard and then gradually build up to the point where you can use it in the park or similar environment. The ultimate test is to use the recall when your dog is engaged in a different activity. Wait for a lull in that activity and then call your dog to you. Praise his decision to comply.
Dec. 28, 2020
Copper
Golden Doodle
2 Years
Question
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0 found this helpful
My dog is extremely crazy when he comes inside. How do I get him to be calm when he comes inside. My other question is once he is calmed down all he does is sniff around for food how do I get him to stop that?
Dec. 31, 2019
Copper's Owner
Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer
1133 Dog owners recommended
Hello Cloe, I suggest teaching him a Place command and letting him chew on a durable chew toy or dog food stuffed hollow chew toy - like a Kong. The Place command should be an automatic stay. Place: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omg5DVPWIWo I would also teach Out - which means leave the area - for boundaries: Out command: https://www.petful.com/behaviors/how-to-teach-a-dog-the-out-command/ For the food sniffing you will need to make sure you are stimulating him mentally - which a food stuffed hollow chew toy, Kong wobble toy, puzzle toy, or automatic treat dispenser is good for when you can't work directly with pup. Pup can even eat his meal kibble that way. Having thirty minute training sessions where pup is practicing something new or something that's a bit challenging can also help wear pup out and create a calmer mood in pup regularly. I would also work on Leave It and use Out and Leave It and Place to direct pup away from sniffing. Leave It method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-shih-tzu-puppy-to-not-bite Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
Jan. 15, 2020