How to teach a dog the command "To me!"

Why teach a dog the command "To me!"

The following phrase is popular among dog handlers: "If your dog does not follow the command "To me!", you can assume that you do not have a dog." And indeed, seeing a confused, loudly shouting man running after a dog on the street, it is difficult to recognize him as a real owner. The command "To me!" will prevent dog escapes and protect the pet from risky actions. It is necessary to engage in the education of the animal. It is not necessary to turn a dog into a prisoner, forced to always walk on a leash, and daily walks – into hard labor.

Walking a well-bred, trained dog, on the contrary, will bring joy and satisfaction. Just imagine: you come to a park, a forest or a dog playground, let your pet off the leash, he freely frolics and plays, but at the same time you are sure that when you hear the command "To me!", the dog will immediately come running to you. Understanding each other at a glance, both the owner and the dog will feel safe.

Important: you should start training the puppy as early as possible, while you need to make sure that he knows his name. If the pet does not respond to the nickname, he will not understand which of the phrases you uttered refer specifically to him. It is not difficult to find out that the baby is aware of his name: the dog will wag his tail, turn his head and walk in your direction. As soon as the basics of obedience are mastered, you can proceed to the study of the command "To me!".

Correct execution of the command

To teach the dog the command "To me!", the owner must clearly understand what it is and, accordingly, what to demand from the pet. It is important to immediately train the dog to execute the command correctly, and not be content with the fact that it sometimes comes to you. Show firmness, confidence and act without haste.

Today there are two correct versions of the execution of the command "To me!":

• for everyday life – the dog approaches the owner and sits down;
• normative – the dog approaches the owner, then walks around him clockwise and sits down at the left foot.

In both cases, the command "To me!" can be divided into 3 stages that will need to be worked out sequentially:

• the pet comes to the owner;
• the dog sits down opposite the owner, or makes a detour and sits at his left foot;
• the dog gets up and behaves freely after the owner has released it with the help of a cancellation command - "Go!", "Walk!", "Good!" or another.

Hearing the command "To me!", the dog should immediately react and resort to the owner. The dog throws any business and fixes attention on its owner. It is not enough for a pet to run up to you and immediately rush back – he must stay nearby. Landing helps the dog to concentrate. After sitting near the owner, the fluffy pet can leave only when he is allowed.

Learning the command "To me!" for daily use

It is best to start teaching the dog the command "To me!" where it will not be distracted by loud extraneous sounds – in an apartment, house or a secluded corner of the park. In the first classes, the assistant will be able to help you significantly.

Ask a friend to pick up a puppy. If the dog is already an adult, it must be held on a leash. From your hands, give your pet a treat, praise or stroke it. Now your assistant, along with the dog, slowly backs away to a distance of about 1-2 m, while the animal should not lose sight of you. Even if the dog immediately reaches out to you, you need to hold it. The puppy should be put on the ground, and the adult dog continues to be on a leash.

Call the pet by name and kindly command: "To me!". You can sit down and pat yourself on the thigh. This is the end of the assistant's role – he lets the dog go so that it runs to you.

When a pet comes up, praise him well and give him a treat. If the dog does not come, squat down and show him a treat – who will refuse a tasty treat? Do not detain him for a long time, in order to avoid the appearance of persistent hostility to training, it is enough to take the pet by the collar and let it go.

Repeat this exercise 5 times, then take a break – walk and play with the dog as usual. The total training time per day should not exceed 15-20 minutes so that the pet does not lose interest in learning.

Note: How quickly the dog will begin to cope with this part of the task depends on its individual abilities and breed. For example, border collie , poodles and german shepherds they catch on the fly, and chihuahua , pugs and Yorkshire terriers it will take a little more time. Aboriginal dog breeds – afghan hound , basenji , chow chow - by nature not too adapted to training.

After a couple of days, when the dog realizes that at the command "To me!" it should approach you, increase the distance, bringing it approximately to 6 meters. Pet the dog who came up first, and only then give him a treat – he will get used to being given in his hands and not run away right away. However, too long strokes are also useless, ideally, so that they last no more than 5 seconds. You can also pretend that you are examining the pet's paw and muzzle so that he thinks that it is really important to approach you.

Keep practicing the command "To me!" while walking, call the dog to you every 10 minutes. At first, try to give a command when the pet is not busy with something interesting, so that he will surely react.

When the skill is well learned, and the dog steadily approaches you, you can start boarding. When the dog approaches, enter the command "Sit!". Try to change the distance and the place where the training takes place so that the pet learns to execute the command "To me!" in any situation.

Training the team "To me!" according to the OKD standard

If you plan to teach the dog the command "To me!" in accordance with the General training course, you need to make sure that instead of landing in front of you, she makes a clockwise detour and sits down at the left foot.

To do this, call the dog in the same way as in the case of the "household" method, and then show your pet a treat hidden in your right hand. Keep the treat right next to the dog's nose so that her motivation is maximum. Now swipe your hand with the cherished piece behind your back, transfer it to your left hand and pull it slightly forward. The pet will follow the treat, thanks to which it will bypass you and take the right position. At the end, raise your hand up – the animal should sit down. If the dog does not sit down by itself, command: "Sit!".

Don't worry if your pet gets confused at first. Over time, the dog will definitely understand what is wanted from her.

How to motivate a dog to execute the command "To me!"

By nature, dogs, and especially puppies, are extremely curious and active. They like to play, receive gifts and treats. They get attached to their owner and need attention. This is skillfully used by dog handlers and savvy owners. When the training of the command "To me!" is carried out in a relaxed playful way, accompanied by praise and support, it does not frighten and does not tire the pet.

The main ways to motivate a dog:

• a treat. It is necessary not to feed, but only to treat the dog with a delicacy. Choose the product that your four–legged friend loves very much, but rarely gets - when he executes a command. A treat does not replace a meal. The piece should be small, because the smaller it is, the more the pet will want to get the next one. Food addiction is very strong, so a hungry dog is better trained than its well-fed relative;
• weasel. When you call your dog to you, tell her as many affectionate words as possible, and when she runs up to you – admire! Stroke your pet – let him know that coming to you, he will receive a charge of positive emotions. Then the dog will execute the command "To me!" with joy;
• game. Every dog has a couple of favorite toys. Use the object as a treat – when the pet runs up to you, seeing the coveted toy, be sure to play with it. From now on, he will expect a game, so it is important not just to wave a thing in front of him, but to realize his little dream. It is necessary to interrupt the entertainment program until the moment when it bores the dog, so that the value of the game is preserved;
• fear of losing the owner. Fear is the strongest motivator. The dog must think that he can lose you forever if he does not obey. When practicing the command "To me!", if the pet does not want to go to you, you can run away from him and hide, that is, "throw". Do not confuse the fear of losing the owner with the fear of punishment;
• the need for security. If the above techniques do not work, then your dog is a "tough nut to crack", and it's time to move on to defensive motivation. The search for protection from the owner is a natural reaction of the animal to external threats. They can be jerks of a leash, a radio-controlled collar, suspicious sounds, shooting from a slingshot, a frightening stranger and other, timely organized, troubles.

A properly motivated dog will understand that for executing the command "To me!" a real holiday awaits her – a treat, praise or a game, and in case of whims, she can be bored alone. Training should be associated with positive emotions – this is the key to success! If you do not have enough patience or time to work with the dog, contact the dog handlers. An animal must be able to behave in society, so as not to pose a danger to it.

What not to do during training

When teaching a dog the command "To me!" it is better to familiarize yourself in advance with a list of typical mistakes that can negate all your efforts. Once causing a pet to dislike training, it will be difficult to get rid of it.

The first and most important rule is after you have commanded: "To me!", do not scold or punish a pet. If the dog ran up to you, but did something wrong on the way, you can not shout at it, and even more so beat or drive away. In the memory of the animal, the punishment will be associated with the command, and you will not want to execute it again.

A mistake often made by inexperienced dog breeders is to call your pet to you with the command "To me!" at the end of the walk and immediately cling to the leash. At first glance, it may seem that this is logical and convenient. But from the dog's point of view, the command will begin to mean tying up and the end of the walk. Having called a four-legged friend to you, stroke him, scratch behind the ear, stand or play for a while, and then put on a leash. If you have time, walk a little more before returning home.

The owner is an indisputable authority for the dog. He should not repeat the same thing dozens of times in the hope of being heard. The command "To me!" is very important and serious. She demands that the dog be distracted from any activities and react instantly. Give the command once, otherwise the dog will decide that it doesn't really matter when it responds: for the first, third or tenth time. If the dog ignored you, take him on a leash, repeat "To me!" later. If the pet knows the command well, but refuses to comply, reprimand him.

Until the dog learns the previous command, it is undesirable to switch to learning a new one. The dog may start to get confused and do something completely different from what is expected of it. Act consistently, and the result will not be long in coming.

When you are just starting to learn the command "To me!", make sure that it is quiet and calm enough around. It is useless to train a dog that is constantly distracted by children, animals, noisy companies or cars passing by. Don't pronounce: "To me" – if you doubt that the pet will fit. In this case, alternative phrases will work, for example, "Come here!" or "Come here!", and the command "To me!" must be carried out implicitly from the first days of training.

You can not command an angry, dissatisfied or frightening voice, choose calm and joyful intonations. Dogs are sensitive to the mood and emotions of their owners. Fluffy should want to approach you, not be afraid.

Body language also matters a lot. Some owners do not pay attention to this moment and take a threatening pose – slightly bend forward, spread their arms and look at the animal. Even the most devoted pet will want to run in the opposite direction! Turn half-sideways, bend your knees slightly, pat your thighs with your hands and demonstrate in every way that you will be glad when the dog comes up.

Exercises that help you master the command "To me!"

Many dog owners want to diversify the training process. Auxiliary exercises will help the pet to master the command "To me!" faster, and the game form will awaken the pet's interest in classes. Learning at home and on the street has no fundamental differences, it should be encouraged in both cases. At the same time, the apartment has the opportunity to go to different rooms, and on a walk – to take advantage of the open space.

Training at home

To practice at home, you will need a partner, a 1.5-2 meter long leash and small treats for the dog. As a reward, your favorite toy will also work, which you can gradually replace the sweets with.

Sit with the assistant on the floor, opposite each other, at a distance of the length of the leash. Attach the dog to the leash. Take the free edge in your hands – at this time your assistant should lightly touch the dog's back. Call the pet by name and command "To me!". Now start pulling smoothly on the leash. The dog will reach out to you, and when he comes, be sure to praise him, treat him with a treat, put your hand in the collar, stroke.

Your friend will probably also want to be in charge – switch places with him and hold the pet yourself. The assistant should call the dog and repeat everything you did before.

When the animal no longer needs to be guided by a leash, and will respond well to the command "To me!", move on to the next task.

Repeat the exercise without a leash – call your pet to you, let your friend let him go at this moment. Gradually increase the distance that the dog will need to overcome to 3-4 meters.

Now complicate the task: while the assistant is holding the dog, hide in the next room and loudly enough give the command "To me!" from there. If the dog finds you, praise him and reward him with dessert. If he does not figure out what to do, approach him, take him by the collar and take him to the place where you were hiding. Then do not forget about the affection and treats. You can hide with a friend in turn. As a result, the pet will learn to find you in any part of the apartment.

Outdoor training

To spend time outside usefully, take a friend, a dog, a leash with you and go to a fenced place, like a tennis court, a school yard or a garden. Repeat the home exercise with a leash – you can squat.

When the skill to approach you is already clearly fixed, release the pet from the leash and do not pay any attention to it. Choose a moment when he also does not think about you, command "To me!". If the dog comes to you, reward her with a treat, praise and stroke. If the pet does not react, do not worry – take him by the collar, bring him to the right place, and then praise and treat. The exercise will be considered mastered when, on command, the dog will always come to you, no matter what he does.

How to teach a dog the command "To me!": tips from dog handlers

The command "To me!" is one of the basic ones for the dog to master. If you are engaged in training yourself, the recommendations of dog handlers may be useful to you.

• Training should not be noticeable to the puppy, let it be like a game. Do not tire the animal with frequent commands. Stick to the rule: 1 day – 10 repetitions.
• Don't forget for what purposes your dog breed was bred. Often the reason why dogs do not execute the command "To me!" is a lack of physical activity. For example, hunting breeds – beagle, Jack Russell terrier, Russian greyhound - are very active by nature. Spending a lot of time locked up, the animals try to catch up and run around a lot.
• Always be affectionate with the dog that comes to your call. If the command "To me!" is used for subsequent punishment or any unpleasant actions, this will be the most effective way to train the dog not to respond to it. Almost all dogs do not like to wash and be treated, but forcing them to approach with the help of a team is not the best idea. If you need to bathe your pet or give him medicine, go to him, take him by the collar and bring him to the right place.
• Regardless of age, start teaching the puppy the command "To me!" from the first days of his appearance in your house. It is easier for a baby to learn to respond to a call than for an adult dog. Special attention needs to be paid to the age from 4 to 8 months, when young pets begin to learn about the world around them. During this period, do not neglect the leash so that the puppy cannot ignore you and execute commands.
• When the pet has mastered the command, you can stop giving food for each execution, but still do it often.
• If a dog decides to play catch–up with you – it comes up and then runs around you so that you can't catch it - stop it. Make sure that the pet, approaching you, allows you to touch the collar before receiving the treat.
• In difficult and critical situations, keep the dog on a leash, and do not rely only on the command "To me!". Calmly approach the animal and take it on a leash. Do not endlessly shout out a command or scare the dog, because then it will be harder to catch it later.

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Let's analyze the most frequently asked questions related to the command "To me!".

Is it possible to prepare a puppy for future training?

Puppies can learn the command "To me!" as soon as they get used to the house and begin to respond to their nickname. The following sequence of actions will help to approach this team: attract the dog's attention, say: "To me!", put a bowl of food in front of her and praise her.

There is also a little trick: when you see that the puppy is already coming to you, give the command "To me!" and reward him with a small treat or a favorite toy.

Why does the dog execute the command "To me!" only at home?

It's all about motivation. At home, the pet has much less temptations than on the street. The desire to explore the territory, meet relatives, new people, intriguing smells, unusual objects – your "To me!" should outweigh everything. Offer the dog a reward that will suit her taste.

Why is the dog not suitable when he is passionate about something?

There are mechanisms of excitation and inhibition in the central nervous system. During involvement in any process - chasing a cat, playing with dogs – the pet comes into a state of excitement. The command "To me!", on the contrary, activates the braking process. The dog should take his mind off the current activity, switch his attention to you and execute the command. Genetically, some dogs do it better than others. Usually these are service breeds: rottweiler , border collie , labrador retriever .

The good news is that the ability to "slow down" in time can be developed. Start an interesting game. When the dog gets excited, show him a treat. Now give any command that he studied earlier, for example, "Lie down!" or "Sit!". Praise your pet and give him a treat. Continue the game, but periodically take similar breaks. Over time, the dog will learn to switch his attention to commands.

Why did the dog stop obeying when he grew up?

If, as a puppy, the dog learned to correctly execute the command "To me!", and after a while began to perform it rarely or ignore it, this may be due to a certain stage of growing up. All dogs, to one degree or another, sometimes try to set their own rules, to become a leader in your "pack". Individuals in transition especially like to compete for leadership – a male at 7-9 months, a bitch – before and during the first heat. Be attentive to your pet, and, regardless of the results achieved earlier, practice the studied commands daily.

Do not forget that it is the owner who is the main source of happiness, love and new knowledge for the dog. Be generous emotionally, come up with various games and ways to please your fuzzy. It is important not just to teach the dog the command "To me!", but also to make her want to run to you!