Q&A for How to Train a Dog to Come

Ensure she only associates responding to your call with good things. Practice at every opportunity. For example call her for her meals, "Come, Flossie," and then reward her with the meal. Keep treats on you, and when she's on the other side of the room, call her "Come, Flossie" and act excited. When she comes over, give her a big fuss and a treat. Practice this with her on the leash in the yard, so that she knows when you call and she responds, she gets a big reward.

This is a slow process, whereby you build the dog's confidence in you. Less is more, in that you need to subtly ignore the dog, so they don't see how much you want them to come to you. Sit on the ground (to make yourself less threatening) sideways on to the dog. Have some treats in a crinkly bag (that rustles and makes noise) and pick out a treat and pretend to eat the most delicious thing in the world. The aim is to get the dog's interest focused on you. When you have the dog's attention, drop a treat a short distance away to entice the dog closer.

Make sure the dog associates recall with good things. Play a recall game in the garden with a friend. Each of you should have a treat pouch. One person calls the dog "Come, Rover," and acts excited to get the dog's attention. When the dog runs over, make a huge fuss of them and give a treat. Then stand still. Person 2 then calls the dog "Come, Rover" and acts excited. Get the dog used to running to people for a reward and practice, practice, practice.

Reward-based training is the way ahead. Use treats to lure the dog into doing the action you require. The instant the dog performs the action, label it with a cue word and give the treat. For example, to teach "Sit," lure the dog with a treat, moving it up and behind the dog's head. As their head follows the treat, their rear will sink to the ground. Immediately say "Sit" and give the treat.