A Dog Training Tip: Teaching Your Dog To Come With Positive Reinforcement
Does your dog ONLY come when he/she has no better option? Remember, when given a choice, animals will choose the behavior that produces the most valued outcomes for that specific animal. 
Coming when called is no exception. If you continue to practicing calling your dog, when your dog is clearly going to choose another option, you will be weakening your cue…and actually teaching your dog a very different meaning than what you most likely intended. ‘Come’ may mean to your dog, ‘Hang on a minute. I’ll come when I finish this activity.’ By the way, if that happens, you may have more success starting over with a new recall cue. And only practice in an environment where you know your dog will turn back to you right away…and make sure you are using a high value reinforcer from your dog’s perspective. NEVER follow that new recall cue with something your dog thinks is aversive – like calling your dog to lock him/her up and then leave for the day (if your dog does not want to be left alone in a confinement space).
Have fun…and your dog will too!
