Here Come the Puppies - from Somerset Magazine, July 2017

by REBECCA S. LINDEMAN

                Perhaps the most important thing you can teach your puppy is to come when called.  Immediately - not when she decides it’s time.  The majority of young pups learn their names without formal training and come running when you use it.  It is often not until they enter their “teenage” period that they begin to test their limits or start to choose when they respond and when they do not.  To avoid this problem, I teach what I refer to as an emergency recall in every class – puppy, adult, even agility.  (Recall means to call your pup back to you from something else)

                The first step is to give your puppy a middle name.  Now, when a human’s middle name is used, it is often a sign that he’s in trouble.  Picture yourself coming home past your curfew to discover your mother standing just inside the front door, hands on her hips, foot tapping.  When she utters your full name, your stomach clenches and your heart skips a beat.

                The use of your pup’s middle name will have the exact opposite effect. She will wiggle with joy and come running into your arms - if you follow the training steps exactly.  There are really only three rules to follow.  1.  Train and practice the behavior expected – coming when called – in a manner that allows your pup to succeed.  2.  Never use your pup’s middle name as a negative – that is, don’t use it to tell him he’s done something wrong and don’t use it to call him to do something he doesn’t like.  3.  Always pair the middle name with a great reward, usually an especially delicious treat.

Using a special name, consistently paired with rewards,

 will help your pup learn to come every time he’s called 

(Photo: Rebecca S. Lindeman)

               So, let’s get started.  Choose a middle name that is new, not something that you’ve used on a regular basis.  For the best results, make sure it is short and sounds very different from her first name.  In my pack are Ethel Jane, Daisy Rose, and Horatio Vince.

                Gather some tasty treats – ten is a good number – and we’re ready to begin.  In this step, it’s important to remember that we are not training a behavior; we are creating a positive association with the new name.  Work in a quiet room with no distractions.  Say your pup’s first and middle name in a happy voice, then immediately pop one of those delicious treats into her mouth.  Don’t wait for her to look at you, don’t require her to sit, don’t expect her to even move a muscle.  Just say the name and deliver the treat.  Because this training is so important, I generally use lean, cooked chicken breast.  Repeat this training twice a day for three days.

                On the fourth day, wait until your puppy is across the room from you, not paying attention.  Have those tasty treats ready, say his name and, if he whips his head in your direction – better yet, if he comes running to you – deliver all ten treats and throw a praise party!  If he didn’t, don’t worry, some pups learn a little more slowly.  Repeat the steps for another three days, and then try again.  When he responds as described, start doing this exercise twice a day for five days.

                On the sixth day, wait for your puppy to be in a different room.  Again, have your treats ready and be prepared to throw the praise party.  Call out your puppy’s first and middle name in a clear, loud, happy voice then say, “pup, pup, pup!” until she finds you.  Deliver the treats one at a time, all the while telling her what a wonderful girl she is.  Play hide and seek with your puppy three times a day for a full week.

Fatima Lohr demonstrates the welcoming posture 

and happy voice that very few puppies can resist 

(Photo: Phil Balko)

                The next step is to take it outside.  Take your puppy somewhere that he can be off leash and with few distractions – no other dogs, squirrels, kids, etc.  Let him play and explore for a while, then call him with his first and middle names.  As he comes to you, drop to the ground with your arms open wide, a big smile on your face, and call, “pup, pup, pup!” until he’s in front of you.  Hold his collar with one hand while you treat and pet with the other.  An important part of this step is to then release your puppy to play and explore some more.  Try to do this exercise three times a day for a week, then begin to do it in more and more distracting circumstances.

                In no time at all, you should have a dog that comes running when she hears her middle name.  When she is reliable, you can practice less.  Even now, I try to practice with my dogs once during every walk.  If you have any questions, please send me an email at rebeccaslindeman@gmail.com.

Rebecca is the President & Executive Director of The Ethel Fund Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to changing animals' lives by providing assistance in times of catastrophic veterinary need.  To learn more, please visit http://www.ethelfund.org or https://www.facebook.com/TheEthelFund.  You may contact Rebecca at rslindeman@ethelfund.org.

Phil Balko is the proprietor of Photography by Balko and donates his talents to the Ethel Fund Inc. as well as other community organizations.  To see more of his work, visit http://philipbalko.com/. You may contact Phil at inquiry@philipbalko.com.