How to teach a dog its proper noun

At that place are lots of exciting things in the earth for a dog which can brand them easily distracted, so gaining your dog'due south attending is the basis to all obedience training.

Why should I teach my domestic dog to reply to their proper name?

It is a legal requirement to keep your dog nether control at all times. The footing of this is teaching your domestic dog to respond to their name when called. Whether in an emergency situation, around other dogs or distractions it's of import that your dog finds information technology rewarding to respond to their name and seek your interaction.

This can be washed using a variety of attention and focus exercises to teach your dog that when they hear their name and they look at you lot there is a advantage which will follow.

Here are a few tips on how to teach your dog its name.

View the sound transcript for this video

Basic things to start with

Gear up the environs for your dog to succeed past beginning to train in a calm, quiet environment, with no distractions.

Practise makes perfect

Practice a minimum of x times per day, say the domestic dog's name (from 2 to six feet away) and every bit soon as the dog looks at y'all, mark this behaviour with a marker word such equally "yep" or a clicker and reward with food or play while giving lots of praise.

Maintain Focus

Do non ask the canis familiaris to sit down or practise annihilation else before giving the canis familiaris the treat, as the reward is for looking at you when you say their proper name, not for any other behaviour.

You will shortly notice your dog starting to offer attention without being prompted; be prepared to reinforce this with a reward to encourage your canis familiaris to regularly check in with you.

Orientation game

  1. Get-go in a place where there is to the lowest degree potential for distraction and where your dog is used to playing with you.
  2. Throw a piece of your domestic dog's daily food assart out (nearly one meter abroad).
  3. After they finish eating, they volition naturally look dorsum to you for more than, mark this with a 'yes' or a click and throw another slice.
  4. In one case your canis familiaris is turning dorsum consistently, introduce your canis familiaris's name just before they turn around then mark and advantage.
  5. You tin can brand this game more than heady and keep your dog interested by putting a treat on the flooring and as before long as your canis familiaris has eaten the food, say their proper name and run backwards. When they come, reward with food or a toy and give lots of praise.
  6. Identify another reward on the floor and so echo, have FUN!

Remember your chore is to appraise the training environment and very gradually increment the level of distraction. As you up the distractions, make certain your reinforcement (treats or play) is increased in value.

If your dog is not responding to their proper noun, go dorsum a step to ensure success before increasing the level of distractions again.

Download these tips as a handy advice canvass and use it as a reminder to train regularly:

Advice sheet