Renowned veterinary behaviorist Nicholas Dodman, BVMS, once said that when asked what is the one thing most people would like their dog to be able to do, they respond, “Come when I call.” But ironically, people often engage in behavior that is designed to make a dog not come. They tell their pet to come sternly and then, when the dog doesn’t comply, start saying “Come” with anger or exasperation, graduating to yelling and finally letting the dog know how bad he is when they finally catch up with him.
Why don’t dogs respond to such commands? They’re no fools. They’re thinking, “Why should I walk over to someone who has become increasingly frustrated with me and seems primed to deliver unpleasant consequences?”
That’s why it’s important never to tell your dog to come in anger or irritation. Instead, ask him to come as pleasantly as you can, letting him know that you’ll be thrilled to have him by your side. If the dog is engaging in behavior he shouldn’t — annoying a passerby or another dog — proffer a delicious treat that you carry with you for moments like those. The point is to make coming to your side more enticing than whatever has grabbed his attention.
Precisely correct!