How to teach a puppy is to come to you when you call it , Teach the command in five easy phases:

1. At puppy’s dinner time, take a handful of dry food and toss a piece about 6 feet away from you for the pup to chase. As soon as the pup eats the food, say its name in a very upbeat tone. When it looks, show it a second piece of food and wave your hand toward you as you say “Come.� When the pup runs up to you, ask it to sit and give it the food. Repeat the toss and recall 15 to 20 more times. Do this exercise indoors daily for two weeks.

2. Repeat the previous exercise outdoors for two weeks.

3. Follow your puppy around the yard. Whenever it looks at you (and only when it looks at you), say its name and call it to you to sit for a piece of food. Release it to continue sniffing and playing in the yard. Repeat daily for two or more weeks. (This phase assumes that the sit command has been mastered.)

4. Follow your puppy around the yard and call it when it is looking away from you. Begin when it is not distracted, and then call it when it is more distracted.

5. Practice in an off-leash park or a large field. Attach 30 to 50 feet of light nylon line to your pet’s collar. This will give you some control in case it gets distracted and starts to run after a rabbit or squirrel. Go back to phases three and four, initially calling the pup only when it is looking at you, then when it is least distracted and finally when it is more distracted. Each time it comes when called, ask it to sit for a treat and then release it.

Once your puppy is dependable in coming when called, gradually phase out the food and give it praise instead.