Video Transcript

Hi! I¡¯m Melanie McLeroy with Taurus Training for Expert Village, and today we¡¯re going to talk about how to train a small dog. And today we¡¯re teaching small dogs how to come. We have got Rico, our little Mi-Ki here, and he has gotten his name down, we¡¯ve worked on sit down and stay. ¡°Come¡± is the number one command that people say they want their dogs to respond to, and small dogs in particular seem to have their own agendas. It¡¯s very, very important from a very young age that you capitalize on the fact that your puppy wants to be around you and wants to come to you. Say ¡°come¡± when he¡¯s running to you anyway, and you¡¯ll be on the right track. Now this is not the ideal leash to be working on come with. It ¡¯s best either not have a leash at all¡ªbut we can¡¯t do that because, as you see, he can get through the fence¡ªor to have a longer lead, but I don¡¯t have one with me that doesn¡¯t have a big heavy clip. Speaking of equipment, be sure to check out that video if you haven¡¯t already. So little Rico sniffing around, whoop! now he¡¯s sniffing my shoe. I have to wait till he¡¯s distracted, I¡¯ll move away a little bit¡­ He¡¯s too focused on me. Come, good, so just bending down was enough to get him to come to me. Come, good boy¡­ come, good. Now I want Rico to be a little bit more excited, now what I could do is try working from a squatting position or a sitting position. I need to get him a little bit farther away from me, and try using squeaky toys or something that makes noise to get your dog to run to you quickly. Remember never to call your dog to you when you¡¯re upset or angry. Even if he does come, he will connect that demeanor that you have with coming, not with the sandwich that he just ate off the counter. So always be very happy, very positive when you call your dog to you, no matter what your dog has done, and you will set your dog up to succeed and continue to develop the right kind of relationship with your dog. So little Rico, you did a good job.