It can’t be stressed enough, there is nothing more important than training your puppy to respond to its name. It is the cornerstone to all dog training and to having a dog that is attentive.

1. Get your puppy’s attention by showing him/her a treat (something really tasty like meat).
2. Say their name in a clear and friendly manner.
3. Ensure that your pronunciation is consistent as the dog is only hearing a sound and not yet understanding the concept of a name.
4. Something distinctive will be of benefit ie. Griffin is a two syllable word. Single syllables like ‘Joe’ should be avoided (it sounds like no and can easily be misinterpreted or harsh sounding to the dog). You don’t want your pup wondering if it is being chastised when you call it!
5. As soon as you have said their name reward with a small treat.
6. Repeat this for two minutes but no longer or the puppy will lose interest.
7. Practice this over a week as many times a day as possible without boring your pup.
8. When feeding use your puppies name every time to call them over (remember to use a whistle when feeding as described in recall training).
9. Go about your daily activities such as reading, cleaning etc. and periodically say your puppy’s name in a clear manner and as your puppy walks over reward.

TOP TIP: Regularly repeating this for just two minutes every few weeks will keep your puppy or dog attentive and responsive to their name.

Training your puppy to come on command can be further strengthened through the use of whistle training for a good recall.