Someday, My Dog Will Come

Snow White whiled away 100 years waiting for her Prince to come. A lot of dog owners who have twiddled their thumbs waiting for their own Prince, Rex, or Fido to come can sympathize with the mythical heroine. The key to getting your dog to come when you call is to teach it to come when you call.

This sounds like simple, common sense, but it is often overlooked. An eight-week-old puppy will follow on the heels of just about any kind-hearted, warm-blooded animal that pays attention to it. When you own a puppy, you can easily be lulled into thinking it follows you because you want it to, and it always will. The truth is, it follows you because it wants to. When it matures in six to nine months and develops other interests, it will take off in the direction of any good scent or diversion no matter what you say. It still loves you and plans to get back to you later, but it won't come reliably every time you call, unless you take the trouble to train it.

Just hollering the dog's name over and over again until it wanders your way is not training. This is where a good obedience-training course comes in, and every dog and owner will benefit from taking one. Ask at the animal shelter for information on obedience training, and enroll yourself and your four-footed friend, so that someday, your dog will come.

Provided by the American Humane Association