One of the most important commands you can teach your dog is to "come." It is not only a matter of obedience, but safety as well.

Both my dogs Abbey and Mollie have been trained to do so. But it was a whole lot easier with Mollie as she is a border/aussie mix. Herders, as most of you know, are born to serve.

Nevertheless, here are 6 proven tips used by experienced trainers to help you train your shiatzu, corgie or Airedale.

1. Start with your puppy as soon as possible. This can be done as early as 5 weeks. As with any dog training, you must be consistent. Continue to follow these proven tips until the command is "automatic" with your pup.

2. Prior to training your dog, give him a judicious amount of "lovies." Use rewarding words, pet and pamper him for several minutes. He will be ready to please you as you train him.

3. Place your dog on the ground. Then step away, clap and the call his name and say "come." If he comes, pet and heap on the "lovies" as before. Each time he obeys your command, the reward should be greater than the effort. If your dog struggles with this approach after you’ve tried it awhile, try the leash approach described below.

4. Now start about 5 feet away. Use the same "warm up techniques" as suggested above being lavish with praise. Then clap your hands, call your pet’s name and the word "come". Again if he comes repeat the praise and continue 5-6 times in one session. If you’re not succeeding start over by moving just 1-2 feet away from him. As he succeeds, continue to move a few feet back. These sessions should happen throughout the day when you are with him.

5. If your puppy is not responding or you have an older dog, here is another effective technique. Place a collar on the dog and attach leash about 5 feet in length. Do the same preliminary techniques talked about above. Step away. Clap, call his name and use the command "come." If he comes then reward him. If not, gently pull the collar and your dog toward you. Then reward him just as if he had come on his own. Do this over and over as above until he starts to come when called. When he does, get a longer leash and step farther away. Always heap lavish praise on your dog when he obeys you. You cannot spoil an obedient dog.

6. If your dog is treat-oriented, you can use this technique only as a last resort. Do all the preliminary "warm up" as described above. Then when he does come to you, praise him and give him one small treat to peek his interest. The treat is not so much a bribe as it is to get him to obey your command. Once he follows your commands on a regular basis, you can cut back on the treats but always provide lots of love and praise for your obedient dog.

I never had to use the "leash" technique on either Abbey or Mollie. But I did have to use the "treat" approach when Abbey would escape and prove to be very bull-headed. Even then, when she came I would always give her a treat to reward my dog’s positive behavior.