How to Get Your Dog to Follow You

Co-authored by Melissa Nelson, DVM, PhD

Last Updated: September 11, 2019

Having your dog follow you can keep the two of you close together and strengthen your bond. It also helps you keep your dog safe by getting them to come with you if they are in a dangerous situation. To get your dog to follow you, you can train the dog to follow the “follow” or “come” command, work on strengthening your bond, and spend more time with the dog.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Training Your Dog to Follow You

1
Start out in a safe, quiet space. When you are first training your dog to follow you, make sure that you do it in an enclosed area, such as a fenced in yard. Also, make sure to do what you can to reduce distractions for your dog. Train him during a quiet time of day to ensure that his full attention will be on you.
- If you don’t have an enclosed backyard, then make sure your dog is on a leash. You can also use a leash in your backyard to help keep your dog’s attention on you.
2
Carry around food. One way you may be able to get your dog to follow you is by using food or treats. Start with a handful of kibble or small treats. Make sure your dog knows that you have food in your hand. Let them smell the food in your hand. Then, walk away from them.
- If they don't follow you, use the food to lure them to you. Stop every few feet and hold out some kibble or treats to entice them to come closer and follow you.
- Make sure to give your dog lots of positive reinforcement by praising them for following your instructions.
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3
Start near the dog. You can get your dog to follow you by training them to obey the “follow” command. Start by standing near your dog. Command your dog using the keyword, and then immediately walk away. Don’t wait for them to follow you or you will confuse the dog.^{[1]
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- Choose a word or phrase to use, such as “follow” or “come along.”
- Use a treat to reward the dog for responding to the command. If they follow you after hearing the command word, give them a reward. This will reinforce the behavior.
4
Adjust your direction based on your dog’s actions. Make sure to reinforce the “follow” command by keeping your dog in a position to follow you. You should remain in front of the dog at all times. Never let the dog get ahead of you, stop, or go off to the side.^{[2]
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- For example, if the dog slows down or stops, move ahead more quickly to encourage your dog to be near you.
- If your dog gets ahead of you, stop and turn to walk in the opposite direction. Call your dog again.
- If your dog goes to the right, you should go left and call your dog to follow you.
5
Practice often. Training your dog to follow you takes time. Your dog won’t learn it immediately. Depending on the dog, it may take weeks or months to fully train to follow you, especially if the dog is new to you. Don’t get discouraged if they don’t learn automatically. Keep reinforcing the behavior.^{[3]
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- Continue using treats to get your dog to follow you and to call them to you. Eventually, the behavior will be learned and your dog will follow you.
- Remember to offer your dog lots of over the top praise to make training sessions a positive experience for them.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Teaching Your Dog to Come When Called

1
Place your dog on a long leash. You can help teach your dog to follow you by teaching them to come when called. Start by placing the dog on a long rope or leash. This rope or leash should be long enough so that the dog can run around and play with some freedom.^{[4]
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- You may want to get a cheap rope or lead from a hardware or home improvement store since most leashes are too short.
2
Command the dog to come to you. With your dog on the lead, use the "come" command. If they don't come towards you when you give the command, correct them softly. Pull the dog towards you gently by reeling the rope in slowly. Make sure to use the command of "come" again while pulling them towards you.
3
Reward your dog for coming to you. Make your dog want to come to you when called by using positive reinforcement. When the dog obeys, present them with a treat, praise, or a toy.^{[5]
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- Avoid punishing the dog, yelling at them, or hitting them for not obeying. This will make your dog not want to come to you.
- Give your dog lots and lots of praise! Praising them for following your instructions will help to motivate them to continue with training and make training a positive experience for them.
4
Increase the distance as the dog learns. At first, start this exercise with the dog close to you. You should be far enough away that the dog has to walk towards you, but not so far that they are on the other side of the yard. When the dog masters coming to you at this point, expand the distance between the two of you slowly.^{[6]
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- Continue expanding the distance between you and the dog until the dog gets to the length of the rope or lead.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Encouraging Your Dog to Be Near You

1
Spend more time with your dog. Your dog may not follow you because the two of you don’t share an attachment. To help bond with your dog, you should actively spend more time with them. This helps your dog learn that you love and care for it.^{[7]
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- You can play games with your dog, like chase, fetch, or tug-of-war. You may also want to place your dog’s bed near you in your bedroom.
- Feeding time is a great way to bond with your dog. It helps your dog understand that you are the one taking care of them and meeting their basic needs.
2
Give your dog more positive reinforcement. Another way to get your dog to follow you is to give them some type of positive reinforcement. This helps them to associate you with positive things, like verbal praise, pets, treats, or some other special treatment.^{[8]
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- This type of treatment will help your dog think that following you will result in some type of reward, which can lead to them following you more.
- Remember to give your dog plenty of praise for following your instructions.
3
Exercise with your dog. Another way to get your dog to follow you is to engage in physical activity with them. Take your dog for a walk, take them on a hike, or go for a run. This will help you and your dog bond, which will increase your dog’s need to be near you and follow you.^{[9]
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- You may even let your dog run or walk behind you on a leash to practice following you.
- For older dogs, you can go on short, slow walks. You may also play with a toy in the yard, like tossing the ball a little bit in front of you.
4
Play hide-and-seek with your dog. If you have a puppy, you can use hide-and-seek to help them develop a stronger desire to be near you. Puppies want to be near their owners, so if your puppy wanders off instead of following you, hide. Your puppy will start to search for you. Praise the dog when they find you with a treat, verbal praise, or pets.^{[10]
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5
Take your dog to obedience classes. If you are unable to teach your dog to follow you on your own, you may want to take them to see a trainer. In a class, you and your dog can work on basic commands, including follow.^{[11]
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- Training also strengthens the bond between you and your dog. The stronger the bond between the two of you, the more likely they will follow you.