If you call your dog with a "come" command, and he's off-lead, busily sniffing some track or another interesting item, his refusal to come to you enforces (in his mind) your inability to "make" him obey, and his ability to be "alpha" or boss.
On the other hand, if you ONLY tell him to "come" when he is on-lead and you can pull him in to you, he learns that the word "come" is enforceable, and that YOU always win, therefore you are boss. Consequently, over a period of time, with enforced recalls on lead (using a Flexi ultimately), he begins to respond when off-lead in non-distracting situations (meaning there is nothing around which is more interesting than you!).
HOW TO…To approach this, start in a small room, where he is not going to be distracted, and he cannot "walk away". You can begin this exercise when he is very young. Speak his name following at once with “COME!” The best way is to crouch and open your arms like a funnel to bring the dog in, otherwise try to clap your hands, pick up a stick, throw a ball and catch it, or create any other diversion which will bring the dog to you. Praise lavishly once he arrives, even if you must walk to his location and take his collar to lead him to WHERE YOU CALLED HIM FROM. Then add a distraction, (could be a person in the room bouncing a ball or singing...) and perfect the recall at that stage.
This is where the student graduates to the outdoors, with the dog on a Flexi leash. The same routine is used, starting with a place of low distraction, and graduating to higher and stronger distractions. Ultimately, the dog will come reliably in almost ANY situation. It takes time, but is worth the effort.
Another exercise to come is to walk backwards while calling your pup on a loose leash. Keep her always a few feet in front of you. Praise her in an encouraging tone keeping her always focused on you as you move backward. If she tries to veer away give a little tug on the leash while turning the other way. Finally, lure her into a sit to conclude. Puppies usually love this game.
Step three is, on a long lead let her wander around. When she is smelling something of interest, crouching down with your arms wide and call her name followed by “Come” while clapping your hands several times. If she does not come give a quick pop on the leash and keep encouraging her. Do not reel her in.
If she gets away and does not want to come, avoid chasing her. Instead walk quickly in the opposite direction. Dogs have a predatory instinct to run after something running away. You can trigger this by pretending to “escape” from her. When she catches up DO NOT DISCIPLINE HER. If she does not respond to your running away try turning your back to her and sitting down, or even lying down. Her curiosity will bring her over. As she approaches praise her quietly and remain very still. When she is next to you sniffing gently attach the leash to the collar.
Go through some training exercises after this. Do not try off leash come until after 6 months and lots of training.
3 Basic Errors