When you own a Caucasian Shepherd, you naturally want it to remember its own name. For a puppy, however, remembering a name requires repetition and practice. With some targeted training in daily life, you can help the dog learn its name much more effectively.
Training a Caucasian Shepherd to remember its name
You want your dog to get used to hearing its own name and associating it with good things and affection. Unless the dog dislikes being touched or petted, you can end the training by placing it gently between your legs, rocking it slightly, calling its name, and calmly rubbing its belly and stroking its whole body. Use the same kind of game you would use during hand-feeding: call the dog’s name, and if it responds, say “good dog,” touch its collar, and give it a reward. You can think of this exercise as a relaxing massage that helps the dog connect its name with comfort and praise.
Do not shout the dog’s name when correcting mistakes
Please note: when you are trying to correct the dog’s behavior, never shout its name. For example, if you want it to get off the sofa, stop biting your hand, or drop something it is not allowed to touch, do not use its name during the correction. You certainly do not want the dog to accidentally learn that hearing its own name means punishment. That would interfere with your bond and slow down learning, and some dogs may even stop responding to their names altogether.
Remember that the dog’s name should be used only during praise and reward.
If you accidentally let the Caucasian Shepherd associate its name with something unpleasant, then you can try to repair that through simple games and other positive interactions.