Training your dog to come when he is called is absolutely vital for when you let him off the leash. After all - a dog that doesn't come back can be a real pain to take out and this can lead to both of you spiralling in to bad habits.

The tricky part of training your dog to come is that it's extremely easy to undo all your hard work by punishing your dog for not returning to you immediately.  You see it often when out and about where the owner is calling and calling their dog, who is merrily ignoring them, and when the dog does finally respond he is angrily put straight back on the leash and taken away.

Where's the incentive for the dog to return? All that's going to happen is he's going to be put on a leash - he might as well keep sniffing. 

Training Your Dog to Come

You need to teach your dog that if he does come to you promtly then he wil get something wonderful.

To begin with this needs to be a tasty treat, something that he really likes. Keep a small bag of treats with you and every now and again call the dog to you by saying his name and either 'come' or 'here'. As soon as he come to you give him the treat and lots of praise. Make all this praise last for a while as well so that he feels it's well worth his effort coming to you when called. This is especially important with independant dogs like the Spitz breeds, such as the Siberian Husky, as they tend to have a strong 'what's in it for me' attitude. Gradually reduce the treats, but increase the praise. 

If you are out on a walk then recall the dog and give him a treat and lots praise but then instead of leashing him, send him back away to have fun again.