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Teaching Your Dog to Come When Called, No Matter What!
Sometimes I think I am a Golden Retriever, everything is exciting to me, everything is fun, everything should be a game and everything is important, I guess I am blonde.
I giggle when I look back at my dog training videos and my articles because to me EVERYTHING is critical! Teaching your dog to leave it, crate training, leash training everything is vital to you and your dog. And, to be honest, it really is. All dog training and the victory over behavior problems ensures that you keep your dog and that you both remain happy.
BUT, the #1 most important obedience command for EVERY dog is the recall or come command.
Does Your Dog Come When Called?
So what happens if your dog is off leash, he sees a bunny or a deer and goes chasing after it? Will he leave that distraction and come to you when you call him? What if there is a car coming?
Recently a good friend lost his world champion obedience dog because he was chasing deer and blindsided by a car. I am still devastated for them both. It can certainly happen to anyone who’s dog is off leash, and I can only hope and train hard and pray it never happens to me or my dogs.
What Can You Do?
Are you FUN to Come to?
You HAVE to train, train, train for a good recall! This is not something to let slack or ignore, this is THE MOST IMPORTANT thing you will ever do! Your dog’s life may sometime depend on this exact command!
NEVER, ever call your dog when he is in trouble, your mad or if you are going to do something bad to him! His name and the word “come” should never mean something bad. So if he is in trouble go and get him. If you are going to crate him or trim his nails, go to him, but do not call him.
You never want your dog’s name or come to = something bad or even slightly negative. Imagine your dog and the bunnies…if “COME” means sometimes he goes in his crate, then there is NO WAY he is leaving those bunnies to come to you!
Would you come to YOU if you were mad or sounded that angry?
The word COME should equal FUN, FOOD, and PARTIES!
Does your dog drop everything and run to you when he hears the cookie jar rattle? When you whisper “cookie” would he wake up from a dead sleep to rush to your side? Why is it that he listens so well to the rattle of the treat bag or a word that means treat?
Because with 100% reliability you are going to give him a treat! How often do you get into the dog biscuits but then don’t give him one? Or ask him if he wants a cookie only to give him nothing? Chances are you don’t. Chances are you reward him and so he is familiar with the reward that is tied to the sound or the word. If these things were not paired with something good or a treat, he would stop coming and they would stop being meaningful cues.
You must make sure that your command to “come” = something meaningful and good almost 100% of the time!
Pair the word come with treats, with games and with jackpots of chicken breast and other wonderful things. Don’t call your dog and then take for granted the fact that he actually came to you. And, just know that your praise is never going to be as exciting or as motivating as a scuttling or taunting squirrel. However the knowledge that FOR SURE you are going to be rewarded and you might get some chicken breast is often worth the gamble for your dog!
Being Fun and Training Equals a Fast Recall!
Look at it from his perspective and stop comparing him to “Lassie”. Dogs want to fulfill their own needs, what is important is to pair what he likes with what you want!
My favorite way to teach my dog to come is to play hide and seek at home. Games are FUN! I don’t care if you are 80 or 20 or if you do or don’t have kids at home. You need to PLAY with your dog in order to teach him you are fun! Just like you play with your children or grandchildren; sometimes you have to step out of your comfort zone because it is important for the dog or the child!
Have someone (your spouse, friend or your child) hold your dog’s collar as you tease him with some treats and dash away to hide. First hide in easy to find places and as he gets better you can truly “hide” and make him find you behind doors, in his crate or other silly places. As you call him praise him, this is critical even though you can’t see him coming you must assume that he is scampering after you so continue your praise.
“Fury COME, good girl, good girl, Come, good girl” until she gets to me.
“Fury COME!” just isn’t motivating or exciting and she is likely to get bored and stop coming. I have to motivate her to me and make it FUN! The teasing and dashing is also important. Just showing your dog a treat and sauntering off, is boring.
Which would you prefer? Now which would you prefer if you were 5? Remember your dog has the mentality of a child and needs fun and games!
Once he is finding you with exhilarating excitement in your home, all over your home, in funny places (yes I think dogs have a sense of humor), it is time to move this game outside.
Get a long line of 25 or 50 feet and play the same game; dashing behind trees and bushes. Hide up inside trees or underneath things like your car; make this game the most fun thing your dog has ever done! This imprinting of FUN, FUN, FUN along with reliable treats means your dog will be more likely to automatically leave the bunny, squirrel or deer to rush to your side when you call him!
It isn’t enough to teach this or play this once or twice, you MUST continue to play this game throughout your dog’s life. Once it is imprinted and he is enjoying it, you can play it less but play it occasionally to keep it sharp and reliable. If you notice him not coming to you when called go back to making it FUN and playing!
What Notto Do?
Don't Call Him if He won't Come!
Don’t call your dog when he is in trouble or you’re going to do something negative to him. I know I said it before but it begs to be repeated! This will RUIN this command’s reliability!
Don’t be boring! If you are boring your dog is less likely to listen!! Dogs often mirror our behavior so the more excited and animated you are the more likely your dog will be to listen and enjoy himself. Even if it is out of your comfort zone, get animated and have fun!
NEVER, EVER call your dog if you think he won’t come and you have no physical control of him (unless it is an emergency).
If your dog ignores you don’t give him the opportunity to ignore your commands! This goes for any command but especially the COME command. If your dog ignores you and doesn’t come, this means the command means NOTHING to your dog and nothing happens to him to make him come.
The more often you call him and he ignores you, the more the command loses its meaning and the less likely he is to ever come.
Instead, put him on a leash and work on the command by playing games OR at least put him on a leash so that if he ignores you, you can then make him listen by reeling him in!
You may have to slowly work on the command so that he listens off leash in a safe area like your yard, or a fenced in area. When he doesn’t listen go to him, clip on the leash and encourage him to listen to you by restricting his ability to run away and by encouraging him with treats, toys and fun.
It is much easier to teach him this is fun, than to rely on force!
As always have as much fun as possible, this is what bonds you to your dog and your dog to you! But work hard so that, if that moment comes and your dog’s life hangs in the balance he has a desire to play and to please you and leave any distraction behind!
Do you have any suggestions as fun games for women in a scooter with an energetic Goldendoodle? Spirit is 4 years old and I have trained him as my service dog. Most people see him as well trained, but I feel we have areas that could be improved, including the come command. However, we live in a mobile home and there aren’t many places for me and my scooter to hide. He loves balls and squeaky toys. I don’t throw balls well, so I just bought an automatic ball thrower. He needs to put the ball in my lap before I put a ball in the machine. I am hoping this will strengthen our bond. As he brings the ball to me, I say “come.” Can you suggest any other fun games we might try?
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Minette Reply:
January 17th, 2012 at 6:54 am
There are all kinds of things you can do
I use to train service dogs! Go out on your scooter and hide his toys around the mobile home park and let him look for and sniff for them, you can also play this game inside.
while he is heeling next to your scooter back it up and call him to come.
work on his retrieve with other more complicated objects to pick up.
and, go out and buy a trick book and train him to do all kinds of silly party tricks! You will both love it!
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Linda Thompson Reply:
January 20th, 2012 at 4:18 pm
Thanks for the suggestions. Will give them a try. Spirit loves playing and learning new things.
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Thank you for this very informative article. This is definitely the most important command and your writing the blog reminded me how much more we need to work on it than we do. Gotta go play.
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@ January 17th, 2012 at 06:31You’re brilliant !!!
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@ January 18th, 2012 at 00:41I’m curious about the emphasis on rewarding EVERY time – nonscheduled intermittent positive reinforcement has been shown to produce the most consistent results in all animals. It’s why gamblers continue to gamble in Las Vegas, it’s why people stay in bad relationships, and it’s why your dog will come to you on command even if you don’t have a chicken breast in your pocket on that particular day.
The emphasis on never associating a negative reinforcement though is right on – negative reinforcers are not very effective at best and shouldn’t ever follow any desired behavior. Can you imagine the confusion in your dog’s mind if sometimes “come” means a cookie and sometimes it means you get your nails clipped?
So with my dogs, a lot of the time they get “thank you” or “good” when they come on command with a rub on the head, and sometimes they get a treat or a more enthusiastic response. All of them have good recall skills. Most (5 out of 7) will drop stay on command even if they’re chasing. The problem with consistent positive reinforcement is that then the one time you don’t have the treat, you’ve in effect provided a negative consequence by disappointing your dog’s expectations. If the goodies happen some of the time, your dog will stay optimistic that today might be their lucky day.
It’s the same reason that although only sometimes when I open the closet where the treats are stored I am getting out treats, they optimistically all run to the door with me EVERY time.
What do you think about this?
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Minette Reply:
January 18th, 2012 at 7:17 am
I agree with this type of training and I LOVE intermittent reinforcement and have written many articles on it.
But its like saying “cookie” or “treat” and having your dog wake up for a dead sleep or bolt away from anything he is doing because he knows 100% you are going to give him one, that is what I want for most people to aim for. Like the jingle of the car keys and touching his leash mean you are taking him for a ride! There are certain behaviors that they are conditioned to know that there will always be a fun reinforcer, and that is what I want COME to mean!
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Liz Reply:
January 18th, 2012 at 8:02 am
If you are thinking “nonscheduled intermittent positive reinforcement has been shown to produce the most consistent results in all animals,” but that the “problem with consistent positive reinforcement is that then the one time you don’t have the treat, you’ve in effect provided a negative consequence by disappointing your dog’s expectations” then I really can’t get my head around that because it is really just a 99% of the time positive intermittent reinforcement schedule. Since perfection won’t be achieved, even striving for a 100% reinforcement will still likely be slightly intermittent. I wouldn’t say do that high of reward repetition with any other command, but with getting my dog’s to come, they will often come and then run back off immediately so the “throwing a party” tactic has become invaluable with them. I have also seen newbies to he Las Vegas Method attempting to treat every 6th or 20th time (ie at a much too infrequent rate for the dog) or fail to take distractions into account with their treat amounts and frequencies. I feel this article does try to by-pass those issues in the described methods.
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Minette Reply:
January 18th, 2012 at 3:44 pm
Thank you! This is exactly what I mean. We can never get 100% but if we strive for that for this one command our training will benefit!
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Paula Reply:
January 18th, 2012 at 11:40 am
Dogs are very intelligent creatures. Honestly, they can smell the treat before you ever present it.
The confusion factor can be reduced by how you present the treat-what you are reinforcing.
Dogs are very perceptive and if you treat the moment they come to you, they get it. However, if you wait until after the desired command is executed, then you’ve lost that window of opportunity and here is where things get confusing for the dog.
If you treat for X behavior CONSISTENTLY and at the moment it is executed, this is successful. You have to keep your commands clean as well as your body language every time you ask something of your dog. It’s like saying one thing and doing another!
However, if you treat inconsistently, such as skipping a treat, then you will fail your dog.
As your dog gets consistent in recalls you slowly wean them off a treat every time and you make the task at hand a little more difficult or fun.
If you were doing a job for me and I only paid you when I felt like it, would you continue to work for me?
I bet not.
However, if I upped your pay or told all my friends how wonderful a job you’ve done, and got you more work as a result, you would probably do a great job for me and keep checking back to me for more work.
This is why clicker training is so effective. It marks the behavior at the moment the desired command is executed by the dog.
What Chet is talking about is the Premack Principle. Look it up or ask him to explain it more to you. He is really a good trainer and these methods really work.
I no longer train professionally due to burn out but keep up with his lessons to keep current.
Best of luck to you.
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jeannie Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 12:40 am
Thank you for your thoughtful answers. I’m already very familiar with the Premack Principle, but I’m sure someone else will benefit from your mentioning it, and when you talk about slowly weaning off the reward or making the task more difficult I think you are saying the same thing I am.
I also very much like the “throw a party” tactic and I’ve always instinctively used that.
And Chet, I completely agree about recall being an essential command to have 100% compliance with. In addition to working on perfect recall skills, I hope people keep their dogs on leads unless they are either in a securely fenced area or hiking far away from any roads, even with PERFECT recall!
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gianfranco Reply:
January 22nd, 2012 at 6:02 am
…From my side, it is easy to relate to having burnout, I’m at the point of no return just about…however, just previous to having her last 2 puppies (all premature) , delivered via cesarean, Precious (Fem Beagle, possibly under 2 years old) picked up one of the newborns and walked towards me, looking at my eyes like asking “what am I supposed to do with this???
My commitment was definately reinforced and every frustration clinging in my mind disapears when purpoesly recalled. Having just burnout of Nursing (Registered Nurse 12 years) and finding precious at 11:59 pm day of my birthday on my front yard, spending 3 hours to gain her trust offering food and water, I took on the responsability even though it was obvious that she has major behavioral problems.
Anyway, that partial biography of the past 4.5 months, was to let be known I love my 7 dogs and one cat, all rescued: so much that I’ve been with them almost 24/7, not even giving thought to my career or applying for any kind of work, Them in my couch and around me, previously in my bed, I want them with me, Touching me.
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gianfranco Reply:
January 22nd, 2012 at 6:38 am
..me again…Question is: is it possible to recuperate dogs with bad habit well engrained in their brains? I have tried everything feasible to me but even having them separated by training (other fem Lucy Lu left with me annanounced, afraid, skittish but responds to commands), most of the time the mother breaks the training by showing bad behavior to the pups, specially peeing and pooping.
Believe me, tried so many options but last night I had enough of sitting on peed couches and stepping on land mines. So, from my room they have been moved to the kitchen, then the living room and back and forth on every new strategy, to no avail. Not to mention the $ spent for breaking dishes, chewing on stereo systems, etc.
Moved them all except for Lucy and the cat), this time to the tool-motorcycle room, 10-15 degrees colder than the rest of the house. Pondering on installing a dog door to the backyard after fencing backyard (live in the Cherokee National Park boundaries).HELP miss them already! I wish them by my side but it’s proven just about impossible to retrain and retrain and retrain, I’m short on $ (vaccines purchased online but need heartworm and rabies still), I’m not 20 years old anymore to go up hills so steep that I can only get up there with soccer shoes to retrieve the pups following the mother on her usual “escape” after digging out or finding a spot where my 1-acre fence might have been hit by falling debri overnight) and -across the street- looking for the rabbitt: they are too smart for their own good, Precious now screams and howls when, any pup tries to play with her (I’ve been cleaning butts since 3-weeks old when Precious desisted.) or when something is being asked of her.
Well, guessing I’ve bored you enough, for this is just the tip of the iceberg, point is, after all, that I am getting mental therapy by writing this however, I would like to commend you, all of you for taking care of “our younger sibblings” God only knows we need more of you.
Wish you all best of luck hoping the feeling is mutual.
Gianfranco Maria Luciano Capasso.
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I agree, my Labradoodle will come when called but does not always get a treat but does always get some kind of acknowledgment that he has done good.
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@ January 18th, 2012 at 01:55Love your suggestions, thankyou. I have a 5 month old boxer puppy called Indi. What do i say when i want her to come because I need to put her in an enclosed pen. She doent like going in there and I often will give her a treat to get her in there? Many thanks
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Minette Reply:
January 18th, 2012 at 7:07 am
Go to her and get her instead of calling her!
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Elizabeth Reply:
January 18th, 2012 at 1:17 pm
Could you not call her to come to you… Treat her immediately with praise then wait a moment to move to the pen or would she still associate “come” with going in the pen?
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Minette Reply:
January 18th, 2012 at 3:37 pm
You run the risk that she will associate the two together unless there are a few things that happen in between. Dogs are great about association and behavior chaining and so she might get the idea that the two things go hand in hand. I would go and get her, or give her another command that means come so you will go in your crate like “Kennel” but have a GREAT treat like chicken breast and give it to her everytime she goes in. My dogs want to go to bed at 8 or earlier because they know when we go to bed they get chicken strips!
My 4 yr old Bull terrier comes most of the time. He’s great at sit, stay, left paw, right paw, wave, lie, roll etc but I had been tricking myself that his stubborn nature keeps him from coming back all the time but that’s a lie, out on walks I’ve been boring! We now run around and hide inside the house and out on walks. He loves it and so do I! I feel like he enjoys spending time with me now wherever we are. My friend has a 16month old bully who’s deaf. She has decided to get her a vibrating collar to get her attention but are there any more games that you could advise that would help to train a deaf dog to come?
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Minette Reply:
January 18th, 2012 at 7:07 am
Tapping her food on the ground and rewarding the dog when he looks up and comes is another way to communicate with deaf dogs.
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Thanks for the info. I appreciate your blog so much and it helps believe me
Thanks Chet!
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@ January 18th, 2012 at 04:28My Doggy was Naughty the other morning. after he had the op to go outside and I wanted to take a short nap before actually awaking for the day, he did business right in front of me. Obviously, )like a child. or at one time a child got spank for misbehaving).. my dog got spank. and you know what, it worked. I anticipate that it likewise will not be a repeated behavior pattern.
I know, I have read not to hit your dog. I estimate how its handle. actually, my dog is actually well behave, and had to get the bugs out of his training to go outside.
When my Housemate and I are gone for the day, my dog have cooperative to go inside his crate. and does not even whine, until we come home. then by all means he wants out. his tail goes nuts.
I had this Bark Buster Trainer Idiot telling me that I was not following his Instruction when it came to my Pug before he pass-away after only 18 months. anyway. he did not understand that Pugs are impossible to make them cooperative. yes, I was the leader, but the commands did not always worked.
The idiot also said not to let your dog sleep on your bed. Of course. pending on the dog. My have and will always sleep on my bed with his Dad. also, its a short cut, if he needs to go outside at a wired hr.
My Dog now is a Beagle that I got from the Animal Shelter.
and this guy picked me out. it was love at first sight.
Even at the Pet store. I held a Pug., he too wanted to go home. after having the last one pass-away. and had just rap up his brief prayer service. it was too hard to get another Pug.
This Dog now obeys rather well. I have to wait until spring to take him for a walk, as today, its rather chilly out.
Again, my dog now only got spank once, and it worked. that’s all it takes. catching him again, he will understand that its time to go outside.
Tip, through there are Condos that permits dog. and my last place through the Patio door only, my disagreement is their if the patio door is full of snow. or some short of Emergency to the Vet,
Tip, if you want a Dog, as we are all dog lovers here. check the Restrictions on condos that may or may not permit dogs. and where the dog is and not permitted.
Some Hotels now accepts dog. Obviously, not in the food area and pool area. other dog lover. remember to clean up after your friend. its the Law. and if even one dog lover dis-obeys. then more restriction is put on. such as only so many dogs permitted in the hotel.and or no longer permitting dogs, unless seeing eye dogs.
all in all, I have a very lovable behaved dog. the worst part of his training is over, as fair as his business out of doors.
one must keep taking him to the door to got outside. and make him go outside for a few minutes. until the bark gets to you.
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Minette Reply:
January 18th, 2012 at 7:06 am
I can never condone spanking or hitting as we are the thinking animal and should use our minds to get our dogs to do what we want!
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Frank Reply:
January 18th, 2012 at 7:21 am
I was patient enough. as indicated, I am sure that it likely will not be a behavior pattern problem.
Of course. we never want to hit our dogs. and once will do it. never or ever abuse.
The next time it happens, he will give me a long look, and spear me by not hitting me again.
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jeannie Reply:
January 18th, 2012 at 8:14 am
Anything that you could describe as “spanking” is already way off track. I’m not implying that it is abusive, only that it is not necessary ever and not the way you want your dog to see you.
If the barking is your cue that your dog is done being outside, that means that you are not outside with your dog, is that correct? If you go with your dog and give praise for doing their business in the right place and clean up right then, in front of the dog, they will pick up on that right away. Don’t let them watch you clean up inside, but don’t punish. If your dogs are not crate trained, that’s a really great place to start – I’ve never had a dog who would soil an appropriately sized crate. They are den animals and will take care of their own space. When you take the dog out, they go outside immediately; when they do what they need to then they can be out in the home with you. I promise you this will work.
But please, do not hit/spank/physically reprimand your dog. You want a dog to be obedient out of love, respect and cooperation, not out of fear. Ultimately you will have a much better behaved dog.
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If your puppy is running off with something that he has got into in his mouth, what do you call in trying to get him to come with the “forbidden” article? His goal is to get your attention and “try to get it” and taking it away is not waht he wants.
TY
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Minette Reply:
January 18th, 2012 at 7:09 am
Exchange the article for a treat or a toy or something else your dog wants. At this point you have lost the battle.
In order to keep this from happening keep your forbidden articles out of his reach and/or keep him on a leash so when he darts away with them you will have him without the play and chase game.
Its the “chase” game that he wants so don’t give in or you are rewarding him!!
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jeannie Reply:
January 18th, 2012 at 7:49 am
Teach your puppy the “leave it” command. Start with the puppy on a lead, walk past the desirable but forbidden object and when the dog moves toward the object, give a tug and say “leave it” – rinse and repeat until the dog responds to the leave it command with no tugging necessary. Then do the same thing off lead. After a lot of practice and some rewards for the good behavior your dog will understand that some things are not okay for play.
I had a hound (vizsla) who pinned a squirrel against our fence (without harming it!) and responded to this command perfectly – after giving me the dirtiest look she could muster…
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My German Shephard completely ignores anything ,treets, when he chasses other dogs or animals. He is only one year old, very clever othervise, but I can’t stop him. I have tried many things, but nothing seems to work
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Minette Reply:
January 18th, 2012 at 7:10 am
All dogs have a motivator you just have to find what your dog wants and be it or control his access to it.
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Jamie Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 2:13 pm
Do you have any other suggestions for motivators besides food or games. I have a 1 year old boxer and food works perfectly for her as long as there are no people or dogs around. I have tried toys and games and being very enthusiastic and playing with her but I just can’t seem to make myself more interesting to her than that dog over there or the person on the other side of the street. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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Minette Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 2:52 pm
You must have 95% reliability and compliance in the house first, then go to a more distracted environment, then more and more until finally you try to tackle a dog environment. You may just have to back up and go further away until you get your dog’s attention and then slowly work your way closer and closer to the distraction while keeping your dog’s focus.
My dog Piro will usually stay around when I let him off leash he will go out of sight and come back to see where Iam everytime he comes tome I give him atreat occasoinally he will not listen
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@ January 18th, 2012 at 07:08I have a 4 yr old rescue Shih-Tzu. When we first got her she wouldn’t leave our side and when I said “come” she was right there. Now that we have had her for 6 months, she is becoming very independent and roams the house, etc. Now, when I say “come” she just looks at me and doesn’t respond. What can I do to break this habit?
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@ January 18th, 2012 at 07:28A useful article and the responses to comments are also ‘spot on’! I especially like the “… all dogs have a motivator…”
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@ January 18th, 2012 at 09:31thank you for the reminder of the no scold on come… I have a 14yr old labrador that decides to go deaf to my calls of come when he has sites on something more fun than me.
he knows when he eventually does come to me he will still get that treat. So he sometimes takes the long way back to me. And if I go and get him he will (if he sees me) go the other way to avoid being put back on the leash. So are you saying that if I know he won’t come back to me don’t call at all? or call once no response go and get him?
I will do the play and reward … my only issue is they are labs (i have three of them) so if I play and treat then they will expect treats every time I play with them. Which is a lot!
3 choc lab mommie
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@ January 18th, 2012 at 09:36We have a rescue Schipperke from a puppy mill, She had spent her first
years without any human contact and having puppies. She is afraid of everyting-every noise and us if we are standing. If we are seated, she will come to me. any suggestions?
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Minette Reply:
January 18th, 2012 at 3:41 pm
slowly start to stand as she gets closer and only reward while you are standing
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iT iNFURIATES ME WHEN ANYONE SMACKS OR INTENTIONALLY HURTS AN ANIMAL. eSPECIALLY WHEN HE HAS AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE HIS OWNER WASNT QUICK ENOUGH TO LET HIM OUT SO ITS THE OWNERS FAULT NOT THE DOG HOW LONG AND HOW WAS HE SUPPOSED TO HOLD UT ANYWAY? mY GOD iTS LIKE HITTING A BABY BECAUSE THATS HOW MUCH THEY TRUST YOU TO LOVE AND CARE FOR THEM.sOMETIMES WHEN MY oLIVER WONT COME INSIDE BECAUSE i THINK HE ENJOYS SEEING ME FREEZE WHILE HE IS HAVING FUN ROLLING IN THE SNOW AFTER DOING HIS BUSINESS i MIGHT HAVE TO CHASE HIM IN WEARING MY SLIPPERS OF COURSE bUT I WOULDNT DREAM OF HURTING HIM i MIGHT YELL oLIVER NOW -DOESNT ALWAYS WORK. sO i WILL USE TREAT METHOD WHICH i DO WHEN HE TAKES OFF WITH SMEONES SMELLY SOCK TO CHOMP ON UNDER THE TABLE i EXCHANGE WITH A TREATi hE KNOWS TO GO INTO HIS CRATE IN THE BACK SEAT OF MY CAR BECAUSE iTRY ALWAYSTO PUT A TREAT IN THERE NOW i DONT ALWAYS BUT i PRAISE HIM i SWEAR HE GRINS AT ME AND SETTLES DOWN ONTO HIS CUSHION WITHOUT A MURMER NEEDLESS TO SAY ON A HOT OR COLD DAY i ONLY TAKE HIM FOR WALKS I WOULD NEVER LEAVE HIM IN THE CAR I OFTEN THINK PEOPLE WHO WANT TO HAVE AN ANIMAL NEED A PHSYCOLOGY TEST TO ENSURE THE ANIMALS SAFETY.
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@ January 18th, 2012 at 11:13sORRY i REPEATED MYSELF YOU CAN BE SURE I WONT BE WRITING ANY COMMENTS AFTER THAT CORRECTION
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@ January 18th, 2012 at 11:16thanks for the info he can be in his own little word some time but now i can work on this he only come when he wants to and he here you calling him thanks agin
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@ January 18th, 2012 at 11:33I have a 6 year old Super-Smart Schipperke that worships the ground i walk on and cannot stand to be away from me EXCEPT if he knows I am leaving him to go to work, he will run out the door if he can and I have to hunt him down to put him back in the house – or if he finds the electronic gate (surrounding the property) open or happens to find a new hole in the fence. I know he hates being alone all day when there are other dogs outside having fun – he demonstrated this by climbing up on a bookshelf to get high enough to chew a hole in the side of a window air conditioner vent to get outside! But I am hesitant to put in a doggy door because there is another home on the property and there are always people coming and going through the gate. There are also two other large dogs – a super sweet well-behaved pit bull and another new rescue dog who gets into mischief and takes off every chance she gets as well. I know my schip is smart enough to learn to come, he has done this many times – but if he thinks I am leaving him its another story – Every other time I call “come” to him or give some other command,he JUMPS to attention in a heartbeat – he can hardly wait to respond. I can even whisper his name and from across the room he will zoom at top speed to me and stare deeply into my eyes with anticipation until I give the command – so he is just being stubborn so I am uncertain how to correct this behavior with standard techniques.
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@ January 18th, 2012 at 11:50I had a naughty dog who crossed an extremely busy street who’s first AKC obedience score was a 198 out of 200. He was playing with the neighbor dog. I felt it was too dangerous to call him to me. I used the down stay hand signal and vocal command like he was in trouble. He dropped like a nucular bomb was going to hit and stayed until I came to get him. Before he got into the road if we had noticed him I would have called him back to me. I am so glad he knew both comands because no matter how normally well behaved your dog is…there are emergencies.
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Minette Reply:
January 18th, 2012 at 3:38 pm
This is what I do with my dogs on the beach!
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This is definitely something that is an issue for myself and my 9 month old cattle dog. All the games and such work great at home, and there has been an improvement with recall when he’s woofing at the possums at the back fence, but…on our oval I have real problems if there is the slightest distraction… And I have played games with him there…Achilles is a super friendly dog and just wants to meet and greet everyone and thing he sees. The other day he managed to turn around after starting to race to the opposite side of the oval …wanting to play with friends of ours…unfortunately another dog, with no owner in sight, came loping past from behind me, saw Achilles and bolted, and so did Achilles, out the gate, over the road and around the corner. Thankfully he popped back around the corner and he finally came to me. However, it has given me a huge fright, and while he needs space to run, I’m almost too afraid to let him off at all.
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@ January 18th, 2012 at 13:0001/18/12
Hi love your dog training sessions! I had an 8 year old yorkypoo. in 2008 i had a near fatal car accident then my husband died suddenly from a heart attack. ever since these events my Charlie won’t sit on my lap or come when i call him. i miss him being on my lap. Any suggestions?
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Minette Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 7:56 am
He may have known you were injured and didn’t want to hurt you at the time and it became more of a habit.
Encourage him back with his food at night and treats and then extend the time you are rewarding him so that he will stay longer!
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I have ALOT of dogs come and go through my rescue.At times as many as 15.I have never consciously worked on a method to get them to come to me but RARELY has one ignored me once they learn their name. They just come to me.I had a roommate who had 3 dogs. And all three of her dogs absolutely would not come to her off leash out side EVER. It was so bad that I had to fence in the back yard because I was tired of chasing her dogs all around the neighborhood in my car. She never tried to correct or improve the behaviors, and my dogs were no longer able to enjoy the acres of running they had as soon as they hit the door. I think it had to do with the dogs not respecting or acknowledging her as the leader in the home. She indulged them, and allowed them to chew on furniture and whatever else was laying around including my furniture. They were never corrected or trained for anything including walking on a leash without choking themselves nearly unconscious. Just an observation I have made.So the part about making them think coming when called is a great thing I agree with. Her dogs for whatever reason thought coming back was a bad thing, or behaved like spoiled children. My dogs in a pack will all come back off leash in a group to a call I make like come on!…and they all come running back…some slower than others but they all come.
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Minette Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 7:54 am
If you get all the treats and affection you desire for no reason at all and there are never any rules, there is no reason to listen to commands and inconvenience yourself
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Thanks, Chet, for this fabulous article! After I read it, I played hide and seek with my iggy and my minpin. Treats were involved… Now they are peacefully sleeping…yes in my bed, that is as much for my comfort as theirs. I appreciate the training on come, as “Dash”, my Italian greyhound as gotten out twice and my biggest fear was that he would dash into traffic. Great stuff !! My question is dash is rep, is he too old for the puppy training?
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Minette Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 7:52 am
They are NEVER too old for training!! I still train my 12 year old dog to do new things!
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We have a 3 month old toy poodle, that we received from the breeder 2 weeks ago. We live in a new hi rise building in a 2 bedroom unit with lots of carpet and some tiled areas.
Our propblem is toilet training. At night her “crate’ area is the small tiled laundry with a baby gate to keep her in. We have her potty tray there and a water bowl and some kibble in a bowl with her bed for the night. She uses the potty for a No 1 and sometimes a No 2.
During the day she is leashed to a tiled area by the front door of the unit.
The leash allows the full run of the small tiled area which has the potty tray and away from that is the water bowl & food bowl and her bed.
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Any time she wants to use the potty she does, and so what is the problem!
The problem is when she is off leash and playing games together, practicing commands etc (early days of course) she will relieve herself anywhere on our new carpet in a flash, instead of returning to her potty tray!
We are reluctant to let her off until we see No 1 & No 2 and so spends most of her time leashed! Suggestions???
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@ January 18th, 2012 at 22:59How do you handle working with an outside 5 month old german shorthair hunting dog who is in an outside kennel, who will not come to you when it is time to go back to the kennel or to come to you when you are done playing and he needs to be put on the leash or put back into the truck after hunting.
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Minette Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 11:57 am
Spend more time training with him and more time with him on a long line.
He doesn’t want to come to you because he doesn’t want the isolation in his kennel. He would rather run around and ignore you or BETTER spend time with you.
Get him really tired by spending a lot of time with him and then because he is on a leash or a long line it won’t be a stretch to put him back in his kennel.
But, ultimately I believe a 5 month old puppy should be indoors!
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I loved this article. My dog (toy poodle) always comes with a treat. He does not always come otherwise. I try to be happy and cheerful. I will try the new way and hope for better results. I love your publications.
Lynne
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@ January 19th, 2012 at 16:55Hi, I have a 7 yr old shihtzu and I guess I started him with
Come Here and he comes immediately when I am walking him and he gets
in a large area where I can release him so he does his business
But when I call COME he takes his time but when I say Bubba,
come here. He comes immediately.
Somehow the COME HERE seems to mean more to him than a come.
Thought you may be interested.
Always enjoy your Talk/
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@ January 19th, 2012 at 17:23Cj is 5 and I have worked with her to get her to come to me when I call her but she is a runner and takes off.I had her chipped so I get her back when animal control picks her up but I get very frustrated with her.so I don’t work with her anymore
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Minette Reply:
January 20th, 2012 at 7:48 am
She needs to be on a leash and you NEED to work with her, that is the only way she will learn consistency! Just make it a game, keep her on a leash and have fun using treats and toys!
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I like the article also. I have 4 month ald yourkeepoo and usually when I try to get him when he runs away, it is not easy to do. He thinks it is a chasing game and I can’t catch him, even several people can’t catch him, he is quick. And I was told by the trainer in a puppy school,to not chase a dog .But to avoid dangerous situations, how can i teach him to stop or stay?
thanks!
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Minette Reply:
January 21st, 2012 at 12:12 pm
Teach him in a safe area!! And, stop chasing, that is a dog’s favorite game!!!
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well this is my first time on I will try and let you know how I did, I really enjoyed all the helpful hints, now if I can only follow threw. ( THANK YOU )
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@ January 26th, 2012 at 19:16So…my unruly dog goes into our fenced yard and barks, gets all muddy and chases squirrels. We have had a trainer 2X for barking and walking… Still problems. I have called him with negatives and also he goes into his crate for awhile when he comes in as he is muddy. So if he is barking or muddy how do I get him to come in and not have him associate it with a negative? He will usually come in if I go out in the yard and tell him to go in. Not always convenient if it is pooring or I’m dressed for work and worried about him getting me muddy. Suggestions? By the way, thanks for all your helpful hints!
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@ January 31st, 2012 at 09:55OK…I have a 6 mos. old female Schnauzer who just was spayed and I am ready to begin some serious (well, yes…FUN,FUN,FUN)training. Daisy Mae is very high-strung and even takes a vet ordered type Prozac. Hence getting and keeping her attention is a challenge to say the least.
She took quickly to “shake” so I am under the assumption she is a pretty smart young lady and can learn other commands as well. My question concerns using the clicker for teaching the “come” command. Is it appropriate? At what point is the clicker activated? How do I know if she even hears it or relates it to the command?
I like the idea and psychology behind clicker training, but there is a lot of details I admit I am confused about. Where is the detailed instruction for people like me at 69 years old?
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@ January 31st, 2012 at 14:13We have a 4 mo. old Lab & Husky mix. I got the training Pkg. From Chet. I have worked with Jessie and I have her doing good on most of it. AS LONG AS SHE’S IN THE HOUSE. When she goes outside, the clicker means nothing to her. If she feels like playing with a stick instead of coming to you? That’s what she does. In the house if I click, she can’t get there fast enough. Outside? Another story. We play ball almost everyday outside, she will bring it back and drop it for a treat. I just can’t get her to come to the house without a leash. If the leash is on her, she will come in reasonably well. If the leash is not on her, she will come in when she’s ready. If I go towards her she starts tearing around the yard making a game of it, I usually stand still till she gets done. Sooner or later she will come for the treat, I leash her up and take her inside…What do I do?? Thanks….
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Minette Reply:
February 11th, 2012 at 10:33 am
Read this article and try doing some long line and working toward off leash behaviors!
http://www.thedogtrainingsecret.com/blog/leash-obedience-mysteries-solved/
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i have 2 collies 1 is 3 the other one is1 the 1year old comes when called but if i have the other dog how will be sat at my feet the young one just circles me she just want come to my feet have you any idears
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Minette Reply:
February 17th, 2012 at 1:36 pm
Make sure the older one is not keeping her at bay with some dirty looks or body posture. Sometimes younger dogs stay a bit behind because the other dog doesn’t want to share.
Put the young one on a leash and help her come closer with praise, treats and affection so she learns where you want her when her sister is also there!
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joan waddington Reply:
February 17th, 2012 at 2:51 pm
dont think its that as young one the domenant one
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