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Old 05-16-2017, 11:41 AM   #1
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Default How do I teach my Yorkies to come when called?

I recently adopted two 10 month old Yorkies.

How can I get them to come when called? I fear they may have been abused because they shy away when I try to pet them.

I've tried rewarding them with treats and praise but it hasn't worked.

Suggestions please!!
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Old 05-16-2017, 12:55 PM   #2
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Hello and welcome to YT

The only time I can get my lil guy to come to me is when I bring out the leash to go for a car ride
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Old 05-16-2017, 02:08 PM   #3
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Find a food treat your Yorkie cannot resist for the first few days of training, then hopefully you can switch to a lesser-valued treat. I just train using Tibbe's regular dry kibble that I've mixed in with miniature Milk Bones so that the kibble smells of Milk Bone and comes from the same box. Tibbe takes either just as happily. Or if your dog is toy oriented, use a highly-loved squeaky toy or ball - whatever your Yorkie will want to have as a reward for coming to you.

In an upbeat voice, clap your hands, act very happy and say, "Time for training!" as if you just won a thousand dollars - nothing bombastic but certainly pleased as punch to convey to your dog that what's about to happen is going to be fun for the dog. Your attitude will set the stage and make it seem like a fun game about to happen.

Now, sit in front of your Yorkie with the reward in your hand and, in a happy, pleasant, very upbeat voice, say, "Fido, come(insert name of your dog here)!", making your voice happy-sounding and not heavy, loud or commanding as so many tend to do when teaching their dog training commands; and issue your command with a smile on your lips and in your voice. The very act of smiling makes your voice sound more upbeat and sends a positive message to your little one that this activity is fun and interesting.

The moment your dog comes toward you, treat immediately with food/toy and praise with a genuine, happy, loving voice and give a light praise pat or scratch to the chest, back/side of the each, side of cheek or neck, side of shoulder or wherever your dog seems to enjoy being lightly, lovingly scratched or petted. Don't pat your dog on the top of the head as most dogs don't like it or find it dominating/threatening and try to avoid the front of the throat as Yorkies often have sensitive tracheae. You want to convey to your dog that you are VERY proud of him for what he just did!

Re-position him before you, take a new treat from the box and repeat the same command in the exact same happy tone of voice and once again instantly reward and praise/pet.

Repeat this same action 10 - 15 times - just sitting in front of your Yorkie and having him take a couple of steps to move toward you for which he gets an instantaneous food reward, a light, loving scratch/pet/touch and your proud pleasure expressed with your happy "Good Fido!"

Repeat this short, very pleasant lesson 3 - 5 times a day as you don't want to overfeed your dog. I do this first lesson for a whole 7 day week - just teaching the dog that 'training', which is happily announced the same with each training session, is falling down easy, lots of fun and instantly rewarding for both of you - a lesson he will never forget as training becomes more sophisticated and involved. This first lesson will set the stage for his whole training program and a good first, easy-as-pie week is a great start as long as you say positive and keep it fun and fulfilling for him.

After the first week, gradually move a few feet from your dog and repeat all of the above, only increasing your distance once the dog has rock-solid, no failures, learned to come instantly and happily with each command given. If he slacks off, seems disinterested or fails to come, dial back to basics until the dog is coming readily with a happy response. After that first week, gradually increase your distance from your dog as tolerated until you are satisfied he is fully trained to come readily each and every time he's called.

Just remember, announce each training session as if the dog were getting to go to a party and keep the sessions upbeat, positive and short and well-rewarded with both the treat and your praise. Do not punish mistakes or loss of interest - rather step up your part with heartfelt enthusiasm/praise and genuine interest in each accomplishment and cut back on the number of repetitions, maybe finding a better-loved treat/reward.

As long as your dog gets the idea that doing what you request is always a win for him if he readily does it, he'll happily learn how to work with you and enjoy every moment of it, as will you. You'll feed off his accomplishments and each other's pleasure! Touching and interacting lovingly and positively however briefly with your dog during training produces oxytocin in both of your brains and both human and canines respond extremely favorably to its release. It's kind of addicting in a very positive way to each species and your dog will learn to love to work to feel it. There's nothing like seeing a happy puppy full of pride in what he's just accomplished with you and enjoying the fun of your teamwork!
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Old 05-23-2017, 11:58 AM   #4
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I like to start training things without verbal cues. A lot of small dogs seem to fear a large hand hovering over their head. Try petting them from the side or scratching their little chests instead. Gain their trust first, and then eventually slowly get to petting their head.

From my experience, I found that training via a hand signal first is very effective. If you're having difficulties - get a clicker, they're amazing!

If you can't seem to get them to come over, you could try 'forming' the command. First click and reward them looking at you. Then click and reward them approaching you. Then click and reward them coming all the way to you. Then click and reward them for coming to you and sitting. Once you feel they're kind of getting the 'come' command via hand signal, you can incorporate the verbal 'come' command.

If you have an issue with them just running away during your training session, you could put them on a harness and leash. Step on the leash so they are a fair distance from you. You can start with a close distance and then gradually let them stand farther and farther away from you. And then eventually take the leash off.

I like starting with hand signals first, because then you don't teach them to ignore the verbal cues. I.e. if you constantly say 'come' and they don't actually come over... the word 'come' ends up not meaning much to them. I also find some learn a little faster with hand signals.

For continual training (not just the short training sessions), I'd suggest to somehow always have treats on hand. Give them treats randomly whenever they come to you - to keep them on their toes. Basically it teaches them that whenever they come to you, it's awesome! Eventually give them treats intermittently as they learn to always come to you. I still occasionally give mine treats for coming to me when I call them. Treats or a really good massage.
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Old 05-25-2017, 08:06 PM   #5
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I adopted two 8 month old Yorkie mixes who were afraid of us and jumped when we even touched them. They both learned "Come" before they even knew their names. When ever they would come running to me (even though they were scared to be petted or picked up, they would always run to me and touch the back of my hand with their noses) I would say the word "Come". They knew instantly that come meant to run to me. I never even used treats.

If they are in a barking frenzy with the dogs next door they will still come running but occasionally I need to use the clicker to get their attention. Then they come running because they know they will get a treat. I don't know if other dogs will respond like mine did but you can try it.

Now "sit" Is another story. They stand up and beg for a treat but won't sit. I've tried everything. If you reach behind them to show them that their little bottoms are supposed to hit the ground, they get scared and run away.
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Old 05-30-2017, 11:46 AM   #6
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Jilly gave some great advice.

I'd like to add to that; Another thing you can do is, Call dogs name, and then say Come... and reward the dog when they come. Do it randomly, when the dog is next to you, when you are sitting on the sofa watching tv, when you are ready to go out, when you are going to bed for the night (surely the dog comes to your room, and does not sleep alone right?). The point is, practice the command always, and do it when you know the dog will respond and come. (Set them up to Win!)
*If you will be setting them up for Clicker Training, then "MARK" the dog once he starts to come to you, and then eventually move the "MARK" to once the dog actually gets to you.)

If your dog is outside and another off leash dog comes to you, and you know he loves dogs, he probably won't come when you say "Come", and repeating it multiple times will not help.

Never Call a dog to you ("Come") for a BAD Thing. Time to leave the park - Don't use the "Come" Command. If they are chewing your favourite rug, don't say "come" and then punish them. (They do not understand the difference and will think, mom said come and I came and now I'm in trouble for coming.)


And Finally, if you are teaching the "Come" command, do not forget to (once you have the come command down-pat) eventually teach a Stop-In-Motion command! Do not over-look the importance of this, it can be a life saver.

Last edited by Gr33zyinc; 05-30-2017 at 11:47 AM.
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Old 06-18-2017, 04:57 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gr33zyinc View Post
Jilly gave some great advice.

I'd like to add to that; Another thing you can do is, Call dogs name, and then say Come... and reward the dog when they come. Do it randomly, when the dog is next to you, when you are sitting on the sofa watching tv, when you are ready to go out, when you are going to bed for the night (surely the dog comes to your room, and does not sleep alone right?). The point is, practice the command always, and do it when you know the dog will respond and come. (Set them up to Win!)
*If you will be setting them up for Clicker Training, then "MARK" the dog once he starts to come to you, and then eventually move the "MARK" to once the dog actually gets to you.)

If your dog is outside and another off leash dog comes to you, and you know he loves dogs, he probably won't come when you say "Come", and repeating it multiple times will not help.

Never Call a dog to you ("Come") for a BAD Thing. Time to leave the park - Don't use the "Come" Command. If they are chewing your favourite rug, don't say "come" and then punish them. (They do not understand the difference and will think, mom said come and I came and now I'm in trouble for coming.)


And Finally, if you are teaching the "Come" command, do not forget to (once you have the come command down-pat) eventually teach a Stop-In-Motion command! Do not over-look the importance of this, it can be a life saver.
This is really great advice, thanks. We're taking Fabian to training next month at 6 months because none of it is really sticking yet. Three whole sessions just on "come" and "stop in motion:" guess the leader's worked with yorkies before! :-)
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Old 06-27-2017, 07:29 PM   #8
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we store our treats in mason jars and over time, the dogs associated the spinning of the lid as treat time. each time we spun the lid they would come! they could be upstairs and once they heard the spin, they would rush downstairs. we caught onto their association and would always spin the mason jar and then say come here! now we can use either command and they come!
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