Will not 'come'--in fact, runs away!!!!

[gzarr]

So, Isla is 10 months. She considers me the alpha and always runs to me for safety around people she doesn't know, when the kids are too much, sleeps with me, etc. So then why does she not 'come?' And if she escapes the yard (we have a fence but it's on a hill so there are some tiny cracks she slips through) and I call her she will dart! So then I have to go run after her since she could be hit by a car-obviously-and only when she's a couple houses away will she finally slow down and sit. I've never scolded her, hit her or even raised my voice when I've 'captured' her cause I don't want her to never stop when she's running in fear of punishment.

It drives me nuts! Every other dog I know comes when called. Our other two big dogs do, the neighbor's toy dogs do--and they come happily!!! Not Isla! You have to chase her to get her--and it's very annnoying!

Ideas?

[bchgirl]

Start over teaching the command come....each and every time she comes to her...reward her with a treat. She must see that coming is a good thing. Eventually you won't need the treats...

[Sunnie]

Call her in a loud voice that will get her attention, then as soon as she looks at you , run the opposite direction. She will then run to you. She thinks it is a game

[gzarr]

Originally Posted by Sunnie

Call her in a loud voice that will get her attention, then as soon as she looks at you , run the opposite direction. She will then run to you. She thinks it is a game

I've tried this. In fact, many times and she bolts the other way like, "Great! Now she's not watching me run the other way!"

And I have tried the 'come' command with treats. She will come in the house but if she figures out I don't have a treat and she doesn't want to be picked up then she's off.

What a stubborn personality!!!!! The little s__t!!

[bchgirl]

Originally Posted by gzarr

I've tried this. In fact, many times and she bolts the other way like, "Great! Now she's not watching me run the other way!"

And I have tried the 'come' command with treats. She will come in the house but if she figures out I don't have a treat and she doesn't want to be picked up then she's off.

What a stubborn personality!!!!! The little s__t!!

That's the reason you must reward her each and every time.

And yes, I know they can be a pain in the butt.

[gzarr]

Originally Posted by bchgirl

That's the reason you must reward her each and every time.

And yes, I know they can be a pain in the butt.

But how can I possibly have a treat with me at all time? Like when there are no pockets? She doesn't care for the dry treats--only the sticky ones (like pepperoni sticks) so carrying the easy ones won't yeild results.

[bchgirl]

In a bag, your hand...anywhere. Intially if I were going to call my dogs...I had treats and rewarded them every time. They think the word come...is treats. Start inside..you said she comes then...then when she is under your supervision in the backyard (so she can't do a escape though the cracks). It really won't take her long to realize coming to you...means treats. You just have to be consistent with it intially

[Baxters Mommy]

Originally Posted by bchgirl

In a bag, your hand...anywhere. Intially if I were going to call my dogs...I had treats and rewarded them every time. They think the word come...is treats. Start inside..you said she comes then...then when she is under your supervision in the backyard (so she can't do a escape though the cracks). It really won't take her long to realize coming to you...means treats. You just have to be consistent with it intially

Sounds like a good plan. Baxter will only 'come' after I told him to 'stay.' He doesn't know the word any other time. He'll run to me if I squat down on the ground and say, 'Baxter... come here!' Because he has gotten away from me a couple of times... I'll have to start this training method, and hopefully it will work!

[gzarr]

You're right, I should start the 'come' training again. Maybe if I am more consistent it'll be better. I sure hope so cause I don't want her to run away into an oncoming car! Thanks all for the tips!

[Maddie23]

My Maddie does the same thing when she escapes! I too have tried yelling her name to run the other way, but she is running so fast down the street she doesn't even bother to look back at me!! She has a reliable come when in the back yard or in the house, but if she escapes out the front door to "freedom" all bets are off.

She will sit and wait before going out the door on leash to go for a walk, but she knows if the door is open and she doesn't have on her leash, off she goes. Does anyone have a reliable method to keep them from bolting out the door? Maddie is 16 months old and we do go for daily walks. Will she just outgrow this? I envy people I see outside with their dogs right beside them working in the front yard, etc.

[gzarr]

I just thought of something else she does. If she does come and sees a treat but doesn't want to be picked up still, sometimes she will jump backwards as I'm trying to give her the treat. She'll eventually sneak it out of my hand and run away so I can't get her. So she'll 'come' but then not stay...okay...did I just answer my own question? Teach her stay? Haha!

[gzarr]

Originally Posted by Maddie23

I envy people I see outside with their dogs right beside them working in the front yard, etc.

I totally agree! Isla will also run out if the kids leave the door open and then the chase is on! I will take suggestions for that one, too!

[bchgirl]

Originally Posted by gzarr

I just thought of something else she does. If she does come and sees a treat but doesn't want to be picked up still, sometimes she will jump backwards as I'm trying to give her the treat. She'll eventually sneak it out of my hand and run away so I can't get her. So she'll 'come' but then not stay...okay...did I just answer my own question? Teach her stay? Haha!

Laughing ...yeah.

I suspect what you've done is what another friend of mine used to do. Used the treat to GRAB her dog....because he wouldn't come to her...so the dog was leary when he approached her.

Start where you know she can not run off...do not extend the treat out to her. Let her see it...but don't hold it out. Essentially have her eat it from your hand and don't "grab" her. You don't want her to associate coming to you...means being grabbed. If she doesn't come...no treat.

It sounds harder and more complicated than it is. Really.

[bchgirl]

To keep them from bolting out the second a door is open...you need to teach the command stay. Mine won't leave our yard if the back gate is open...there is an imaginery line there.

Don't start the practice outside...do it inside until you know they understand what stay means.

I rarely allow mine unleashed out front...simply because there is always the chance a temptation will come by. Kids, another dog, etc....mine will come back but I can't chance they won't be able to resist the temptation and run into the street.

[Britster]

Originally Posted by Baxters Mommy

Sounds like a good plan. Baxter will only 'come' after I told him to 'stay.' He doesn't know the word any other time. He'll run to me if I squat down on the ground and say, 'Baxter... come here!' Because he has gotten away from me a couple of times... I'll have to start this training method, and hopefully it will work!

That's like Jackson! lol. I have to say "STAY" and then "OK, come!!" And then he comes, lol. He's actually fairly good with coming though, even outside, the only time he doesn't is when he's busy w/ something else which we're working on! He's very smart with everything else though and listens to me 99% of the time w/ all of his other little tricks and commands he knows.