[yorkietalkjilly]

I like to train the recall by charging the word "come" to mean good things to the dog. It will take a lot more consistent, repetitious training before he's consistent in coming on command as he's not been trained for that long at this point.

This is how I train a dog to come every single time. For a few days, just sit on the floor with your dog in front of you, say “Come” and treat your dog instantly as soon as you say the word. Smile, praise and pat him. This “charges” the word come that it means treats and happiness! Use kibble treats to keep him from filling up on junk or a lot of boiled chicken. Just keep doing that for a few times every few hours for several days. Once you know your baby knows that word means treats and praises and he wants to get that treat and praise again badly, it is time to train. Put your dog a few feet away, call him using "Come" and give a treat, smile and praise when he comes. Usually they can't get to you fast enough! Keep doing this over and over for about 3 -5 minutes and staying very upbeat. When he doesn't come or wanders off instead, say "uh oh"(don't say "no" while still in training - reserve that for when he's really learned something and is not obeying or otherwise genuinely misbehaving), but just say "uh oh" in a matter-of-fact way and don't treat, turn your back for half a minute.

After he's learned to come every time, move the training outside.

Now comes in the good trainer part - don't lose patience with him - he's still working at trying to learn this trick and happy repetition is the key to teaching. If he loses attention outside, gently retrieve him if he's wandered off, put him in place a few feet away, crouch down a little and extend your hand and call him again, using a squeaky toy in the other hand if you must, but this time wiggle your body, smile, turn around or anything to keep his interest and get him to come. Some trainers jump up and down and make odd sounds to get the dog's attention - whatever it takes. Then, immediately treat and praise lavishly when he does come.

If he keeps losing focus outside, bring him back in and train him in the house until he's 100% coming when called for his treat and praise. Then try it again outside from just a short distance away, using a leash to keep him from wandering off while still training.

And repeat, repeat, repeat. It is the food reward, frequency and upbeat attitude and fun you have with him that will make him want to come to you and it will take him some months to get it down "cold". When his tummy can take it, use a high value treat like boiled chicken to occasionally surprise treat him when he comes and keep up these lessons. By using a very high-value treat occasionally, you keep his expectations high that this time when I come, I might just get the big payoff and get freshly boiled chicken! Dogs live off high expectations! By the time he is a year and a half old, he will be coming to your recall every single, solitary time - well, 99%. He's still a dog. Again, that 1% of the time when he doesn't come running, crouch down, use a high, squeaky voice, use a squeaky toy, say "Come for chicken!" or wiggle or turn your body around, sit on the floor/ground, anything to interest him and get him to you. Make yourself more interesting than the outside and he'll come out of curiosity and excitement.

Then, even if he did have to be encouraged and didn't come right away, keep your response to him for finally coming super positive and happy. Once you act mad at a dog for not coming, they don't want to do it again anytime soon & can remember that coming to you sometimes finds you mad & they won't necessarily connect that his not coming at first was what made you mad - he might only remember that sometimes you ARE mad when he comes to you. Patience, fun and short, repetitive sessions when teaching a dog work best. I would train Tibbe in the recall for about 3 -5 minutes each 3 - 5 times a day when he was young. He's 5 1/2 now and he still gets a piece of kibble and a smile and a "Gooooood boy" every single time he comes to me. And he does come 99 99/100% of the time I call him the first time and he NEVER runs away from me when I call him. Ever. But we worked for a year on the recall so he's really got it down.

Hope this helps a little. Sorry it is long but read it over a couple of times and remember this little dog is still learning and you can't expect a whole lot until you've worked a good while on this, particularly when competing with outside sights, sounds and scents. You just love him and keep teaching and keep it patient and fun.