 Learning to come
I had a bad experience with my boys about 4 months ago, I have two male yorkies and I went to babysit my grand daughter out in the valley. They bolted out her front door each in a different direction on a totally unfamilar street three blocks from a major intersection. At 56 I never would have caught them without a neighbors help and I about had a heart attack. I decided then and there, that they were going to learn to come when I said so. I purchased a long lead from Petedge.com and hooked it first to my belt or belt loops and to them immediately upon coming home at night. I would call them to come, if they did, they got a treat, if not, I reeled them in saying come all the time very firmly. A couple of weeks ago, I took them unleashed to the courtyard of my apartment and let them loose. Every time I said come, they did, we do this at least once a day and so far they have always come. Today we had a bigger chance to see if it worked. I took them out to the courtyard and my neighbor unexpectedly came out with her dog to go somewhere. The boys dashed after her and the dog. I firmly yelled Come, Come NOW. I was absolutely thrilled that they ignored the dog and CAME. Next the park. |