Marilize | 06-10-2009 10:33 PM | Quote:
Originally Posted by PiePiper
(Post 2652867)
Piper is 13 months and I'm having a big problem with the come command. She is the most sweatest, affectionate, loving little girl you could possibly want. She has no aggression and is a happy little girl. In the house when you want her to come, in order to pick her up, (usually to bring her out) she keeps her distance and if you walk up to her she scoots away. If I didn't know better I would think she is afraid of me. Usually I have to talk sweetly to her and tell her to sit and give her a treat and then she lets me pick her up. I try the come command to come to me for the treat after she sits but usually she won't come. I have to bring the treat to her. I never let her loose outside. I don't have a fenced in yard and she has a big x-pen. A couple weeks ago she scooted out the door of the x-pen and did one of those catch me if you can games. I'm terrified of her getting loose and me not being able to catch her and seeing her get killed. We're surrounded by woods and live on a curvy, winding, narrow road that is busy with campers going to the campgrounds this time of year. My male yorkie and the mini poodles never did that but then again over the last 35 years living here there is more traffic and more preditors in the woods. I gave my other dogs freedom in my yard and I don't with Piper. I do give her a 3 mile walk every day for exercise. How do you guys teach the come command where they know you mean business? I know for Piper's safety this is a must. | I think you need a new command for come. She may have a negative connotation with that command.
To teach her to come to you effectively, you need to start with a new command, like 'here' or you could get a dog whistle. Whistles are wonderful for a consistent recall. When you say the new word or blow the whistle, she will probably look at you. When she does, give her a treat. It is as easy as that.
For the bolters (of which my Cash is one), recalls are very important. Once you have taught her that paying attention to you when you say the command, you can increase the distance between the two of you and reward her when she comes to you (after you have used the command). Gradually increase this distance until she will come to you from very far away.
The other important thing is that you need to make her want to come to you. That means that if there is a nice, smelly squirrel somewhere or another dog, you have to make it worth her while to come to you. Only use high-value treats for the recall.
Good luck. |