Teaching a yorkie to come
 

My Yorkie just sits and stares at me as if i'm crazy when i call him towards me. Unless he is looking for affection he always stares from a distance. I tried using treats and slowly running beside him (as i saw in a training video) but again, apparently i am the crazy one. Also, when he knows he did wrong and i'm calling him to show him what he did, he starts to bark at me as if he is scared (because he does the same thing to the swiffer!!), so i proceed to go closer as i call him and he runs away barking. i have never laid a hand on him so i dont understand, unless he thinks im playing?:confused:

Any helpful tips would be great.

In our training class, our instructor told us to use a command (one word) that would mean come...her preference was "front". She said that come was used too much with other words - such as "come here", "come on", etc.

She recommended to make it exciting for the dog to come to you; if you are reprimanding him when he does come to you, he may be frightened to "come". Make it exciting and speak in a high pitched friendly voice.

I saw this on a tv show, "It's me or The Dog" and I have to say it works everytime.

Look at the dog, make sure that the dog is looking back at you, point to your eyes...make sure the dog looks into your eyes, call his/her name, tap your eyes and then say "come" or whatever word you are using and point downward in front of you--once...do not say it over and over.

If the dog does not come, do the whole thing over and say "come" just one time. He/she will come to you as you are showing dominance. It may take a few moments, but it works everytime. Hot Rod will still be stubborn every blue moon, and all I have to do is point to the eyes, then point down, I don't even have to speak.

Good luck and let us know how it works for you. :)

I tried the high pitched one, it works. But the Name, eyes, point down. does not. he gets really angry at me and starts barking and growling like crazy!! :confused:

Here is a link to a site that has some free training videos by trainer, Tamar Geller. The one on Teaching Dog to Come might be helpful. I love her methods, and found this helpful for my pups.

Training Videos Presented by Dog Life Coach Tamar Geller | The Humane Society of the United States

I'd be careful calling him to show him what he did wrong. Dogs have incredibly short memories for things like that. If you don't catch them in the act, you're better off not even trying to correct the behavior after the fact.

Coming to you should always be a good thing. Use a favorite toy or a treat to lure him.

You should not call a dog if you are going to punish them. If you call them to you and then they get in trouble what makes them want to come to you any other time? Start by being really close to him and call him when he comes give him treats and TONS of affection, act like he has done the best thing in the world. After that move a little farther away and do the same thing. The trick is making him think that coming to you is better then ANYTHING else.

He's not going to want to come to you to see something he did wrong.

But, Winston learned "come" in puppy kindergarten. I stood with the instructor a few feet away. We both had treats & would alternate saying come. When he came we would give him the treat & praise him. Each time we moved a little further away. At home we can even practice by going in different rooms & getting him to come whle called. Usually I just call his name & he comes now.

Well! he managed the sit stay and come this morning! :D
the only reason i tried calling him before to show him what he did wrong was because i've been getting mixed training advice.
The high pitched - happy - come worked and with treats

thanks everyone!

That is exactly how Tamar Geller teaches it in the video I linked to in post #4.

coming to you should be a reward!! they look for us for love and approval and when you call them to come it should be a hppy thing! I always praise Pixie when she comes like she has just won a million dollars. I never call her to scold her on something. first of all you have to catch them in the act to reprimand them and tell them no when they are doing it. Dogs don't remember their wrong doings, they live from moment to moment.
It would be very helpful to you to read a book on Yorkshire terriers, you can purchase one at pet smart or pet co. Perhaps it would help you understand them a lil better.
Puppies are learning all the time and it is important to give them love and approval and then they will want to please you in return! good luck

AWESOME JOB! Congratulations! Don't sweat the training mistakes. We all make them. The secret is figuring out why what you're doing isn't working and then trying something else.

You're doing great!