sah

Okay, I think I just posted this in another area so am repeating it here. Hopefully it works!
My 2 1/2 yr. old spoo, Ben, has decided he doesn't need to come when I call him. I live in quiet neighborhood and some woods are just across the street from my house. Ben's best buddy (a golden retriever) lives at the other end of the street and they often play together. Lately, when I take Ben to the woods to pee/poop, he usually does so promptly, but then takes off like a shot down to his buddy's house, totally ignoring my command of COME. By the time I get down to his friend's house, they're happily playing....so....Ben, in effect, is getting rewarded for disobeying me! Oh, and there's a neighbor in the same area that puts out food (LOTS OF FOOD!) for stray cats that Ben has now discovered. So he's either getting to PLAY or EAT for ignoring me!
Ben is just about perfect on leash or even long lead, so that doesn't seem to be an effective training tool. ANY SUGGESTIONS for getting a dog to come OFF LEASH would be very much appreciated!! Thanks!

sarahmurphy

no clues or advice - I have the same issue, here... except it's grandma or the river instead of food or a friend...

sarah

Quossum

If you want a solid recall, it's almost more of a relationship thing than training. The dog has to have self-control (instilled through It's Yer Choice and Crate Games). The dog has to know--has to *live*--the fact that the ONLY way to get what he wants...is to do what you want him to do first. What's more, YOU should be so rewarding, so incredibly cool to be around, such a source of fun, rewards, and joy, that being around you is a motivation in itself.

Making all this happen is a constant work in progress, made up of so many little things. My dog can recall to me past his food bowl and some other cool things, but he is young, and there are situations I wouldn't put him in because I know he wouldn't be successful yet. In those situations, he's on a leash or a long line. Certainly if he was in the position of being able to reward himself while I called him, I wouldn't put him in that situation until further training and relationship building had taken place.

One thing you can do is use the opportunity to play with his friend as a reward. It's good when our dogs show us what they value!

Good luck!

--Q

Rhett'smom

Keep trying and do not give up! Try setting up puppy play dates. Rhett and family were at the park yesterday when I slipped on the wet grass... Dropped the leash and whoosh off he went!!! My heart stopped then the little miss (7 years old)called to him with"SIT Rhett" and he stopped, plunked his behind down. Then I called him to me and he came!!! Even with tons of kids to play with !!! Such a shining moment !!! Rewards a bunch!!! But having spent hours (tons) and peanut butter he comes when called.. Now without peanut butter


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sah

Thanks Sarah...good to know I'm not alone out there!

sah

Thanks for the ideas. What are "It's yer choice" and "Crate Games"? Sharon

sah

Thanks for the encouragement! I will continue working with him...good thing he's so darn cute and that he USUALLY does what I ask!!! Sharon

fjm

Tough one - but I second using a visit to his friend as the ultimate reward. I once tried to call Sophy away from a neighbourhood barbecue. People, children, steak, sausages, burgers, cuddles for dogs, dropped food - versus boring old time to go home ... It took a while, but eventually she listened and came with me. And then I praised her, and told her she could go back to the party! It was only for a short while, because I really did need to get back home, but she was hugely impressed - she got to be a Good Dog, got her reward for coming when called AND got to do what she really wanted. You could practically see the brain cells buzzing!

__________________

To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden,
where doing nothing was not boring- it was peace.

~ Milan Kundera

Chagall's mom

Just want a little something to the good advise already offered. I think this article, "Reliable Recall – The Holy Grail of Dog Training," provides a good summary of recall training for real life situations. You might find it helpful.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...AIkz_JCA8Fg3XQ

There are also some good threads about recall training on the forum. I slipped in few of those links too. They may help stop Ben from giving you the slip when you call him.

Training recall- positive reinforcement

http://www.poodleforum.com/23-genera...t256394http://

A while back I realized I'd inadvertently "poisoned" the "come" command by misusing it, either by allowing Chagall to ignore it (my bad!) or using it prior to something he wasn't keen on doing, think bath. I changed his recall word and amped up his long-line training using copious yummy treats (liverwurst is his God!). Chagall is three and I can now actually call him off a squirrel to return to me, something I never dreamed possible!Good luck with your training, hope you'll update us on how it's going.

__________________

Just be nice.
Cabryn Chagall, CGC

Indiana

Chagall's mom, liverwurst! What a great idea! I'm getting some for sure. And sah, this is a good thread because Ben is 2 and 1/2 and I've noticed too that dogs go through phases where they lose their enthusiasm for something they were really good at before, so it's always good to have fresh takes on these more important training aspects.