6 month old coming when called

[Jodi Riseberg]

Our almost 6 month old is doing great- responds so well to commands- he sits, lies down, plays dead, rolls over and comes when called.  Every day he is off leash with about 3-5 other dogs having a great time-when I say "OZZY COME" he bolts right over to me for a treat (apples). However, if another dog approaches from far away or even some children on the other side of the field, he will run right over to them to say hi- he is sooooo curious and so friendly- but when I see him bolting over to greet the other dog or people- I will yell OZZY COME and he completely ignores. Most of the time it is fine as he really is just saying hello- but it is not polite- some might be scared, etc.  Not sure how to make sure he listens to OZZY COME or I probably need a different command to stop him in tracks?  It's like he is just being so stubborn- and curious - and wants to go check out new dog/people.  Suggestions?  Thanks!!

Also, on slightly different topic- what hours does your 6 month old pup sleep at night?  From what time to what time in am?

Thanks!

[denise rumbaugh]

I would be interested in hearing responses as well.  My 4 mth old will listen to me until there are other dogs or people...then he just bolts if he is off of his leash.  He won't listen to anything that I say.  I get worried that if I don't get this under control when he is fully grown at 50 pds he is going to scare the life out of someone.  I just don't know how to train him to come when called with distractions.

[KLN]

If someone could tell me how to make this happen I wound be forever grateful! Finley is SUCZh a good dog but will not listen to me when it comes to the "come" command. He will respond if I bribe him with treats but all the trainers tell me not to do this. I'm stuck because I really need him to listen to me...he does so well with EVERYTHING else!

[Missy]

yes, I too have had this problem. So, we purchased a shock collar.

It has the option to just make a beep or a vibration, or it can shock.  This has helped tremendously as it gets their attention back to you.  I feel that at 6 months we have made them confident puppies, and they feel they are the leaders.  The shock collar has reminded our pup who is in control, and we usually only have to beep or vibrate to get his attention. 

and I have been reminded that I need to continue every day with the practice of 'coming when called'.

[Rebecca bratter]

I have a six month aussiedoodle who has the same issue.  We haven't fixed it yet but we were told in our puppy class to train her to do recall with the  highest value treats available, and that she should feel that when she comes when called, it's the way we would feel if we just won the lottery.  An idea, may not work but give it a try. 

In terms of sleeping, Madiba can go through the night but she doesn't sleep 8 hours, If she's in her crate she'll sleep on and off but now that she is potty trained we let her roam the apartment at night, she goes from our bed to her bed to the cool bathroom floor.  We go to sleep around midnight and she wakes us up between 7 and 8 depending on how late she ate and drank.  

[Jodi Riseberg]

It does work with a great treat and when playing in sort of controlled environment with a few dogs and people around a big field- it's when someone new enters the scene- curious what kind of shock collar you have and is this something you phase out over time I assume?  If it just vibrated I think I'd be ok with that...do you recommend a specific one? Thanks all- sounds like alot are having similar issues..really appreciate feedback! thanks!

[denise rumbaugh]

I have also tossed around the idea of a shock/vibration collar, but wasn't sure if it wasn't too harsh.  My Aussiedoodle listens for the most part at 4 mths but when distracted....forget about it, he won't listen at all.  As for sleep, depending on how late he ate and drank he will sleep in his crate (since he is not potty trained fully yet) for 8-9 hrs.  We go to bed around midnight as well and he wakes up around 8-9.  

[Missy]

I purchased Delta from Garmin on Amazon for $199.00, but can also be purchased at stores or from Garmin's website.  Both the collar and transmitter are water proof which makes it ideal for us when we are at the lake house.

The important information: your dog must understand the commands you shout out BEFORE you beep, vibrate, or shock them. I do NOT use the collar to train the commands, only to get his attention and to allow him to be off leash.

For example, he knows the command for DOWN, and he knows he is not allowed to jump up on people. (I used to keep him on leash to correct with a quick jerk on the leash when he jumped, now when he has the collar on, I can emit a beep to get his attention with the command DOWN, and he responds. He knows the command LEAVE, and with the shock collar on, I can push a button with the verbal command LEAVE from across the room when he is trying to eat the parrots food. But he knew this command from working with him on the leash. I do not shock train the new commands. I only use the shock collar on commands he knows. The collar has really freed me from being tied to him constantly.

The biggest advantage as he has gotten larger (30 pounds) he can now run at will outside with out me running with him on lead. We don't have a fence. And at the lake house- he can run and swim all day long and I too can relax and enjoy the water.

The sleep schedule for us: falls asleep around 8-9pm on floor. depending on water intake 8 is usually last potty, but sometime I make him go out again at 10pm before it is crate time for the night. stays in crate until 7am. 

[Vicky loves Chachi]

My Chachi, 5 months old, does the same. I'm going to ask the trainer at our puppy class tonight and get back to you. As for sleep, he falls asleep out of his crate around 8:30p or 9p. We take him out to potty before we go to bed around 11p then he goes in his crate and back to sleep. He is up at 5am, which is early for me during the summer but perfect for when school starts. So to answer your question, he sleeps about 8.5hrs at night.

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

We haven't worked on this specifically, but have worked at 'staying' and 'waiting' at a distance. My trainer has instructed me to use a long leash (at least 15'), to enforce it around distractions. Using HVT's (High Value Treats), like freeze dried liver, is a big plus too. We also need to work on coming when called with distractions. Oscar has a terrible love/fascination with other dogs and kids. Up to now, all bets are off when these 2 are around! It can be very embarrassing when he's off leash and he completely ignores us. BTW, our older doodle, Lucy, was the same way at Oscar's age, and she listens to us perfectly now, so there is hope!

[Vicky loves Chachi]

So the trainer said that learning the come command is done in puppy kindergarten. Having the puppies come at a time when they are very excited following something/someone else is learned in college 101. She says you should not call puppy to come unless u are 100% sure he/she will respond. At the other times when u r not sure, u should just go and get them. The come command should never be optional for the puppy cause he/ will learn that they don't always have to come. Use high value treats when they come at all times then once puppy is a little older, u can try with major distractions.

[Jodi Riseberg]

That is such a great point!  I spoke with someone just this am that gave me some advice that she got from her trainer, for what it's worth- it actually made sense to me....

She says that you have to have the BEST treat ever...(which I have yet to figure out as Ozzy seems to like everything)  Hotdogs maybe?   But anyway, you have that super GOLD treat and you yell a different word, other than COME...friends word is CALIFORNIA...and when she calls CALIFORNIA in that super excited tone of voice the dog should come despite the distractions.  I have a feeling though you do need to wait until dog is a little older.  I have stopped saying COME when I know he is off greeting kids or something that is entering from other side of field, instead I quickly catch up and put him on leash.  Good luck!  And gold treat recommendations welcome although sure it depends on your dog.  Mine loves BULLY sticks but not good on his stomach.  Peanut butter in Kong is great- loves apples- but need to find that GOLD treat, something that is full proof that he will come EVERY time...

[Rebecca bratter]

Yes, that's exactly the other point I forgot to mention.  You have to use one word for come when it is not a big deal and another when the dog really needs to do recall amidst distractions.  In terms of high value treats, Madiba likes everything treat wise but we save the really special ones for this exercise which we never use for any other training exercises.  In our case it's hotdogs or sliced turkey, human food basically.