It Can't Be That Simple!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I hope I don't jinx myself with this post, but one command that we have struggled with here when the Doodles are outside is "COME"! Sure they will come ... when they want to!  AnnaBelle will pretty much always come if it is only her.  However, she looks to see what Lucy decides to do if they are both outside.  So, this week I read (on FB of all places) someone say "I use HERE instead of COME because they seem to hear HERE better than COME.  So, I thought what the heck, let me try it.  100% success over the last two days.  About 30 mins ago I let them both out and they took off to the fence because the boy next door was tossing a football with some little kid.  I was like oh great, now they are going to bark and I'm not going to be able to get them back inside.  So, I tried the "No Bark" a few times and it would last until someone said something and it would start all over again.  They were ok with just the ball being tossed but I guess when one said something to the other they felt like they were talking to them or something.  So, I'm not one to let my dogs just stand outside and bark so I decided they were coming in.  Figuring I was in for a challenge since they were so interested in the football game,  I decided rather than just open the door and call them I would walk out towards where they were at the fence knowing once I was getting close they would take off.  So, about half way out I said "Lucy, AnnaBelle, HERE!"  Holy crap, they both turned around and ran straight to the house.  It can't be that simple!  Of course they have gotten some great treats for their efforts, but I just don't get it.  What is the difference between the two words.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

We only use the Chuck-It at the dog park, as my yard is very small. The appearance of the Chuck-It could also serve as a signal to the dog that the game is on! 

[Leslie and Halas]

I'm not an unsuspecting visitor. I'm a suspecting visitor.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

LOL, Leslie, you are his favorite sucker visitor! 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I should add that none of the above applies to going to the park to play fetch. He knows what we're there for, lol, and anything goes. The "fetch rules" are only for at home. 

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

Our trainer has us use another word (other than come) and treat heavily.  the theory, as I understand it, is that a special word that they don't hear all the time and that they associate with high value treats will work.  ours is "now". we are still at the association phase- I shout it out when he is already coming in and then the idea is he will eventually associate the word with the reward.  

sounds like you skipped to step 2!  great for you! 

[Robin and Libby Louise]

"Heel" works much better than "come" with Libby.  She doesn't actually heel, but she definitely responds 95% of the time as opposed to her just looking at me.  :)

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

We struggled with the word "come" also and one day my granddaughter started using "now" and lo and behold Libby  runs when she hears it.  We work with her almost every day and the results have been wonderful.  Even when she is visiting through the fence with her fur friend next door and we say "now", she turns, looks at us for about three seconds and takes off running.  Of course, she gets a nice treat when she gets to us!   Good job AnnaBelle and Lucy!  

[Ronna, Murphy & Wilson]

The trainer that I work with encourages the use of the word "here" instead of "come".  I do use "come" becuase that is what  I started with but the reasoning is this........  Pay attention to how many times a day you use the word "come" in your everyday conversation....come on, come over here, come and get it, come this way, when are you going to come home...etc, etc.    It is very possible to "burn" a word or cue for a dog so that it no longer means anything to them. By the dogs hearing the word "come" many, many times a day but not as the command to move toward you the word becomes meaningless to them.  This could happen with any word.

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

I used to have a poodle and when I called him to come, sometimes he would but if I said Max, come…NOW, he came running. I always thought he just knew I meant business and he didn't want me mad at him. Now that is starting to make more sense. Who knew? LOL!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Sheri, I stood at the front door today and yelled, "HERE!" No one came....what am I doing wrong? LOL

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

Laurie, you are way tooooo funny:)

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I'm thinking you didn't have your orange bikini on!