Teaching COME!

[Wendy]

What's your favorite training method? My puppies are beginning to not come anymore. I need to get some treats in my pocket for when they do actually come.

The only way I can think to do it is with a long leash....

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Yep, long lead, and always treat them when they come to you. Never call a dog to you for anything unpleasant. If you have to clip nails, clean ears, whatever, go to the dog, don't call the dog to you. Make coming to you a wonderful experience every time.
If they don't come right away, show them the treat and then run away from them. Works like a charm.
But also keep in mind that it takes 300 repetitions of a command, on average, for a dog to "get" it. Patience and time are key, and very few young puppies have a solid recall. (Or older dogs, for that matter, lol)

[2m42srv7vi6sq]

I hve to come to believe that there IS no such thing as a RELIABLE recall!

Bella, who will be 10 in Sepember, has been reliable about coming for 9 of those 10 years...now just ignores me when she doesn't want to come. Caeleach and Seamus see that she doesn't come, so they decide they don't have to either.

Caeleach has also decided that, if she can't smell a treat, it isn't worth coming.

Urgghh, KIDS! LOL

[Dot, Maggie and KoKo]

Rosie still hasn't got this one down. She comes if she wants. I think this is the most important command she can learn but she is just so stubborn with this one. She finally is ringing her bells and doing her business outside. I never thought we would get there so I guess patience is the key and someday she will come when I call her. We work with a 25 ft leash and I think I will invest in the 50 footer.

She is a smart dog but wants to work at her pace not mine. I wish you well and a lot of patience.

[HANNAH 8/2/07 & HONEY 7/2/08]

Hi Wendy, since they are really young puppies I would work with a shorter leash at first so you set them up for success. When you call them, always use the same call...like Miley come but with a happy tone, if you are angry at them because they did something wrong, never call them to you to punish them, they will not want to come to you, always go get them and than correct. If they do come to you when you call try and use a special treat like some hot dog or string cheese (small bites). Another great way to teach the come is to put a piece of string cheese between you fingers and expose just enough so they get a small nibble, and walk around with the pup smelling your hand telling them to come, and if they follow...reward. Always practice with one at a time if you can..give them their individuality and bonding time with you.

[Janie]

They learn,they forget ,they relearn.

[Adina P]

You said: "My puppies are beginning to not come anymore." Not coming 'anymore' would imply that they had a strong grasp of it to begin with. But NO puppy at this age is very reliable at much. If they 'used' to come it was because you were new and interesting and then they realized there were more exciting things to explore and 'come' was more or less optional.

Honestly at this age I'd mostly lure them to you with NO command...or little things like "puppies, puppies! here, here!" or kissy sounds or just random ways to entice them to you. Save your official recall command for formal training times. Your recall word (whether 'come' or 'hotdogs!" or "free beer!!" or "here!") needs to be considered a SACRED word you ONLY say in training when you are 100% sure you can make them come to you if they choose not to. Any other use dilutes the command and they take it as optional for when they feel like it.

Practice individually for a long time before you have them come together. Then when they are together sometimes call ONE not the other. Helps if you use their name when you practice with them individually: "Miley, Come!" and with time when it's just one-to-one you can try to 'trick' them by saying another name (Rover, Susie, Thomas, Puppy) so they know it is only when you call them by name that they come and when they are together you can single one out.

Practice with a short leash at first and then a long leash. Practice randomly when they are busy doing something and when they are in a sit-stay...

As for treats...I would WARN against showing them a treat first when you teach your official recall because then they will take the treat as a CUE rather than the word and when the treat is not visible...they will ignore you. Keep the treat in your pocket, on a counter, on a shelf...out of site when you train! Make it a surprise reward not a bribe. If you do use it at first...WEAN OFF OF IT ASAP!!!

Also after they get the hang of what come means...then only treat on occasion...don't stop treating, but don't treat EVERY TIME. Sometimes give them pats and head rubs and praise! So call one..."Miley, COME!" and then if she doesn't respond DO NOT REPEAT IT over and over...just reel her in with the leash and when she arrives she is ALWAYS A VERY GOOD GIRL no matter what naughty thing she was doing at the moment.

Finally take them each out to parks and other places and practice there so they get good at it EVERYWHERE not just at home.

And when you are doubtful they will obey...don't use your sacred recall word...just bribe them with no command so you don't dilute the word.

OH also...make the recall mean "come to me and sit politely in front of me until I can grab your collar and give you a treat" you want them to not just run to you and then run off...you want the recall to mean they come to you and sit in front of you waiting for your next command.

Good luck...a solid recall takes ENORMOUS amount of repetition, consistency, patience, and follow-through.

[LuvMyAbby&Kaela]

I used a method in a puppy raising book I bought before Abby came.

The Shaker Method.

Put kibble and special treats in a plastic container with lid.

Say "Come" while simultaneously shaking it.

When the pup responds praise and treat immediately.

Eventually start eleminating the shaker when saying " Miley come" but reward every success with praise and treat

After this is always successful use the word " Mley come" and praise always and treat only half the time.

(You are trying to wean off the treats but still positively reinforcing the desired behavior.)

This worked wonderful for Abby! I just have to say "Abby Come" and she zooms to me in hopes of a sometimes treat and a good rub down.

[Wendy]

It's funny. My cats come to the shaker method!! lol.. thanks for the tip. It seems uncomplicated almost. I will try it.