Come When Called...HOW TO

[binka_nugget]

Everyone mentions treats while training. Well, Chloe is totally and absolutely disinterested in any form of food as a treat. It's a bummer, really, because it would make life so much easier! The laser pointer works if she's in the mood for it. Mika will do anything for a treat, so I don't have a problem with her, but neither do I have a problem with training her, only with Chloe. Oh well....

How about turning the training sessions into games? Kai LOVES playing hide and seek so I do that for his recall exercises. I started by putting him in a stay, then hiding somewhere (where he could still see a part of me.. like behind the curtains). Then I'd call him and reward him like crazy when he found me. He got better and better so eventually, I was able to leave him upstairs while I went downstairs and hid in tough spots.. like downstairs, in my closet, in my room, behind some blankets. He LOVES it. I find that he responds much better when training is a game for him, rather than just working for food. I also try to do the hide and seek a bit when we're in the dog park. I usually hide behind a tree or bench so he still thinks of come as something fun and exciting.. even when we're at the park.

[Thandi]

Thanks Binka, but Chloe is still learning about playing! She finally tossed a toy into the air a week ago, but as soon as she saw me looking at her, dropped it. She lived on the streets for the first two years of her life and doesn't know how to do a lot of normal dog stuff. She also will run away if given the opportunity, or herd smaller dogs at the park until she starts to nip, so learning a really good recall is essential. We have resorted to wearing a muzzle at the doggie park because of the chasing dogs down thing she's started, only with certain dogs, and almost always much smaller than her.

She still watches Mika for guidance on what to do, although they do play amazingly together, it's such a pleasure to watch. I'll keep trying the recall and maybe soon she'll begin to work for treats.

[koas house]

Koa is 10.5 weeks old and I'm not a trainer but he loves to play chase and run after me. While running, I clap my hands and keep repeating "come on Koa, come on". I'll get a little ahead of him (now that he's faster than I am I have to trick him by going around an object and he'll try to cut me off) but I'll turn around and as he's coming right at me I kneel down, clap my hands and say repeat "come on Koa, come on" and he bounds right into my arms and I praise him excitedly. In the short 2.5 weeks we've had him, I'm the only one that can reliably get him to come to me because I'll just kneel down, clap my hands and use the same excited words as when we're playing and he'll come right to me. My husband and kids are just starting to use the technique and it's instantly working like a charm with them as well. I'm not sure if it would work on older dogs but good luck!