Please help me, I feel like a failure!

[Freedom]

I took in my grandpa's dog when he died. Sammy was about 10 years old. She hadn't had a lot of training, and was set in her ways.

I'd take her to the beach with a 20 foot rope to tie on her 6 foot leash. She felt like she was "free," Miss Independent. But I had full control over her.

Just a thought.

[catnapper]

There's a lot to read through here and I admit I didn't read through.... so if I repeat something thats already said, just consider it reinforcement

Most of my students don't have success when they call their dog because they "ruined" the word "come". By that I mean they called their dog to come when they wanted to have the dog do something they didn't like, or would consider punishment. Whether or not it was punishment, the dog sees it that way. So, say you called her in because it started raining. She sees that you called her in to end her fun just when the fun started to get good. She sees that as punishment for having a good time outside. Well what do you do if you HAVE to get her in despite how much fun she might have chasing after another dog? You have to figure out what motivates her.

I never use the word "come" on Nicki. I ruined it long ago and she just won't come on the word. Here are three scenarios when my dog is outside and I want her to come in:
1) Nicki just went potty and now is standing in the yard sniffing the breeze. I call out "Cookie!" and she comes for a Milkbone biscuit. Why? Because at that moment, a cookie is ample motivation to leave her exciting post of sniffing air to come to me.

2) Nicki's outside sauntering around, smelling every %#%&* blade of grass. In that frame of mind, she would never come for a cookie. Thats not what she wants. I know her well enough to know she's looking for something interesting to do. So I call out "Lets take a nap!" She comes running into the house and we both head upstairs to lay in bed.... even if only for a minute. For some reason, a nap is an exciting reward for Nicki (go figure! ) Why did this work? Because based on her behavior, a nap was the right motivation at that time.

3) Nicki's out in the yard and she does happen to see another dog walking down the street. She'll stand frozen in the yard and turn to look at me like "hey mom, I'm just gonna go say high to the little boxer I see coming towards us". Do you think I'm gonna tell her to come to me for a cookie? Heck no! She'd laugh at that -- because thats the wrong motivation/reward at that time. Would a nap do? Not at all -- once again, because a nap would be the wrong motivation to leave another dog. So what do I do in that situation? I tell her to get her leash. She'll run at me so fast that there are burn marks in the grass She knows I'll either walk her to the other dog or we'll take a walk ourselves. Either way, she sees it as more rewarding than simply going up to the boxer by herself.

Notice I never said "come"? Thats because she was only 50/50 on responding. You want her to be 100% reponsive because there's going to be the ONE TIME where her responding to your call could mean saving her life. I tell my students that I don't care if you're screaming out "Englebert Humperdink!" as long as she knows what it means and knows that something exciting will happen to her when she returns to answer the call.

I have one student who INSISTED on using the word "come" You know what? Out of that class, all the other puppies came beautifully when called, despite distractions. Hers was the only puppy that ignored mom's call. Mom said "He's so stubborn!" No... she was stubborn because she insisted her dog respond to a word he already prooved he was unresponsive to. Everyone else was calling a myriad of words (one student in that class actually used a potato chip bag and crinkled it to ger her puppy to come... that pup came each and every time without hesitation LOL)

The last thing to remember: Whatever reward you offer (a treat, a walk, a crinkling chip bag) to ALWAYS give your dog the reward. Never, ever, EVER neglect to reawrd your dog for coming when you called.

Good luck

[elizabethann]

O....M....G.....you have a Border Terrier puppy??!!

Please oh please share pictures!!! I'm begging you. I just love Border Terriers. My dog Fenway has a lot of Border Terrier in him.

As far as your question, I think everyone has great idea. Good luck.

[coco-bean]

i too would like some input on this.
I dont want to have to rely on a lead or a leash. I know i should but i just want them to know their command and come when i say. It gets very aggravating when i call and call and call especially when they are doing something wrong but they look at me and keep doing what their doing.
I may not call them angrily or anything and they still wont come. Very annoying for me, i want to be able to trust them but it's hard when this happeneds.
Mostly cainan is my problem...coco will come finally when she realizes your ticked off and corona just knows that when i call, she comes. but cainan has been through basic obedience and still gets distracted no matter what i do or say.
I just dont want to depend on a leash or lead when i dont have too. I like them to have freedom and of course listen.
I know it's the leash ALL THE WAY, im just hoping i can get around the leash and lead stuff haha!

[jewelz2390]

I would suggest practicing a lot. You could also try taking her to a store that allows pets. Here there are a lot of distractions, so she will learn to listen to you even when there are other things going on. And (if your dog isn't aggresive) they let you take them of leash. Some also have little arenas or enclosed areas if you are concerned about her running away.