Hi
Thank you for the advice I have received in the past - I now keep a lead on my pup when we are in the house or the yard, it definetly makes it easier to give a correction, if one is needed.
I still have not found a trainer in Columbus, just not having any luck in that area -
So I am still struggling myself to train Macy.
Macy is a 5 1/2 month old lab -
I would like to get some advice on the "Come" command.
I have been trying to teach her the "Come" command and she has been doing really well with it - or so I thought! I have been using treats in teaching this command because I heard that this is probably the most important command a dog can learn - and I really wanted her to desire to "Come".
To give you a little history - About a month ago we went up to a cabin in Michigan for a week and this is where I introduced her to "Come". She did great! She came every time, even when I let her off leash to test it out. She came right when I called her. She loves those treats!!
When I work with her in the back yard - She does really well with this command - She loves to chase the ball, and I think I already told you before in one of my previous threads in forum, that I can throw the ball - she will take off to chase it and midway to the ball I will give her the "Come" command and she will turn around instantly - forget about the ball and come right to me and sit. I give her a treat and then tell her she can go and get the ball - and she does.
So stupid me I am thinking she has this command down good! Well, this past weekend I found out -Not So! Now mind you she has never failed once on this commmand - she has come every time she was given this command.
Well, this past weekend we went to a cabin in Hocking Hills for the long weekend. She was in the cabin and someone opened the door and out she went - And she is very fast!! Someone yelled to me that Macy got lose - So dumb me!! I am thinking this isn't such a horrible problem she has always come when given the command.
So I went out on the deck of the cabin where she could see me, and hear me and yelled "Come"!
Well, needless to say - She Didn't Come! - She was off and running!! Down to the pond - Back from the pond and now running down the path to the woods. And I am still forcefully saying "Come"! She is totally ignoring me!! The thing is we had just done this a month ago at a cabin in Michigan - same temptations and she came every time. And we have practiced it a lot since then. And she has never failed to come!
But she was totally free and loving it!!
Thank goodness I now keep a lead on her all the time - So I went down the path after her with one of her toys and called her - she looked and I threw the toy and she went to chase it - Good thing she didn't have this trap figured out! I stepped on her lead as she ran past me and was able to catch her.
So I guess I have a few questions here I need to ask -
1st - What should I have done when I caught her?? I did not correct her because I figured she wouldn't even know what she was getting corrected for. I just took her back in the cabin and was sternly talking to her - telling her she shouldn't have done that - but of course she had no clue what I was even saying to her. I just wanted my voice to be gruff so she knew I wasn't pleased with her.
2nd - I am really not sure if I am teaching the command correctly?
3rd - Another thing I really need to know is when she does respond to "Come" and sits in front of me - does this command have an automatic "Stay"?
I have a book on dog training but oddly enough it does not cover the "Come".
So I guess I just need to learn everything there is to know about the "COME" command!
I sure appreciated the advise you gave me previously about keeping the lead on her all the time - it sure proved to be very valuable on this last trip. Thanks!
I would sure appreciate any help that I could get on this last problem I had - Actually any help in general that I can get it greatly appreciated!!
Thanks Sharon
Oh by the way we have worked on "Come" in the back yard again since we have been home - She has "Come" every time.

1) You were right not to correct her when you caught her, but I would have been completely neutral when taking her back inside. Tough to do when you're seething inside, but important. The neutrality gives the dog NO attention, positive OR negative. Therefore, no reinforcement coming from you. Remember that when you praise or correct a puppy, they connect it to the most recent thing that they did. Bursting out the door and ignoring your "come" command was probably not the most recent thing she had done by the time you caught her.

2) I really like play as a reward more than I like food, but I'm not your puppy. As with ANY command, just because your dog does it perfectly in the yard, does not mean that they will be reliable under distraction. That has to be trained for.

3) When I say "Here", I mean for my dog to come and sit in front of me. I can then release him, or walk away from him while he stays sitting, and issue another command.

Ditto what L. said.
She is to young to be considered solid under distraction yet. A pond and a Lab puppy <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> . You can't get much more distracting than that. You said you keep a lead on her. You need a 15-20ft long line. She has to associate obedience with distance(another form of distraction). She should also learn a wait command at the door. This will help prevent her from running out every time a door is opened. Yelling and hollering at her to come as she ran buy just reinforces to her that she doesn't have to. Being at the lake, I would assume it is somewhat secluded. I would have let her get it out of her system, then when she calmed down, I would have called her with a very positive voice and lots of praise. Using treat all the time will soon become a bribe if your not careful. Most Labs will do it just for your praise. If possible, let her run with the longer line on(NEVER swiming). At this stage of her training, only call her when you know you can reinforce it if she is distracted.

Hey Sharon!
Just wondering if you are in Columbus, Ohio. If so I would be more than happy to give you a hand! I have only been training in Schutzhund for 2 years now, but I have pickED up a lot from the people and dogs that I have worked with! And just recently the members of this board have helped me out also. LEMME KNOW! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

One more thing. Even with my top dogs,when I trained for competition in Obd,I never took the dog off the leash/long line to see "what they could do" until they had lots of distraction training.Most new trainers(and some not so new) will do this and it just sets you up for mistakes.

She's young, she'll get it in time. I would not let her run free if she doesn't come. OldE's suggestion of a long line is very good while your pup is learning. I would keep her a little hungry and always bring food/treats with you. It's a good motivator for labs.
The wait command is one I use at doors as well and is a good idea to teach so your dog doesn't charge out.
I was taught to use "come" when you're doing an obedience command and "here" when you want the dog near you. That way the dog doesn't learn to ignore the "come" and it's reserved for "special" occasions.
Later you could introduce a "whistle" command for the "here". Having a whistle trained dog is great. Saves your voice too.
Basically at this age you have to remember the 3 "F's" in training and the three "P's" for yourself.
Fun
Fair and
Firm

Practice
Perseverance and
Patience

Have fun!
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Hi Sharon

Until you get to the proofing stage your puppy will not obey the commands under distraction. You are doing well in that she does the command while training. I'd suggest praising her more in a high picth voice when she does well.

Start using the "No" command in low stren voice, when she tries to touch or do thing you don't want her to. This gets her use to a command assoicated with stop doing something. Remember timing is everything to a dog. NO can be taught without a correction.

As she gets older and distractions are added, then start corrections. This is the start of the proofing stage of OB (doing the commands under distraction). Most of your frustration will go away, during and after this stage of training. Remember she is a puppy keep up the good work she is doing well. She will start to understanding better as you go, you are doing fine. You are just expecting too much from a 5 1/2 month old puppy, that hasn't finish it's training.

I think my dogs have good OB, but there are still somethings that they like doing better then listening to me, sometimes. Timing.

If I don't get the command out before the female "Rottie-Pitt" starts running, near any body of water she going to swimming. The GSD's will stop on a dime before going in water. Funny I can command them into the bath tub to wash, but I have to help "Rottie-pit" in the wash tub. Go figure you'd think she like water, giving her ignoring my command not to go swimming.

Dogs have their on personailty, Your Macy is a character. I like a dog with charisma. Stick it out, she going to be a good one. Your on the right track just stop wanting perfection from a puppy. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Caniche, you were taught the right way. I should have mentioned that I do it "wrong". The main thing is that the dog understand the command. At this age, with this puppy, I wouldn't worry about the puppy holding a sit, but would make sure that the pup comes all the way to me every time. You can add a sit in front later, quite easily.

They easiest way to teach the recall is with too people. Go to a fenced in field or a park, and have one person hold your dog with the leash and don't say anthing at all. Start walking away from you dog with out say a word. Get a good ways away, and then turn face the dog. You should here it whinning. Same 'Come' in a loud voice and then dog will run straight for you. Just when it gets there duck down and let it knock you over and start playing with him. Very easy.

Robert

The way I have always taught my hunting terriers to come is when they are young,8-12wks. at this age they very much don't want to be alone. I take them for short walks in the woods behind the house. When they get distracted, I step behind a tree,bush, etc. When the pup realizes that he is alone and starts looking, I step out with "puppy here", lots of praise, and a treat. This isn't for a formal recall, but is very effective for getting the pup to come flying when we are on walks or hunting. Once they are past 13-14 wks old, it's not as effective because they are more adventurous, and less apt to be so focused on you.