I have a 5 month old Blue Lacy. We live on a large property and he LOVES to run around in the woods out back. A few things to me:

First, there are different types of 'come'. There is 'don't wander off so far', 'quit doing whatever you're doing & get closer', 'I've lost sight of you', and 'COME RIGHT NOW AND I MEAN IT'. I have different voices/commands for each of those.

Sometimes I DO just want Ranger to get closer & stop wandering off. But if I call 'come' I mean it. I don't call unless I have him in eyesight, he's not too involved in anything, AND I can enforce it -- EVERY TIME! I call once. If he doesn't come (or any dog I've had) I go and get him. I march purposefully (not running because that turns it into a game) with a steely look in my eye and get him by the collar. I walk him over to where I was when I called 'come' talking sternly to him all the while. I do not beat him or physically hurt him. But I WILL walk after him as long as it takes until I can get him by the collar.

Another thing is if I squat down & call 'Ranger Come' -- he sees me squatting down & thinks we're going to play. Normally he will come at a run, and I always tussle with him after he gets to me. He gets lots of praise for running to me.

Now.... when the dog is older and 'knows' what 'come' means, I get a little ummmm, sterner in my corrections. But it's all gauged to the age & maturity of the dog involved.

Also there is a great article on teaching 'come' here: http://www.shirleychong.com/keepers/archives/roadkill.txt

 Quote: Anna Anderson

Well, I know not to say come and have the dog come and then correct it. But I do say come once and if she doesn't come I say it stern and then more stern each time until she comes. Then I say good girl when she does come. I guess I am confussing her.

Anna, here's the way I look at my call word. Every time my dog hears that word, I want her to associate it with something good. So, in addition to what the folks above have said, use your call word for every good thing you call your dog for, like a ride in the car, dinner, a yummy treat, a game of fetch, a game of tug, or whatever else floats her boat. You want that word to become irresistable to her!

And conversely, don't use your call word for anything that has a negative connotation, like when you are going to end a game, or go inside the house, or give her a bath, etc...

If you are consistent with this, her recall will get more consistent...

I don't reward if I have to reel them in except with a little praise, you just want to make it upbeat and positive so that coming towards you is always a happy thing.

If you have a hallway and someone to help, you can each stand at one end of the hallway and call her back and forth giving her treats and being super excited, having a party everytime she gets to one of you.
I shut all the doors down the hallway so that he can't get sidetracked or wander off.

this is a fun game and a good way to teach her what "come" or whatever word you are using means. It also wears them out which is always a good thing!!!

Then you can progress to calling her from other rooms and whatever else you can think of inside before moving on to outside with all the interesting stuff.

QUOTE: Well, I know not to say come and have the dog come and then correct it. But I do say come once and if she doesn't come I say it stern and then more stern each time until she comes. Then I say good girl when she does come. I guess I am confussing her.

Yes. You have (unfortunately) successfully trained her that coming on the 4th or 5th stern recall gets rewarded.

I am not as patient as my husband. I get kind of pissed when she doesn't listen, even if I am hiding it, I think she knows.

Yes, of course she knows.

The thing is that when she does not comply, YOU are at fault. YOU have messed up in the training of that command. (WE is better; it's universal.)

And she does not know English, so if you have not properly taught a command and proofed for venue and distractions, all the words in the world are not going to make the dog understand, no matter how loud or cross. They translate to "Another angry yelling for another mystery reason."

Are you marker training? I'm sorry .... don't remember. Marker work can really smooth out the natural irritations because (1) it's FUN, (2) it's clear, and (3) the dog wants more.

And DITTO to Jennifer and Lynne! My dogs (yes, I have said it before) WANT to hear the recall. Ears pop up! Head turns to me! Dog races at top speed over to me!

This didn't just happen, believe me. I am NOT naturally funner than the whole outdoors.

But teaching the recall is the most fun thing I teach, because it's so very crucial. Beginning recalls result in parties, with party favors, treats, pats, and praise. Later, when I'm proofing for distraction, the bigger distraction the dog overcame to come back to me, the more likely I am to bust out a jackpot or a piece of bacon or something.

And YES to using that recall for every single good thing all day: meals, treats, walks, car, etc.

It's so satisfying to see the recall take quick shape.

Some day you will see your dog start to chase after something that is going to lead her into trouble, and you will call, and your dog will stop and turn around and come back to you, and you will be so happy that you spent the time on the recall that I cannot even describe it to you.

I have a just turned 5 month old as well. The suggestions posted here are great. Rudy is a great tugger and I have recently begun bringing a small tug toy on our walks. Treats are fine and he loves his food but he LOVES his tuggies.

Yesterday I tried it after he had chased a sqirrel and he was about 40 yards away (I did this intentionally and it was a safe area). I called his name (but did not say come) wagged the tuggie and started a slow jog. He came flying at me into the tug. I was happy he came.

Now I would not test this a lot at this age. This was an experiment. I also don't use the word "come" (saving that for formal obedience). Either just his name or a Rudy "here" is what I have used. He has always been rewarded with food for returning and staying close.

I second, third, and fourth the rule of "never call your dog if you think he won't come". Pick and choose the places you let him run off leash carefully, and a good option is running the opposite way to get your puppy to follow you.

I am just finishing up the Marker Training video. I used the marker training lessons that I saw in the Puppy 3-8 months video and she does that well. I asked you if Dog Training video is something I should be using at this time, or just stick to marker training for now...any thoughts?

 Quote: Melissa Blazak

a good option is running the opposite way to get your puppy to follow you.

I did this with Luc - worked great. With Neb....eh....he'd start coming, get distracted, start coming again, get distracted - and I'd be having a heart attack. Depends on the dog, I think.

Anna - with using a long line. What I tried to do with Neb is if I was going to use the line (vs. having it on him and not 'reeling') than I still, even if I reeled, would be fun. Still do all the great stuff everyone else has mentioned. And I generally would just reel enough to get Neb started.

It is, to me, a safe way to proof the come under distractions. I taught Neb 'come' indoors first. I would say whether you work on it outside depends how solid your girl is at doing it with no distractions inside.

She is solid inside...Thanks....I guess I need to keep her on a line outside at all times for now, only say come once, and keep it up beat.....This puppy training is hard work when one doesn't know what one is doing wrong and then having to correct yourself for what you did wrong and then correct the puppy for your mistake!

I am going to have to up my hormones!

The hardest thing about training (IMO) is dealing with me!