Hi. I have a small (13 lbs.) mutt who is not really trained at all. He's basically a good dog but my problem is that unless I'm holding a cookie in my hand, he won't come to me when we're outside. How can I get him to come to me?

Obedience training! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> Seriously, there is no easy fix. You are basicly talking about off-lead obedience, and working on the dog knowing the commands and knowing he has to obey ON-LEASH is the first step. Once you have a good working relationship, you can work towards off-leash obedience. Just make sure you NEVER, NEVER, NEVER call your dog to you to be punished!!! If you do, you can kiss a reliable recall good-bye! Or at least a HAPPY recall!

Beth, good advise. Dave, in case that wasn't clear she's talking about your dog dragging around a very long leash. With a dog that size your local hardware store has 50 foot sections of 1/8 to 1/4 inch nylon that will do the trick. If your dog knows what your asking and simply disobeys he needs to be corrected. Don't even call the dog to you unless you can reinforce it. Before you know it he'll be coming toot sweet. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Intermittent reinforcement. Stop holding the cookie in your hand. From now on it comes out of a hidden area such as your pocket. The dog is rewarded at random intervals. It never knows if this time he will get rewarded or not. With high food drive at 12 weeks old I can have a reliable recall with a level 8 distraction. With a pet that does not have the same drive you will need to introduce compulsion.

Ok Vince, you've intrigued me. What is a "level 8 distraction"... or were you just speaking figuratively?

Level 8 distraction to me was pumping up my puppy with a ball and when he was half way in pursuit of the ball to say COME and he looked like he hit a brick wall when he turned and came back to me. This is at 12 weeks old. I understand that not everyone has the food drive of my last Leerburg pup but you should be able to get level 4-5 with consistency (Level one being alone in your kitchen and Level 10 being in full fight drive).

One good practice is to try not to let your dog get used to ignoring you. What I mean by that is try not to randomly call your dog to you over and over again when you have a pretty good idea that he is not paying attention to you.(Obviously if the dog is in danger then do whatever you need to get his attention!) A fully trained dog should come to you no matter what, I'm talking about now, being that you are in the process of teaching him to come on command. When someone keeps saying "Fido come here boy, Fido come, Come Fido"...ect., and the dog dosen't respond, the dog is getting used to ignoring you. So when you are not in a training session and you casually want your dog to come to you, try and make sure the dog is in a position where you are reasonably sure he will listen to you. Also listen to Vince's advice on random rewarding, not rewarding every time. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Chuck:

Good advise. The trick is to never leave your house without treats. I have hotdogs on me EVERY time I leave the house with my puppy. I reward 100% the first two weeks then gradually bring it down to 70%. I start distraction by giving a stranger kibbles and I have hotdogs. I have him smell both foods then I have him call my dog and then I do. I then switch to hotdogs and tasty meat. I always have the better food. I also use affection. I have a stranger pet my dog happily and tell him as soon as I call my dog to stop petting and turn your head away. He learns that the whole world stops when I call him. Another method I use is I have two bowls of food. One I hold and the other a friend stays near. After eating for a bit the friend picks up the bowl and I immediately call him to me and place the second bowl down for him to continue eating. I have the same response as a superior recall in Schutzhund EVERY time I call my dog.

Dave,

I agree with all of the above methods, but I like to begin with a good foundation first, before I introduce much distance or distraction. I start all of my puppies this way, and have used it for untrained adult dogs as well. I use a 26' flexi-lead for walks and outings, then let the dog go out at various distances. I will randomly lock the lead and give the command "far enough". Start close, and gradually let them go farther and farther. Once you feel the dog is getting the idea, start using only the command and only lock the lead if he doesn't stop. I will use this for recalls as well, just substitute your come command instead of "far enough". Tug at the lead at first and invite the dog to you with praise or treats. Done repeatedly, the dog will learn to pay attention to you. Once I know the dog understands the commands, I will use a prong collar and give corrections instead of tugs if he does not stop or recall. The rewards are ten-fold when it comes to enjoying time with your dog outdoors. We can confidently take our dogs hiking and to parks off leash. They will walk ahead, and until they hear a command will always stop and look back and wait for us once they hit that invisible range of what used the be the end of the flexi-lead.