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Dog training question

Daver

Daver

PMA Member
We have a now 7 month old black lab pup that does well at most basic commands, but the darn thing will not "come" when called. I have put her on a check cord and then called her and then had to drag her in to get her to come. If off leash she will most often not respond at all and then try to get away from you if you approach her.

I have never used an electronic collar, but I have borrowed a friends at this time. How can I get this dog to come when called?
 
Remember she is still a puppy! My dad trains dogs professionally and I have helped him with a number of dogs and have 4 of my own. One thing we do with young dogs when you have them out walking around on those early training sessions is when they are out in front running, call to them to come back, if they don't then turn and walk in a different direction. More often then not they will look back and see you going a different way and come running. Stay in that direction for a while and call to them to come, if they don't do the same thing or go to the ground and hide from. They will come looking for you in a hurry, then praise the $!!t out of them for coming to you. Remember at this young age, you can go backwards a lot faster then you can go forward. Keep it simple, keep it fun and do your best not to lose your patience. You can PM me if you have any more questions. If you do use a collar on her, make sure you condition her to it before you use it. I use collars on all my dogs and they work.

Gundog
 
Gundog was right with his answer about walking away and calling her name.The same thing to teach them to quarter when covering ground, quarter one direction while calling her name and then quarter back to the other direction till she learns to work back anf forth on her own. Like said before keep the training short and fun and to end on a positive note. You have to also show her you are the alpha male and are in charge. One way to correct her is to grab around the muzzle and tell her no, while lightly shaking her head up and down. This done in the pack by the leaders. Try to always have your check cord on so you can always gain control. I have always used collars in training, but not till the dog understands the commands that I am giving. Remember a electronic collar is only a reinforcement tool and not a cure all. Like said before,it is easier to go backwards then forwards if the correct approach is not taken. There are also plenty of great books out there to take advantage of.
 
There is a great dog training group in your backyard, Eastern Iowa Hunting Retriever Association, EIHRA Website

I hooked up with this group when I got my new pup 5 years ago and I can guarantee you he is ten times the better pheasant and duck dog than he would have been if I tried training by myself.

The last training event of the year will be on Oct 4 and more details can be found at: Get Your Gundog Ready!

If you get a chance bring you pup out and introduce yourself. There will be pigeons that you can introduce him to and ask any of the folks out there for tips and get some hands on ideas as well.

If you can't make this event, the club slows down while we are out doing the real thing, but starts up again with training sessions in January.

Good luck with the pup.

Doug
 
Gundog brought up a good point in that it is way easier to go backwards than forwards at this age. You have to make things fun for the dog. You can NOT lose your patience with something like this. The dog won't ever want to come to you if she's going to get her ass kicked when she gets there! I'm not saying that you do that Daver, but like was said earlier you are still dealing with a very young dog. It probably has the mental capacity of a 2-3 year old kid.

Just remember to stay positive and give the dog praise when it does what you want it too. Get excited for it so she knows that she making you happy.

Here's a little analogy to help get the point across. Hopefully no one will get bent out of shape over it.

Say there's two woman who are willing to spend the night with you. /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/blush.gif

Stay with me here I'll tie it together /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

Well, one of these women is just drop dead gorgeous- a perfect 10. Only problem is she's a dead lay. /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/frown.gif She don't do anything to get you excited, and make you want to do it again.

The other chick, she's decent looking, but nothing compared to the other one. The difference is she's a screamer. /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif She comes with ALOT of positive reinforcement (no pun intended).

I don't know about you Daver, but I'll take the screamer every time! /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cool.gif

The moral of the story is to make it fun for the dog. When she comes to you let her know that she is doing the greatest thing in the world by running to you.

Good Luck and keep your patience!
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: River Bttm Boy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Is the good look'n one from Clinton County? </div></div>

I'm sure there's one here somewhere.
 
Daver, like some have said patience is a virtue. A couple of things, don't use the command "come" if you either can't or won't enforce it. If your pup won't come to you then be prepared to make her come every time you say it or else she gets the idea that the only time she needs to obey is when she is on a lead, not what you want, and make sure that everyone in the house goes by the same rules. Until she really starts to understand what you want you might try treats along with lots of praise when ever she does it right. If you have to drag her in don't giver her either, if she comes in with little or no pressure on the check cord use both. Once she understands this on the check cord, conditioner her to the collar at the lowest level that will give a reaction, while still using the check cord. When you command "come" give a little tug on the cord and a small nick, or stimulation, and when she comes in give praise and treats. As you progress, if your collar has a tone button start to use the tone then a tug and then the nick if needed, then work down to just the tone but keep her on the check cord until she responds every time. Then work up to no cord and use the tone and then the nick and the treat when ever she responds to just the tone and the command, and then your are done. Simple huh!
 
These guys are smart. I would say the same, when she's a puppy never say come, or any pther command unless your in a position 100% to correct here if dis-obeyed. Check lines work great, but you have to keep them on. When your not trainning, or in the house etccc you should have a 4-6 ft check cord on here. It serves no purpose, but its always there. Otherwise she will learn only to listen when the rope is on. Once she has come down solid, you can easily wein her off it.
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> couple of things, don't use the command "come" if you either can't or won't enforce it. If your pup won't come to you then be prepared to make her come every time you say it or else she gets the idea that the only time she needs to obey is when she is on a lead, not what you want, and make sure that everyone in the house goes by the same rules.</div></div>

That's the number one rule.

Make sure you can enforce the command if you are going to give it. Which is what the collar does ONCE the pup knows what the command means. Use the check cord and work with her, each time you say come make her come even if it means dragging her to you. Once she gets to you praise her even if you had to drag her back. Once she understands the command pretty well put the e-collar on but keep the check cord on also. Let her get in front of you, tell her come, if she doesn't respond hit the collar on continuous until she turns toward you, let off as soon as she is facing you. If she turns on the way back to you tell her come again and hit the collar until she is back on her way to you. She will learn that coming to you when told will shut off the e-collar. Repetition and enforcement are the key to getting it to stick. Good Luck! /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cool.gif
 
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