Pets
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Coming When Called
Any tips on training a dog to better come when called? We've taken ours to a puppy training. She rocked it while she was there. She likes it when we practice because she knows that we have a treat or troy. Now that we're done with the class and are trying to implement it at home in real world situations....it's not going so well. She just looks at us or runs away. After recently having shoulder surgery, I'm having to chase her around the house with one arm trying to catch her.
Tips?
Re: Coming When Called
We used a REALLY high-value treat when training "come." And every once in a while, we still give that treat (dehydrated duck) when they obey the command -- it's called variable-schedule reinforcement, and it helps cement the command. They never know when they will be reinforced, so they keep offering the behavior (it's the same principle with people and slot machines).
One other thing -- don't chase your dog when you're trying to get her to come -- she thinks you're playing a game with her.
We had a similar problem with our first dog (Mendel). We would go to the park or pet store during off hours and put Mendel on a really really long leash. One of us would hold on to the leash and the other would be far enough away he would have to come.
Ditto. We also play "puppy pingpong" to practice. MH has some treats, I have some treats, and we practice calling the dog from opposite sides of a room. If you get an extra long lead or have a fenced backyard, you can practice this in other places too.
Exactly what we do!
Ditto everyone above. Use treats. Play pingpong. Don't chase. It worked wonders for us.
Unless there's a rabbit in the yard... That's a different story
We have a similar problem with our dog. I've started holding my hand out when I say come and now she knows she's expected to touch my hand when I say come. I give her lots of praise and pets when she does it. So far this has worked great in the house and yard. I haven't tried it any where else, but so far I'm pleased with the progress we've made.
I found when training come with treats if we didn't have any she couldn't be bothered to come to us.
I train recall with really yummy treats. First we train inside, with us moving around to different rooms and calling. I will still do this from time to time as a game so he knows it's always fun to come when called. Then you move up to distractions. We had a long lead and would work outside so we still had control and we would make ourselves interesting and want him to come check out what we were doing when we would first work with distractions. He would always get a reward when I used that word too so he knew it was really worth his while. Now we can be in a classroom full of dogs and agility equipment and he has a great recall.
Also, when you are outside, try not using your recall word to mean it's time to go inside because you want them to always respond to it, not to think that it means the end of play. Coming should be very positive. I will try to ask for different tricks like touch my hand or run through my legs when I want him to come in with me instead so it's not always one thing.
This is where variable reinforcement comes in handy.
The variable reinforcement was where we ran into trouble. Once she felt like she wasn't gauranteed to get a treat she just wouldn't come.
How often were you giving treats? If you're giving treats consistently in the beginning and then skip once, the dog should not stop coming altogether. You have to do it frequently enough to keep interest but not on a rigid schedule.
I also train(ed) it with toys, excessive praise, etc. Basically, your goal is to be more fun and exciting than what he's currently doing.
Did you start small, and reward every second or third time she obeyed, then up the time between rewards?
We did, and we trained everything else she knows - sit, down, stay, etc. - like that and it worked fine. For some reason it didn't work when we were training come.