Dog Training

Question: Dog training question: if i call my dog to 'come' and she doesn't come right away but then comes a few minutes?

(Posted by: megalomaniac on 2011-12-20 11:52:32)

Later (we're on an off leash walk and she's with me most of the time but she went to check out another dog). Should I: a) praise her for disengaging with the other dog and coming at all b) scold her mildly for not coming when I wanter her to c) do nothing and praise or scold other behavior that is more clearly right or wrong (for the record she's a one year old husky/ mastiff cross) You may find this hard to believe (because I do), but when we're 'out on patrol' (i.e. walking) she won't take any dog cookies from me. If I give her one, she will, unbelievably, either drop it or bury it. When we're at home doing little training exercises she gobbles them up as a reward like any normal dog. I don't overfeed her and I don't feed her human food. Yes, I know I should be jumping for joy becaue she is, for a husky, very well behaved. (this isn't my first husky and we work at it - a lot - two walks a day minimum - I give her some leash time but also lots of off leash time so that she can run - I live in a rural area and I make her come and sit beside me whenever a car comes and she does!, about 95 % of the time - we ski together too - she's whining at me to come in as I write this, she must know I'm talking about her... )

Posted by: sid on 2011-12-20, 11:57:36

Whenever he comes to you as you call him,reward him with a cookie or something that he likes...he will soon come to know the importance of obeying the orders..good luck

Posted by: Karla Luk on 2011-12-20, 11:57:52

C because if it was a few minutes aga she might not know why she's being scholed or prased

Posted by: Allanas on 2011-12-20, 12:01:06

First off, you don't let her off leash until she comes 100%. Keep practicing. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER scold her for coming to you. Coming should always be a good, happy, wonderful experience. Praise her for doing right. You should be jumping with glee that a Husky would give you the time of day off leash. Most of them head for the horizon when off leash, and don't come back at all.

Posted by: ELIZABETH C on 2011-12-20, 12:03:36

A) Praise her and reward for coming. Next time she'll come faster if you make it worth her while. AND continue to practice her recall. Try the Really Reliable Recall method: whole-dog-journal.com/ issues/ 11_12/ features/ Teaching-a-Reliable-Recall_16085-1.html Mysensiblyscue dog had been beaten for not coming when called, but when she felt like it. She senseably, just decided it was better not to come at all.

Posted by: Agility DawgMa on 2011-12-20, 12:03:46

If the dog doesn't come right away, the proper correction is you go & get the dog. You can't praise them for coming on their own time frame. You certainly don't scold them after they come at all. If you do nothing, you give the message that it is again OK for the dog to come on their own time. Call, dog doesn't come immediately you go & get them. Back on leash & practice a few recalls on leash. He doesn't come right away, correct. When he comes right away, that's when you praise & reward like crazy.