I tell Jemma come, she thinks it means run

[shorkiejem]

Whenever I tell Jemma to come she turns and runs.  Does anyone else's Shorkie do this?  She has always done this. grrrrrrrrrr

[Westyns~Daddy]

Westyn does that all the time.its so annoying I guess the just get easily distracted but I really don't like chasing him around the yard just because he gets the urge to be a little turd!!I would say just to stick with it eventually jemma will learn,I think its that little dog syndrom!but u can't stay mad at them 4 long wen they look at u with that little teddy bear face ur heart just melts

[Mai Tai]

Mai Tai will come if he thinks I have food, but if he thinks I am going out without him, he will take off.  The best way to get him to come to me is to have the leash in my hand, but then I feel guilty if I trick him and lock and don't take him out.

[Kim]

Max is like Mai Tai in that he will come if I have a treat. But when we're at the dog park or anywhere outside it's 50/50..

Usually I just say "bye Max" and then he'll run to me. I think he's afraid that I'd leave him..haha. However, when it's his bath time he'll run around the house like a mad dog and dodge us.

[shorkiejem]

a haaa, see those little monsters.  They understand what the word come means.  They have oppositional defient  disorder, hahahaha

[hj]

training with the puppy in a setting with other dogs and distractions is crucial to learning the "come" command.  you start out indoors w/ no other distractions and keep them very excited to come to you.  put them 5 feet or so away and make yourself very exciting and inviting to come to while saying come.  they will come to you and when they do, you praise them w/ gusto to let them know they did a good thing.  you can use food treats as well, but you want to ween them off of the food.  it can be just plain kibble.  when they can come regularly from 5 feet, make the distance wider as time goes on.  you can also practice the sit/stay commands. 

try to work in group work with other dogs as well.  as they are excited and playing w/ other dogs, go in and say "come" and draw them out of the group to a place you designate.  have them sit and praise them vigorously.  eventually, you will only have to say "come" and they will come to you even if they are busy playing. 

the key is that you have to be more exciting and beneficial than what they are doing at the moment during the learning phase.  it will work. 

and don't let those people who tell you that your puppy is too young to learn until they are 6 months old discourage you from starting this training immediately. 

our shorkie, Rocco, learned the come command within a few days and even though he's busy playing with other dogs and people, he will come even from a distance.  he's 4.5 months old now so, he's doing well. 

don't give up!

[Ann]

Hi HJ
welcome and thank you for bing so helpful with your advise to other members. That what I really like to see as it helps us all.

[Westyns~Daddy]

Yes I agree,ur advice and knowledge about these little critters has been most appreciated!I think we all appreciate it.keep the advice coming!!!

[shorkiejem]

Thanks for the suggestions!!!

[hj]

wow, thanks for the welcome!  i've studied a few different techniques and some of the most tried and true methods come from ian dunbar.  he's very well known in canine training circles.  i recommend everyone look him up.  his studies is the basis for a lot of the current experts that you see on TV today.  thanks again for the welcome!

[TravisKR]

Everytime meika is off leash, she takes off!  i dont trust her enough to let off again outside! ha ha

[KIKIMYLOVEBUG]

I have not had this problem with Kiki. Whenever I call her she comes right away, mind you she is just about always right next to my foot. But when she is upstairs playing & I call her she will berk once to let me know where she is, then come down right away. If we are in the park, she follows me everywhere, or if she gets scared, she runs to me immediatley. I think she is soo cute! Bt I have another dog, who did the same thing as Jemma. His name is Polo. He would run away from me when I would call him to come, but he wanted to play in hope I would chase him. If I ignored it, she would come, or if I would mention treat, he would be flying to me. They just have a mind of their own....

[Lisa]

We weren't doing well with the come command with Zoe until I bought one of those little hand clickers.  Zoe was fascinated with it from the first time she heard it.  Now, she comes immediately when she hears me do three clicks.  She's doing so good, I can let her off leash when we walk out in the fields, and she comes every time - even without the food reward.  Maybe they get so used to hearing us just talk and talk, and the clicker cuts through all of that.  I recommend the clicker, it has really worked for us.

[Mai Tai]

I will have to try that.  I accidentally let go of Mai Tai's leash today, and he just ignored me calling him as he calmly stolled through my neighbor's garage into his house...LOL.

[shorkiejem]

omg haha tooooo funny