[makesthesignoftheZ]

Zorro is almost 16 weeks old now (my how time flies when your having fun!)

He is catching on very quickly but for the command to come. He will sit and even do "paw" I have moved on to "stay" when he is in the sit position and he is doing great. Too great! He just STAYS there! He will not come even when dangling treats. He will just look at me with his head tilting from side to side. I wont go to him but want to reward him for staying!

Arrgghh! I am confused!

any and all suggestions would be wonderful!

ps....we start "puppy classes" the first week of August-

[Durbkat]

I guess he is out of the velcro stage.

Snoopy will come when I call his name and he comes jumping because he knows when I call him its playtime.

[LoveLilly]

Do you just use the same treats you use for every reward? Lilly does not like to come either. Well she would come & run past you at 100 mph. Try a little slice of hot dog or bologna. By no means am I an advocate of feeding table scraps or unhealthy treats, but a little won't hurt and its just to teach the importance of this command.

[BoxMeIn21]

Here's a great training article on teaching a reliable recall, it helped me out.
http://www.clickersolutions.com/arti...002/recall.htm

[redox]

Puppies love to chase. Use that to your advantage! When you call him to you, turn to the side and take a couple steps or hops away from him. Be very animated and make it look like a game (it is after all). When he does come to you, reward him with a real game of chase or whatever he likes: ball, treat, etc and don't be afraid to mix it up.

I learned this from The Other End of the Leash: by Patricia McConnell. It talks a lot about how our body language affects our dogs interpretation of what we want, and how a lot of the time we send mixed signals obliviously. Like how standing stiff and staring in dog language means "stay back", but that's usually how we call our dogs to us It's a great read, check it out.

[makesthesignoftheZ]

Great info all!

Z is doing MUCH better. Oh he is a smartie! although the neighbors must think I am nuts or are getting quite a kick out of my antics!

He has been staying and coming on command. I have told him to stay and I have hid around corners so that he cant see me or his treat and then call him to come. And he is doing GREAT!

Thank you all for your help!

[Jen D]

I agree with Redox and you also can play hide and seek with the pup in the house. When you hide have a good treat for him when he finds you.

[echo8287]

I'm having the same problem, mainly outside. I have 2 Mini Schnauzers that are almost 4 months old. They will come in the house,but outside it's a different story. They do a little better, if I use Hot Dog treats outside. I have started playing the hide and seek game in the house. I eventually want them to come when I whistle for them outside. After a few days of the inside game ,when I whistle outside they will stop what they are doing and look for me. They don't always come though.I guess I'm making progress. David

[lidermar]

Originally Posted by makesthesignoftheZ

Zorro is almost 16 weeks old now (my how time flies when your having fun!)

He is catching on very quickly but for the command to come. He will sit and even do "paw" I have moved on to "stay" when he is in the sit position and he is doing great. Too great! He just STAYS there! He will not come even when dangling treats. He will just look at me with his head tilting from side to side. I wont go to him but want to reward him for staying!

Arrgghh! I am confused!

any and all suggestions would be wonderful!

ps....we start "puppy classes" the first week of August-

First thing is do not practise the recall immediatley after the stay exercise as this could well confuse the puppy.

Now try this using a treat that the dog likes (dry liver, cheese or chicken are hard to refuse).

1) Start by having the dog face u.
2) hold all the leash in your left hand and the treat in your right.
3) Using the pups name place the treat right in front of the pups nose let them see it even nibble on it...
4) Say the pups name and the word come whilst walking backwards after 2 or 3 steps stop and reward with the treat
5) Extend the number of steps randomly.
6) Try the same exercise from the "Heel" position then as part of the "Heel on lead" exercise.
7) Then incorporate the "Stay" but only after the pup has learnt the "Come" command.

Another way to practise the recall is to have someone hold the pup for you whilst you walk away from it (5 yards will do face your dog as u walk away and make a fuss of leaving) then call your dogs name and the command "Come" the helper should release the leash on the command only.


Good luck