Come back!!!

[Theo]

We've had Theo for 3 weeks (he is 13 weeks old). He's been fantastic for the first two weeks, learning things real quick and surprising everyone. The past week, however, has been a bad one... as he got more confortable inside the house he became disobedient. My principale worry is that he doesn't always come back when called, he only does it when he feels like doing so. I know the two important rules on that topic:
1. Never yell at him if he does come back, even if it's not immediate.
2. Never chase him as he'll take it as a game.
Knowing these two rules, I am wondering what I should do to make him understand how important it is to come back when called.

Oooh, I almost forgot, Theo isn't attracted by treats!!! I hate yelling at him, I'd rather make it fun for him. Can anyone help me?

 

[gmacleod]

If he isn't attracted by treats, is he attracted by games? The way to teach an effective recall is by being the most rewarding thing out there for your pup. Praise is great - letting him know that you think he's fantastic when he comes to you (really go overboard with the excited praise - he needs to know he just did something wonderful) is a very good start - and actually something you need to remember always to do (even when you actually feel like throttling him ).

But it isn't always enough on it's own. Especially when he's an inquisitive puppy and investigating the world is more interesting than you are, and later when he's an obnoxious adolescent intent on being independant. So you need to find out what does spin his little wheels - and use that as the reward for him coming when called. Treats work for some dogs, but I don't think they do for most boxers. But exciting games are another matter. How about things like tug? If he loves those sorts of games, then use that as his reward for coming to you. Then send him off to investigate some more (coming shouldn't always mean the end of his fun - he'll quickly realise if it does).

 

[Theo]

Thanks for such a nice answer. You're right, I tend to let myself be upset when he is disobedient, Theo sees that and it gives him one more reason to avoid me. Adding to that, Theo hates his leach and would do anything to not be at the end of it. I'll try to put your advices in practice, thanks...

 

[gmacleod]

You're welcome And it really does work. That doesn't mean it doesn't take a lot of time and practice (it does) but rewards for doing what you want works better than anything else in training a dog. LOL - you just have to work out what he finds rewarding

 

[Anna Begins]

When Luka was a puppy, everytime we played fetch and he came running back to me, I'd say "Come, Luka". I'd get down on my knees (to be at his level), clap my hands, tons of praise when he reached me- I always try to make myself look more desirable that the other thing. As a result, clapping my hands gets his attention and I do use that when taking him off leash. I'll walk the opposite direction, clap, call him and use "Luka, Come". I also try to to use "Come" in daily life "Are you ready for bed? Come on". "Do you want dinner? Come here"
Luka didn't like treats either as a puppy, now he does, so that may change for your pup. For Luka, it was all about attention, playing and, well, me. I used that to my advantage
When we were at the beach recently, he was running off leash- I couldn't believe how good his recall was. Just try to look at everything as an opportunity to teach recall.
I also used to take Luka to the river as a small pup, he'd run with his doggy friends, but every once in awhile, I'd call him to me and that helped enforce the recall too (I didn't worry about him off leash because my friends' dogs always come when called and he'd just follow them back).
If he does run and won't come back, I simply turn the other way and I'll say "Ok, then, bye Luka" and start walking that usually gets his attention real quick. And of course, lots of praise when he actually stops running, not just passing me :D I never yell, never scold when calling him to me- even when he did something bad. And I never chase him- ever- unless we are playing and we have a phrase for that ("I'm going to GET you!!")
Also, if you can teach him sit and stay, walk a little bit away and then call him to you, using command.

 

[Jill's boxer]

come back

when our first boxer, Norton (RIP), was a puppy, my DH and I played a "game" where we would sit on the floor at opposite ends of the room and take turns calling Norton to us. We would call him in a happy, excited voice saying his name and then "come"--when he would run to us, we'd praise him like crazy and then quickly the other would call him back and do the same thing...we kept the pace rather quick so it would seem like a fun game and give him lots of praise and love and "wrestle" him when he reached us. It helped him learn to come when called very quickly because it was "fun", not "training" or "work"--and as an added bonus, it would tire him out quickly!

Until he has mastered the recall, if you take him out, keep him on a long lead, so that you can practise giving him "space", then give him a recall command and if he doesn't respond, you can give hte command again while "reeling him in" so he understands what is expected. also, when we would take Norton out (or even just in the yard) we would occassionally call him back to us, just for a quick pet or treat and then release him to go back to play, that way he didn't always associate the "come" command with a negative (no more fun).

One thing to make sure of as well--are you being consistent with the command word you are using to recall him? Sometimes it is easy to forget to be consistent and switch words or mistakenly think that calling his name implies what you expect him to do--calling his name gets his attention but be sure you follow that with a command, such as "come" or "here" or whatever you want his recall command word to be, and then be sure you are only using that word--if you choose "come" then always say "Theo, come" to recall him.

hope these suggestions help! Good luck! (I am still working with my 16 week old, Gracie, on this--she's pretty good but not completely trustworthy yet!)

 

[Theo]

Thanks for all of your thorough answers, they really helped!!! I applied all of these techniques and Theo has responded to them extremelly well. Tonight, we did the entire walk without using the leach. He constantly remained close by, playing in the snow and running around. At one point, when he was a bit distant, we hid behind a wall: Theo immediatly stopped and came back looking for us (next time we'll have to find a better hiding place. As for the recall command, Theo, when he isn't distracted, seems to respond extremelly well to it. I try to make it as fun as possible when he comes to me (jumping around like King Kong and I give him a new smelly treat, which are the only ones he really loves. I also taught him the "wait" command, which he mastered in 3 tries.
He is really unbelivable when he wants to be, and incredibly cute toooooooooo.... Wow, I am happy

 

[gmacleod]

Excellent news! Thanks for the update

I'm glad he's responding so well. And as long as things stay positive for him, and as much fun as possible for you both, then chances are he'll continue to respond well. LOL - there's bound to be the occassional little hitch (didn't we all test our parents as kids?) but keep things as positive and upbeat as possible, and a good control of the rewards for him, and you'll stay on the right track

 

[Jill's boxer]

come back!

Thanks for all of your thorough answers, they really helped!!! I applied all of these techniques and Theo has responded to them extremelly well. Tonight, we did the entire walk without using the leach. He constantly remained close by, playing in the snow and running around. At one point, when he was a bit distant, we hid behind a wall: Theo immediatly stopped and came back looking for us (next time we'll have to find a better hiding place. As for the recall command, Theo, when he isn't distracted, seems to respond extremelly well to it. I try to make it as fun as possible when he comes to me (jumping around like King Kong and I give him a new smelly treat, which are the only ones he really loves. I also taught him the "wait" command, which he mastered in 3 tries.
He is really unbelivable when he wants to be, and incredibly cute toooooooooo.... Wow, I am happy

yah Theo! I am glad that Theo's recall is improving! And thanks for the update--I like it when folks reply with a progress report after writing in for advise! The hiding trick--ahhh--pulled that one on Norton (RIP) when he was being particularly naughty and rebellious--the look on his face when he looked around and realized I was nowhere to be seen! heehee--kinda mean but I had to laugh at the poor fella! Needless to say, he stuck closer at the park after that and paid attention when I recalled him! Keep up the good work, Theo boxerdog! :D