Not coming when called!

[Reagan-Mae]

Back to basics - say your come command as your dog is approaching you and reward. We have also worked on focusing. They need to focus.

You don't neccessarily need a puppy class to teach your dog commands and training. A good book(s), magazine and the net will provide you the info. Then it is repetition, reward, patience and the biggest one, consistency. Our dog is 6 mos old tomorrow and we have had training sessions every day sometimes only 5 mins sometimes 20 depending on how positive it was. When she was making too many mistakes we stop. As George says on Seinfeld, Go out on a high.... we didn't go to puppy class (we had to wait for all her vacs first) so we got some books did a lot of reading and voila. Our friends are so impressed. Makes us feel good, makes Sophie feel good and honestly, it wasn't hard. She is an easy dog.

Coming is still one we continue to work on. Before I brag too much, it is still not 100%.

 

[mguiette]

have you tried with a LOOOONG leash? we have a 50ft we keep handy, just in case we go somewhere where they can run, but I'M not confident enough that they will come back to me. even if you don't hold it, it's a LOT easier to step on it and slow them down a bit until you can catch up to them!!! i know it's saved me a few times from that horrible anxiety attack!

 

[MAGGIER]

Hi everyone
When we take Molly out on the big field nearby, sometimes we let her off the lead, sometimes we don't it depends if anyone is around. Fortunately we can see quite far away if anyone comes onto the field so most of the time we can grab her, it's just a case of who sees other people first. If she sees them she will be off after them, regardless of whether we are shouting and screaming her name or not. We do find that usually, if there are no distractions, when we shout Molly she doesn''t actually come to us but will sort of 'drop down' where she is standing, which I can live with, but sometimes she just takes off like it is a game.

I find that there are lots of people nearby with dogs, and they take then on the local park and walk round quite happily with the dogs off the lead, and the dogs trot along just in front of them or just behind but keep up with them all the way. I don;'t think I could ever get to that stage with Molly, she just seems to find everything/everyone else more interesting. she is just a nosey girl I guess. Also is it ever possible to have a boxer dog that will walk eveywhere off the lead, along the road/pavement etc. I cannot imagine ut ever happening with Molly, but we do see a lot of people on our walks doing just that, it would be great to do this with Molly has anyone ever managed to achieve this.

Maggie xx

 

[Patron]

Patron and I go jogging in the hills everyday. It is the only place I feel comfortable letting him off the leash. Well I use a water bottle to get him to come to me. i say "WATER" and he comes right over for a drink. At that point if I need to grab him I will. It is amazing how obedient a boxer will be if you give them the proper exersice. Once they work of the energy they are great. Keep trying and dont give up.

 

[Aasha]

Aasha is still kinda young so I am trying to imbed the come command early. I take him out on one of those long leashes that you can reel him back in with. I let him run as far as the leash goes and then I call his name and then come, and he does sometimes. I have noticed he alomost always comes when I get on his level (squat down). Thats just a suggestion for you to try and have'nt already. Just watch out because Aasha seems to not stop running but just slow down and run into my arms. Don't want you to get knocked over! .

 

[BetsyB]

Try starting over again with the recall. Start on-leash, in a quiet spot with no distractions. When your dog does a reliable recall in these conditions, start training with one distraction at a time. Either try in a new spot, or if you're inside, try removing the leash. As your dog masters the next level, add more and more obstacles and distractions. ONLY when your dog will come everytime when called, is it safe to let them off-leash when not in a fenced area. If you have others to help, you could make it a game. Everyone sit in a circle, (again in a fenced in area), and one person at a time, call the dog. Also always remember, if it's not fun for them, they will not be willing to learn. Some days your dog will want to train for 20 minutes, and somedays only 2. Dogs do not need formal training to learn, only a dedicated owner. Best of luck to you.

 

[KrisBoxerMom]

I lost my Maggie last year because I did not work on recall nearly enough. She was only 3 years old and she escaped one day when the kids were coming in the door. Out in the road she went, we lived on a 40 mph road at the time and it was rush hour. She made it across 3 lanes and was run over by a car, both front and back tires rolled over her. I saw the whole thing, she died the next day .

I now have 3 boxers Diamond who is 7 and she comes all the times, she is great, and my two baby boys Roscoe and Harley, they are 4 months old. We work on recall every day, at least 3 or four times. Since we brought them home, we have taken them out side off lead half the time. So far all is going well. They come when called the first time about 90 percent of the time. I clap to get their attention, then say their name then come.So far that works for us. The only thing we are beginning to have an issue with is when they see someone else outside, they have to go visit. I was wondering what to do when I have to go get the dogs? Do I ignore that they did not come? Should I say no? I am at a loss about this. I do not want to praise bad behavior, Bur I also do not want them to link me calling them with anything negative. Any help would be great.

I also want to say that Boxers are kinda known for doing things in their own time, and they take any opportunity to turn anything into a game. I think everyone can relate in some way to being victim on boxer tag... So keep working on recalls and have fun.One day they will come...I think.

 

[nysteel]

Going through the same thing with ALI. He'll be seven months next week. For the first five months, I call his name, he came like clock work. All of a sudden in the sixth month, he just looks at me like I'm crazy and comes when he wants. I try not to chase him...and ignoring him does not work either. I guess he's independent like me. So I'm starting from square one....just wanted you to know you are definitely not alone!



Steel: Father of Ali: Sept/2006 docked, cropped, and fawn

 

[Arrowpup]

OMG!!! Im getting so frustrated! why wont Kira come when I call her name? she acts like she cant hear all of a sudden and then I have to chase her to try to get her to come, I dont understand why she is doing this. When I call her she runs and when I walk to get her she runs away all the while im calling her...Im about to giver her up, she doesnt mind at all and she jumps on everything and everyone..Help!!

Have you read this?

http://www.boxerworld.com/puppy/comingtoyou/

 

[ELubas]

They were so far away, that I couldn't even see he had a dog with him. Harley took off like a shot and would not listen to me. I could've started screaming like I was on fire and he wouldn't have turned around. I finally arrived, and I could see the man was angry, his dog apparently was not a nice dog, and he was trying to keep them separated.

Don't be too hard on yourself. Your pup is young and is still learning. As the owner of a girl who does not always react nicely to strange dogs I can understand how that guy felt. He probably was just afraid his dog might start up with your pup. I have had many a dog run up to when we are on lead but they are off lead and I have to manage her and the other dog-I was probably a little cranky too when I did not mean to be :( Anyway, you might want to try the long lead as well-he can still go wild but you can still get him Good luck