double check with Ronnie but I believe she ALWAYS treats for comes, no matter where they are she carries treats for that.
I am a professional treat carrier :lol:, especially because i am training quite a few dogs at present. Both our own and Assistance dogs. "Come" is so very very important and might safe a life one day. I first get my dog to just get paired with the clicker or "yes" . I just click and feed. they do nothing, I just pair the clicker. From that I go on to name and the same, name, look at me and get fed. Get a jackpot when you come to me. When I first start training I feed the dogs meal this way. We feed RAW, so it is mostly RAW meat and they love it. So first you pair the clicker, which is what you are doing. then the clicker becomes a "battery" and charged....you have a few clicks, which are "rewarding" in a sense. Katy cannot help herself and so are the others, you click and they look. I use "name/come", click when they look and them get exited and happy "good girl/boy". As soon as they arrive it is click and "jack-pot" reward. Lots of little bits one at the time. One piece can seem like six and they think they have scored a high reward. I also let them "off you go" again if not in a dangerous spot. I will do this in an area up to twenty times. And I start inside the house, which i know they will be close enough to "come" they just keep coming back for more. They are really tricked into thinking "come" is just a hoot. And I make the distance greater and greater. Also the trick is to call them and let them go again. So many people call their dog and then all the fun is over and they have to go back on leash or go home if out and about.
When we are out we re-call our dogs lots of times and let them go again and have fun. So our dogs come out of a game with other dogs, quickly get a treat and most of the time are allowed out again. Hence to them the chance of a good event connected with the word "come" is very high
I was nearly sent flying in our last recall at a trial, because Annabelle was so fast on "come" and she was so keen to sit in the position. She just got "touch" rewards at the end of exercise. Which is also a great charged "battery" during trials at the end of each exercise. My dogs think touch is a great reward. And at the end of the trial they get a jackpot again.
It has upped Annabelle, who was so sad during trails.
Katy is the most exited, because she has done clicker/yes and "touch" since day one.
Touch has even become a confidence giver to Tessa, who had trouble with stays, because when I say "stay" and use my hand command close to her nose, she does a soft touch and it has helped her so much, she will do the out of sight forever now. Probably cheating.
I still think the most important part of training"come" is to let them go again and again.
Also to have the best treats (high value). I also carry cheese, It is the best treat and if we get a flying "come" it comes as a reward.
When I am at Obedience and we have a few dogs off leash and I say "come" I get a few dogs, including my own. I think it is also how you say it, happy, happy.......
And even if they came slowly on a name only recall, because I did not use the word "come". I always reward, even if it is only a low value treat or just "good girl". If I have called once and they do not come, I go and get them, say nothing and put them away..... They hate that. We hardly ever have to do that, only to the new ones.
Good luck and happy training
Ronnie
