The power of bacon.....

[snowdog]

We recently moved to a new place with a huge backyard. Tink has been getting progressively more and more stubborn about coming in when called - in fact I think we need a new word for beyond ignoring us....she'll turn and look and do something akin to rolling her eyes and keep on her merry way. Well, I happened to have some leftover bacon the other day and gave her some when she finally made her way back to the deck. Ever since that she has come at a full gallop when called - now that I am trained to give her a little something for her trouble.

Can't believe I didn't think of treats before - our trainer tried to get us to teach her without treats so she'd learn to come with just praise - not my newf - she wants her bacon!

 

[R Taft]

We always start with treat and after that it will be sometimes and sometimes not.....But always verbally well rewarded too. You found out the secret to dog training all by yourself

 

[AngusMcDubhsMom]

Ahhh, bacon!!

 

[ElvisTheNewf]

If Elvis is outside alone (rare) and doesn't want to come in (even rarer) a piece of cheese will get him to come in......usually. If it's snowing he sometimes just lays down and looks at us like "Nope. You want me? Come get me."

 

[lacey9875]

You've hit on the secret of dog training!!!


My Maggie had a solid recall. Then, she decided it wasn't as much fun as ignoring me. She would look at me and then keep right on moving. After her tussle with the groundhog, I put her back on a super long lead, and after she didn't come, I would start hauling her in. We gradually worked off the lead, but I play the "will I or won't I give you a treat" game to keep her guessing. A solid recall is so important, and I don't know if she'll be 100% because of her super high prey drive, but she's getting better.

 

[Brandie&Maggie]

If Elvis is outside alone (rare) and doesn't want to come in (even rarer) a piece of cheese will get him to come in......usually. If it's snowing he sometimes just lays down and looks at us like "Nope. You want me? Come get me."

Haha...sounds familiar.

I was recently asked why we don't put up a fence for a dog enclosure outside (we have no fenced area at all). I think I was surprised by the question and had to explain that, no, my dog does not go outside alone. Ever. She absolutely refuses.

Although perhaps if there was free bacon outside, things would be different...

 

[anya]

I have a metal treat bucket hanging by the door. When I want Anya inside, I shake that bucket...the noise of the treats moving in that bucket is enough to get her to the door.

 

[Jager's Mom]

Too funny!

My hubby has to make a "nummy" noise for Bear to come in (assuming that he actually went out without us...not very often). Bear has him trained.

 

[victoria1140]

opening the fridge door in our house is normally enough to set the newf running in case he misses something

 

[shellyk]

We have a treat jar on the kitchen counter - all I have to do is take the lid off and I hear our Newf coming through the doggie door. I think our Newf really likes it outside. In the house she will follow me room to room but then somtimes she will lay outside all by herself for an hour or more. Our Lab will go out do his business and then immediately comes back in the house.

 

[NinaA]

I am a firm believer that bacon and/or duct tape can fix anything. Around here Bacon rules, too. Only have had one problem with our girls on recalls. Yellow Lab started being lazy on coming in. Have since discovered that she is losing her hearing - which is okay since she's pretty old.