Training the Come Command

[shellyk]

Ziva our 8 mo old is starting to learn the come command and I am using treats. At home using a long lead where she can get up some speed -she runs right into me.:uhoh2: I am a big woman and she almost knocks me over. I asked about it in class and the trainer asked if she was jumping on me and I said no she is just running right into me so excited to get that treat! She didn't have a very good answer. It will be interesting to see what she says when she sees it next week in class. Anyone have any advice for this behavior?

 

[pecanpiepatti]

Only treat her when she doesn't plow into you.

 

[Tricia2]

Try bending at the knees in a modified crouch, holding the treat in your fingers of both hands out in front of you at her nose level, arms straight. Call her. As she gets close, straighten your knees and lift your arms and bring the treat up and in towards your navel and ask for a sit. Then treat, praise and release.

 

[wrknnwf]

As said above, ask for an immediate sit before she gets the treat. I would try moving the treat away from you and just over her so she sits quickly. Do make sure she sits close to you, though. You don't want her sitting 2 feet away.

 

[R Taft]

At least she wants to come I would go with what Tricia and Jane said too..my dear katy-bear does a spectacular 'come"......she comes flying, happy face and has a difficult time gauging when to stop. One day she put the brakes on so hard and put her butt right down to sit, but the momentum made almost fall backwards her. At least she made the Judge and peanut gallery laugh and she did do the task and she was happy to do so. They learn to control their own body as they get older...I like the speed, so I often move back myself encouraging them all the way in and making it happy and rewarding with a treat......it is easier to slow down a great come. Harder to try and speed a unmotivated dog up in speed.....So it is great Ziva is so keen , never discourage that, just tidy it up

 

[shellyk]

Thanks everyone for the great advice! :wave:

 

[DAWNMERIE]

Do you practice in the house? I used to practice this command everywhere and anywhere, since day one with mine. When they started to think it was a game, I made it a game....Hide and Seek, come find me.

 

[Tricia2]

The other thing that's fun, if you have several people to help, is "The Name Game." You get a few people in a big circle, each with a pocketful of yummy treats, and take turns calling the dog. Use "happy voice" command to "Come Ziva." Mix it up among the players and randomly call the dog. Doggie gets a treat for a come and a sit. It uses a lot of energy and also teaches focus.

I love working with food driven dogs, much easier to tune down energy than to ramp it up in a lollygagger pup.

 

[shellyk]

Do you practice in the house? I used to practice this command everywhere and anywhere, since day one with mine. When they started to think it was a game, I made it a game....Hide and Seek, come find me.

This was out in the yard - her long lead is 30 feet long. I wish my house was that big! We will try hide and seek. Training that is fun is easier to keep up.

 

[shellyk]

The other thing that's fun, if you have several people to help, is "The Name Game." You get a few people in a big circle, each with a pocketful of yummy treats, and take turns calling the dog. Use "happy voice" command to "Come Ziva." Mix it up among the players and randomly call the dog. Doggie gets a treat for a come and a sit. It uses a lot of energy and also teaches focus.

I love working with food driven dogs, much easier to tune down energy than to ramp it up in a lollygagger pup.

Thanks for this idea! She has been getting "needs improvement" with following commmands at doggie day care. This might help her to follow anyones command not just mine and my husbands.

 

[DAWNMERIE]

Figured since your working on the Come command, you might want to also start to implementing the Stop command, (might help with the running at you too) it's my absolute favorite and can be a life saver.

I only use the word stop for making them stay/stand still, I refrain from using it for other things and usually use the words cut it out. While on walks I would randomly use the word until they knew what it meant and then I'd use it more often in regards to all different issues, but to me the earlier you implement it the better.

 

[shellyk]

Good idea! We need to work on cut it out too. She and our Lab play bitey face constantly. When they are in one place it's ok but they can get rambunctious and then it's 180 lbs moving through the house. Definitely need a CUT IT OUT!

 

[lacey9875]

I use "wait" instead of "stop" but it's the same thing. It can be a lifesaver.


I have nothing else since my dog is acting like a First Class Fool right now.

 

[Milliejb]

Come??? What's that??? Oh that is is the command Millie does when Millie wants! GRRRRR.....

 

[ElvisTheNewf]

Come??? What's that??? Oh that is is the command Millie does when Millie wants! GRRRRR.....

Elvis too!! He's been to SO MUCH training (even gone away to boot camp TWICE) and still doesn't have a solid recall. It's the one freakin thing holding him back from becoming a therapy dog. I so wish I had your problem about an excited dog running at me! The only thing Elvis runs after is the ice cream truck.

 

[shellyk]

We had two classes this weekend and we saw another side of our girl. It was 80+ degrees in the Seattle Area this weekend. :sunflower:

She only made it through the first half on Saturday. She was so uncomfortable she had her tail between her legs and we had to take her outside for fresh air.

On Sunday it went better but toward the end she just pooped out. DH had 3 pieces of string cheese on the floor in front of her to get her to scootch out and get them. She just layed there and watched them. That was a first! She passed beginning obedience and the instructor suggested we put her in competition obedience.