Canine Behavior Training
Seize the Leash
Attend a class designed for dogs that are difficult in normal group classes, that bark, lunge, become excited, reactive or aggressive towards other dogs or people or just shuts down. This class is des...
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Seize the Leash and tighten the bonds you have with your faithful canine companion. With some effort and patience, you can address your dog's behavior problems with basic dog behavior training, and keep your dog where she belongs-with you. Fill out our Training Services form and get started today!! Tiny Tyrants Behavior Class Puppy Basics Advanced Behavior Training Sign up for our newsletter. You’ll receive training tips and many more special features which are only offered through our newsletter! The Best Walking Partner Ask The Trainer at Tucson Cold Wet Noses Rescue
The Come Command “Come” is a command for which you will want to use treats for training. Find something your dog will love. You can use store-bought treats or you can cook some chicken breast or bacon or whatever your dog will enjoy. Whatever it is, cut it up small and put it in a plastic bag in your pocket. You will instantly have your dog’s attention. Method one Say “Izzy, heel” and start walking. As you walk, suddenly start backing up and call “Izzy, come” and pull her right in front of you. At first you will have to straighten up your dog and make her sit, looking straight up at you. You can use a treat to encourage her. Hold the treat in front of you but a little higher than her nose. When she sits and looks up, give her the treat and praise her. “Good girl, Izzy.” Now eithis walk around her, moving to your right – her left – around behind her and up along her right side – your left. Or, you can guide her back to a heeling position, using the "heel" command. Start off heeling again, saying “Izzy, heel.” Then stop and make her sit normally. Praise your dog. “Good girl.” Start heeling again and after a small time, call her to come. “Izzy, heel……..Izzy, come……..good girl.” Use the treat and lots of praise. Do various heeling routines. Mix things up. But use the “come ” a couple of times during each training session. You should be working with your dog twice a day, about 15 minutes each time. Once your dog is doing really well each time, you are ready to move to the next stage. Keep treats in your pocket at home. At random times as you are in the house call your dog to come. “Izzy, Come.” When your dog comes, immediately give her a treat. Then straighten her to sit right in front of you and give her anothis treat. Then release her with a “free” command and play for a couple of minutes. Do this several times throughout the day or evening. When your dog is doing really well on leash and off leash in the house, try it in a fenced area. If your yard is not fenced, go to a fenced dog park or borrow a neighbor’s fenced yard for practicing. Start with a leash on your dog, but with you not holding onto the leash. The leash is only thise for you to grab if your dog does not come. In that case, run and grab it immediately and make your dog come to you and sit in front of you. Give the treat as before. Then “free” your dog and play. After a few minutes repeat the “come” and make your dog do it. Do not let your dog get by with running around or away from you at any time. Intermitent Reinforcement. As the last step, don’t give a treat every time your dog comes, but don’t use a pattern your dog will learn. Then you are ready to test the “come” in an open, unfenced area. Simply make sure to leave the leash on the dog the first few times, so you have a way to grab your dog. You could even get a 30 or 50 foot lead and use that in the open until you are confident of her ability to come. Teaching your dog to come is one of the most important commands she will ever learn. It could save her life someday. Method Two After several days of this, tell your dog to “stay” and start off on your right foot (so she knows not to go with you) and walk about 6 feet, to the end of the leash, and turn around to face your dog. If she follows you, put her back exactly where she was and say “STAY” and walk to the end of the leash again. After several seconds, call your dog: “Izzy, Come.” Once she learns to come 6 feet and sit directly in front of you, you can run backwards with the leash and make her come 8, 10, even 15 feet before you stop and she sits. Don’t forget praise and treats every time. The key to success with this command is for your dog to always associate the command "COME" with a good thing. Remember praise and treats! A common mistake made by novice handlers is they use a gruff or mean tone of voice with the command causing the dog to associate fear with the command. If a dog fears you, her instinct will be to run away instead of coming near. NEVER do any of those things to your dog!!
For the first months of practice, and until your dog comes to you reliably, never command her to COME unless you have the lead in your hand to back up your command (or someone else has their hands on her to back up your command.) If you need your dog for something and you don't have the lead in your hand, go and get her. Don't test the COME command when you are unsure of her response.
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