She will not COME

L

Lacysmom

Forums Regular
I've watched and read everything on this topic. I keep a bag of tiny, high quality dog treats hanging off my belt at almost all waking hours. I've kept her on a leash when she wasn't running through the house at full speed. I make coming to me a wonderful experience. This 6 month old sheltie will not, will not, will not COME when she's called. I'm about to lose my mind over this. From the time she was tiny at the breeders, she has always run away when she knew the breeder, and then I, wanted her to come to us. The ONLY way she'll come, is if a treat is offered. I just don't know what to do about this any longer.

Today, she ran through the underground electric fence to visit a man and dog passing by. I ran out to the road, and called and called her. She would not come. The man said, "Boy, she doesn't listen, does she?" Well, no, as a matter of face, she does not. I've never, ever had a dog refuse to listen like this. And yes, we went to puppy obedience classes. When on the end of a rope like that, in class, she comes. It's just in the real world, she refuses to listen. Thoughts anyone?
 
Will she stay? If so, make the "come" command part of the staying exercise; the part where you release her from the stay; follow it with a nice treat and plenty of praise.
 
Our trainer also had us teach a down stay too. It's a drop and stay down no matter what and then we would go and retrieve the dog with click/treat/praise. She had us work on this because there are times coming is not safe (across a road for example). Perhaps this would be more to her liking than coming and would be of use.
 
You might have to put the hope of a good recall on the back burner for a bit. She's now an adolescent so getting a good recall is going to be difficult. That's not to say you shouldn't practice, it will sink in and work when her brain can manage to focus on more than one thing at a time. So yes it will come, it just may take a little longer or a little bit of extra work.

I would suggest in situations you described whistle to get her attention rather than call her name. Whistling seems to get through their brain when the basic human voice doesn't. If you 'charge' your whistling as well, like you do with a clicker, it will help even more. So do a few sessions of whistling to get her attention and when she looks at you give her a treat. Tully was very difficult at the same age and I can tell you a whistle was the only thing that grabbed her attention. I still whistle to get both mine to come immediately.
 
um this is a serious issue and she should not be outside with just an electric fence. What you just witnessed today could have been fatal if it had been a car. Keep that in mind.
1. hate electric fences and they should not be used with shelties.They do not work. PERIOD.
2. keep her on a leash out side. NO off leash time until she understands what COME means. and has a 100% recall and it is a constant 100% recall for atleast a month! 6 months of age is the equivalent of a 10 year old they are not dependable and will not make constant decisions/actions.
 
Sounds like the word COME has become a poisoned cue. Find another word, or words, and start again. Unfortunately, we inadvertently use the word, come, for all kinds of things that dogs aren't really fond of such as: come here, we are going to bath you, come here, we are going to make you sit in front of me, come here, we don't want you to jump on that person.
 
My dog's emergency recall word is TREAT.
works everytime, even with squirrels involved.
I just have to make sure he gets one after he comes.
'Come' works most of the time, but does not get the immediate and urgent response needed.
 
I second Lightplum's response. No electric fences and no off leash until she is reliable (and definitely not during the Terrible Teens period!).

There may be a possibility the treats have become a bribe instead of a reward. Meaning she sees the treats which you show her (your treat pouch, in your hand, etc) then decides whether or not they are worth her time. I would keep treats elsewhere, off my body, or hidden in my pocket and do recalls out of the blue in the house first, with her nearby, so as to ensure she will more likely comply, then surprise her with these hidden goodies. Of course make sure these goodies are indeed THE BEST STUFF EVER. :lol:

I may also make it a game and run off so she gives chase (shelties looooove to chase).

Get a looooong 30 ft line and practice recalls outdoors near your house, in the park, etc first with it knotted short then extending the length. Go for walks with her on the long line and recall her back to you regularly. This is a good way to bridge from being on leash to going off leash.
 
I agree with no electric fence and using a long leash for training recall. As I mentioned, I use the word cookie for me to come - they do recall with come but I find the word cookie makes it even quicker. When I first started, they got a treat each time. Now they don't. They associate this word with something good.
 
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