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Pupforum presents your training questions answered by professional dog trainers.
Elaine has been training dogs professionally for 14 years. She is a CPDT as well as an endorsed member of NADOI. She is also certified in narcotics detection and is one half of a (twice) certified explosives detection team - the other half being her Dutch Shepherd Spawn, who is also titled in several protection sports. Elaine is the owner of Canine's Best Behavior, a Los Angeles based training company, offering Basic Manners, CGC, K9 Games (soon!) as well as behavior modification for aggression fears phobias etc.
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12/30/2007
My daughter has just gotten a 7 month old female shepherd/heeler mix puppy. We live in the country and do not have to leash my 8 yr. old male dog and would like to be able to do the same for her when we are outside. However, when you say "Come, Abby" she runs the other direction and we cannot catch her. I have tried treats and toys to get her to come, but to no avail. Do you have any suggestions? (stboyd37, Colorado)
You may want to consider changing the command because "Abby Come" means run the other way. How about "Abby here"? Play hide and seek games in the house, rewarding her for finding you as you say "Abby Here". Run and hide again while someone holds onto her. It really helps when she is out of your sight when you are walking in the c
ountry. What you are teaching her is to come find you when you call her.
Another option: I would get the assistance of your older dog as well. Most likely you will be walking them together. Try calling him and rewarding him lavishly with treats and BIG praise. Then when she starts coming over expecting the same, wait a bit and then call them both. Treat the one who gets there first. In other words, increase her desire to get to you fast -fast -fast!!
In between now and the time that she understands better what you want her to do when you say "Abby Here" -walk on on a 30 foot long line dragging on the ground behind her. Not a retractable line! If she opts to take off, you have a big 30 foot "arm" to keep her from rehearsing that game where you chase her!
Elaine Allison CPDT NADOI
Canine Behavior Consultant
Canine's Best Behavior
1.866.K9s.Best
www.caninesbestbehavior.com
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