There is nothing more joyous than a dog that comes running when you call their name. It makes your heart swell with love and happiness. But a dog that doesn’t come when you call, well, few things are more frustrating. You spent all that time training them to come, they used to come flying in, but now they play deaf. Ignoring the recall, even running away, is a common problem in dog training.
Ugh. Why is this happening?
One reason is that when we call our dogs to us, fun usually stops. Think about it. Calling them to come into the house, fun stops. Calling them to come at the dog park to go home, fun stops.
Another reason: we get frustrated, even angry. It is understandably annoying when your dog ignores you, but if you get angry when he finally returns, he is unlikely to respond the next time you call him.
The good news is there are ways to fix this problem, such as rewarding the dog with treats when they come to you. There are fun games, like Monkey-in-the-middle, which can make it fun for both dogs and humans. It’s important to use games to make it more interesting and fun, which helps develop a stronger bond.
Game of the week: Monkey-in-the-middle
1) Two people stand about 10 feet apart, facing each other
2) Person A calls the dog using the dog’s name and the cue “Come”. When the dog arrives, they give the dog a treat or two.
3) Then Person B calls the dog using the dog’s name and the cue “Come”, again giving a treat.
4) Speed is your friend. Get the dog moving back and forth quickly by using an excited voice.
5) As the dog gets the idea of the game, slowly increase the distance between you.
6) Variation: When you call the dog to you, turn and run. A good game of chase will help energize and speed your dog up.
Report back and let me know how it goes ! Bonus points for pictures that I can post.
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