Why do some dogs refuse to come back teach your ….pdfVIP

MY DOG WON’T COME BACK This information is intended as a general guide only. Why do some dogs refuse to come back? Dogs don’t come back because whatever it is they are doing is much more rewarding than coming back to you - simple as that. You need to change this so for your dog, coming when he’s called is a command worth obeying! “Come” is one of the most important things you can teach your dog! Dogs learn to repeat activities that are rewarding, and avoid activities that are punishing. Do you call your dog to come at the off leash park so you can take it home? Look at it from his perspective - ending all the fun of playing and sniffing in the park is a form of punishment in the dog’s eyes. Many people unknowingly punish their dogs for coming when called. Do you call “come” and then shove a pill down its throat, cut his toenails or give it an unwelcome bath? Do you call your dog repeatedly and when it finally wanders over, grab it and chastise at it for running away? The dog thinks it is being punished for coming to you (the most recent thing it did), not for ignoring the first few commands , which it did some time ago. There are two secrets to teaching a reliable “come” 1. ALWAYS make coming to you pleasant 2. ALWAYS make sure the dog will come on the first command. Friends for Life: New Owner Training Program Handout 9: My dog won’t come back Author: Cyn D Fisher - GCDOTC/Adapted by Wendy Sleeman File Location: My Documents/Zoe Files/Education/Friends for Life/Handouts Making coming to you pleasant • Start by teaching come-for-dinner. Dinner is usually a very pleasant experience for a dog! Every time you feed the dog, have someone hold it a distance away from you and the food. When you call “come” in a cheerful voice, they let go. When the dog arrives, give it dinner immediately. You could even extend this exercise by having each person give the dog portions o