Getting puppy to come back to you.

[Dominique]

Hi All - any suggestions on our problem would be most welcome. Our wee westie Meg is doing great with eveything at the moment except for recall. She loves running around the back garden but refuses to come when you call her - when you go near her to try and get her in she thinks it is a game and runs off. She also does this if she has something that she shouldn't, in those cases we tried to swap what she had for a toy but she has gotten wise to that now. Is this something she will grow out of as I think my neighbours must have a laugh when they see us trying to get her in the house sometimes .

[John Thomson]

Typical puppy

I would put a 'long line' on her........she must not be allowed to disobey a recall command, use the line to bring her to you and when she gets to you use plenty of treats and praise.........she will learn that good things happen when she comes to you.
I would never want to get into a game of chases with her........better to have her chase you

john
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John Thomson
www.cumbernaulddogtraining.co.uk

[Craig/Tracy]

You could maybe also try a clicker which worked with Enzo in the back garden as when he heard the click he knew there was a treat

[Suzanne H]

I swear by the long line for recall training (in and out of the house)

And cunning - I run in the opposite direction in an excited (and rather foolish manner) and our pup chases me into the house...

[ShirleyB]

How do you mean keep the puppy on a long line, I've had problems too trying to get my puppy to come back in the house if she's been out in the garden, and if I call her to come to me she just runs like a game of chase.

should I be keeping a long lead on her while in the garden too?
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Ria B

[kendal]

the long like can be a Long bit of washing line or a long training line, it just means that if you call you pup and it decides not to come to you then you can real them in and encourage them to come back, it a wee bit of extra control you can let it drag behind them so if she dose start to run rings round you you can stand on it to stop her, and bring her to you.

dose that help.
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microchiping and grooming www.chipnclip.co.uk

[ShirleyB]

Thanks, I'm willing to try anything.

I've tried all the low tones in calling her back which she ignores, and even higher tones in my voice but all to no avail.

The only thing she does manage is to sit, so bring on the Dog Training
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Ria B

[Suzanne H]

You can get a puppy long line from the petshop - it's about 2m long and is ok for the garden and house. Just let it run behind. It's also good to teach them to settle.

We have a 10m which we got online which we used outdoors once our older dog was bigger and yes, just let him run around with it on. Now and again, just step on it for no reason or to call them to you randomly...otherwise they soon suss no one's on the end.

it doesn't get as tangled as you think - although ours did manage to tie himself and his brother together is some weird bondage game. But if you're there, you can sort out tangles. I wouldnt leave him to run around with it without watching him.