puppy training advice needed..

[Skyesrocket]

Not giving a command you can't reinforce is excellent advice. Don't call her to you unless you are willing to physically go get her and bring her back inside. We teach dogs to ignore us without meaning to. Even if you have to chase her down, go out and get her by the collar and pull her towards the house giving her lots of encouragement. Even if she is fussing to stay out. I know this works as I have done it with quite a few dogs over the years.
Never use her name in conversation with people....even on the phone. Use a different name when you are talking ABOUT her and not TO her. This way when she does hear her name she will respond to it by at least looking up to see what you want.
She is still a baby, but if you do these things now it will help with all of her future training. Like someone else said, never punish a dog that you are calling to you...always make a big deal out of her coming back to you. "What a good girl!!" In a higher pitched voice than you normally use. Even if you have to pull her into the house say COME and encourage her with Good Girls! She will learn to work for your praise.
Good Luck! Be Consistant!

 

[redhen]

my dog escaped late last night..i was soo scared because we have a pack of coyotes here and they come up close at night.(like in our yards)..so, we called her and called her. i was getting frantic! all i could think about was how people on here have said how the coys will lure a dog after them and then kill them...

and the first place she always runs to when she gets loose is the woods..

...so anyways, we finally caught sight of her across the road up a hill at my neighbors house...i ran up there..(well walked fast..i'm to fat to run..) and i shook her doggie treat bag and said "want a treat Daisy mae? Sit!" and she plopped her tush down and sat until i got to her and could grab her collar..then she got a treat....

so, i think if you start to train her to come to you and every time she comes you give her a treat...also, do it inside your house at random times in the day..several times a day..have treats in your pockets..and call the dog and when they come give them a treat and praise... but, i DO have to say..IF my dog was REALLY trained..she would have come to me right away when she heard my voice..so...

i dont know... UGH! its hard! thats all i know...

*also, never, ever scold when you catch them....all that will do is make them never want to come to you when they get loose* good luck!

 

[Cara]

This may sound insane, but running the opposite way calling them in a high-pitched voice can save their lives if they're about to be in danger. It will often trigger their prey drive. It does take guts to do though, but chase them and they will often run.

Also, laying down on the ground often works. It sparks their interest, and I haven't met a dog yet that doesn't love to slobber on someone on the ground

 

[ninny]

Quote:
Ditto. I was so going to say that. If my lab takes off i get a squeaky toy, that i hold out the door and squeeze till he comes and I let him play with it for a minute. I also tell them go potty come back in get a yum yum. They get treats if i don't have to go get them.

And yes i have been know to run across the yard yelling there names.

 

[redhen]

Quote:
ooh, good ideas! thanks!

 

[gaited horse]

give her treats when she comes in

 

[kees]

I think many of the above posts are excellent ideas. It's desirable to keep the dog on a regular feeding schedule. Right after it eats, out, bring the dog outside on a leash. No playing, a command to go to the bathroom, lots of praise when it does, and then a couple of minutes of play. Running backwards with a toy afterwards and then lavish praise again will also help. Let us know what works for you!

Suzy

 

[raindrop]

Giving treats is not a bad thing. Would you work for no pay?
You don't want to bribe, but you want to reinforce good behavior. At this age, you are just teaching her that listening to you is fun, and that you are the source of all the fun and food in her life.
I would never expect a 10 week old puppy to have a reliable recall. I would barely expect a year-old puppy to have a reliable recall. Keep her on a long line that she drags behind her. If she comes when you call, give her a treat. If she ignores you, gently and playfully reel her in and say "good girl!" Let her go back to playing 9 times out of 10, and she won't associate coming to you outdoors with the fun ending.
She sounds like a fun-loving puppy!

 

[Jennyhaschicks]

A quick update.
She is doing much better. I take her outside to play often since she LOVES to be outside. She is doing well at coming to me when I call her back. I have taken her out on her leash with treats in my pocket. She goes outside without a leash too at times and is doing well at coming back to me without the leash. I praise her a ton when she is responding well.

I also make sure when I give her a command I follow through. Dh is famous for letting her out and then giving up when she won't come back to him.

 

[BaronRenfrew]

What you need to do is buy a book (or borrow from the library) and learn a few basics of dog training.

Here's a few tricks. Find a place with a large fenced in yard ( i use a local school after hours) and get a long rope (50 feet) and make a leash of it. Go to the yard and let her run free with the leash attached. Play with the dog, call her and if she doesn't come: step on the rope and reel her in (its a lot easier than catching the dog). The dog will be confused that you have power over her at a distance, so this is very effective. Chasing the dog is the worst as they think its play and will continue to run away. Bending down on one knee and arms wide open will help further, then make it a big deal with lots of praise. Running the other way is also very good. Better yet hide on the dog and call her: The dog will come looking for you and must then learn to follow your scent.

Let her play and meet other dogs, as well as all kinds of people (old, young, black, white, people in uniform, etc).

When you do go out with a leash make it a fixed leash, this is easy for the dog to learn with as they know how far they can be from you. Those extending leashes are the worst as the dog never learns distance rules.

If you punish the dog for coming to you then the dog will not listen again.

Food rewards are good for training but you have to use it sparingly and wean them off it.

If you walk the dog, and it pulls, change direction. My doberman learned quickly (got him at 2 years old) when being yanked around with this strategy. It seems mean but it works and the dog watches you all the time.

You may use a loud angry tone of voice, and the dog will come cowering, then praise her for coming. The dog learns that if you call, and it comes, it will not be punished.

Keep in mind that its still a pup and you don't want to punish (this leads to long term psychological problems). Is there a time for a slap on the arse? I say yes: to an adult, that is well trained and knows better, and a limit of one slap once per year. My beagle mix needed this and it quickly brought him into line (dogs reinforce pack rank in a violent manner: that dog was extremely stubborn and dangerous, the bugger had a temper and went after people more than once). We lived on a farm so the dogs had complete freedom. He learned to ignore the chickens: he'd be sitting beside his food bowl (he took his time eating) and guarding it from the other dog, but the chickens could come and clean him out and he wouldn't notice.