Our Papillon is 5 months old. He used to be very good at coming when called. Now when he is in trouble he will run away from us. If it's time to go outside or go in his crate he will react the same way. He also has a hard time listening unless there's a treat involved. Any advice? Thanks!
2006-06-28 05:40:08 · 8 answers · asked by ann9992 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
it is possible that before you got it the people always kept them inside and not it is scared to go out you might have to litteraly pick it up and take it outside
2006-06-28 05:44:21 · answer #1 · answered by maryeb77 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When he is in trouble, why would he want to come to you? When you call him to you, it should only be for good things for him, otherwise you have taught him that you can be scary and he will run from you. Now you need to regain his trust. Practice calling him to you a lot and always reward him with a tiny treat when he comes right away. Never scold him for not coming, just say "too bad" in a sing-song voice, and put the treat away. Since he is still very young, you will need to do a lot of practice and reinforcement with treats until it really becomes automatic with him, which will be at least a few months. At that time, slowly start rewarding him w/ treats a little less frequently, but never stop rewarding him completely. That is his paycheck. Would you go to work for your boss without getting your paycheck? That is your constant reward. Same with a dog - they should be paid for doing their job also.
2006-06-28 05:47:46 · answer #2 · answered by sim24 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First, never ever use your dogs name with a punishment. Say his name is Pappy. You should only call "Pappy!" when you are going to give him a treat or praise. If he's done something bad, just a scowl and "Bad Dog!" will suffice. Do not use his name! You want him to think "Pappy" = treat. NOT punishment.
He may think the crate is a bad thing or punishment. You need to retrain him. Only give him treats in his crate. Say "Pappy, crate" and then place him gently in his crate. If he stays in it for even a second, praise and give a treat. Then at other random times say "Pappy, Crate". In a few days he'll be running into his crate because he knows he'll get a treat in there. Do not use the crate for punishment. Crates are safe places, dogs do not respond to being confined as a punishment.
If he doesn't come when called, you may want to try a game we did with my dog. Get several people and scatter them through out your living room. Everyone gets a handful of small treats. Take turns calling "Pappy". But only ONCE! None of this "pappy pappy pappy" business. You want him to come the first time, not the fifth. One person at a time call the dog, once. When he goes to the person who called him, he immediately gets a treat and then the next person calls him ONCE. Do this game for a few minutes for a couple of days and keep giving treats only when he comes when called or gets in his crate. He'll get the idea.
2006-06-28 05:50:23 · answer #3 · answered by anniewalker 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the fact that you said he runs away "when hes in trouble" leads me to belive that after he got into trouble he was hit or yelled at or in some way scared after he did something wrong.....so now he is afraid to come...you have to get it turned around and the best way for now is to use a treat as a reward for somming so he can get back on track that comming to you is a good thing and he wont be scolded when he does come....example...if a dog runs into the street and when you call him he comes to you and then you spank him or yell at him..he has not learned to stay out of the street..but if he comes to you he will be punished.....you should only use a very firm "NO"...bad dog..he will know from your tone you are mad.....but you need to tell him no bad dog as he is going away from you...once he turns and comes to you give lots of praise and a treat if needed till he leanrs this is the way he will get rewarded...
2006-06-28 05:46:20 · answer #4 · answered by becca9892003 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
At some point you might have yelled at him when he was in trouble for something, so now when you call him, he is afraid he is in trouble and won't come. You should always make your dog's name a pleasant thing and you should not yell. Dogs are very sensitive (most of them) and you have to find more reward based training methods or else the dog could come to fear you on some level.
2006-06-28 05:53:46 · answer #5 · answered by TiFFeRz 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your pet has reached sexual maturatiy. He will be more likely to run away or to escape now that he is over 4 months old. Also, his chances of testicular cancers increase exponentially each year that he lives, unless is is neutered. You also don't want new puppies from every female dog on the block. His instinct is to look for a mate. He will be calmer (as far as puppies go), and less likely to leave you once he is fixed. Ask you vet about it.
2006-06-28 05:50:40 · answer #6 · answered by Claire 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You've let the dog train you. You need some serious intervention with a professional trainer who can observe what you do right an WRONG and correct it. Every animal can be trained, and I see owners make mistakes left and right in training, and then be embarassed at the vet's office when they have no control. So nip that problem in the butt, swallow you pride, get some impartial, professional help and have a dog you can be proud to take everywhere with you.
Most vets are MORE THAN HAPPY to refer you to a trainer they believe in and trust.
-a dvm
2006-06-28 05:47:11 · answer #7 · answered by rabbitwhisperer 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Keep him on a leash and he can't run away.
2006-06-28 05:46:06 · answer #8 · answered by Beth 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋