How can I get my 9 month Boxer to come when he is called when he is outside?

Question

He will just run like you are playing with him when you try to get him to come in from outside. I really don't want to spend the money for electric fence but if I have no other options I will. He listens really well any other time.

Answer 1

You will do best to teach him all of the basics..Then, when he is acting up in any way, just give any of the commands..not just the 'come', and reward him for obedience..this sets him up for success, instead of failure..these will be of help to both of you all of his life..
The Basics
SIT, COME, DOWN, STAY, HEEL.

SIT

Holding a treat in your left hand just above the pup's nose, gently rest your right hand on pup's rump.
Slowly move the treat in an upward motion while applying gentle pressure to the rump. ( you don't want to push hard because if you do the dog will sit every time someone touches him and this is not good for competitive obedience)
as soon as pup sits say in a very happy excited tone "GOOD SIT" and give the treat.
Repeat exercise 7x. then take a play break and move on to something else.
very young pups should not train for more than a half hour each day
every time you put food bowl down or give a treat give the sit command, and wait for the sit. then once pup sits give treat or food down.
DO NOT move on to something new until pup has the new command down pat.

COME

walk away from pup about 10 feet to start. say pup's name and "COME" in a happy voice. once pup comes praise it lavishly have a bit of a play and give it a treat.
Gradually increase the distance you walk away. and eventually once pup knows command only treat every 3rd come. tapering off until he comes every time with out treat using only praise.
this will take a few days to learn if you practice every day.

DOWN

Start with pup in sit. move hand with the treat between the pup's front paws on the ground.
Say "DOWN" in firm but not loud voice.
pup might try and get treat without going down, don't let him have it until he downs.
praise in happy voice "GOOD DOWN"
repeat 7x

STAY

Start pup in down position. say "STAY" in firm voice. walk to end of leash, backwards. if the pup moves say once only "AP" in a not pleased tone. go back do not say anything. put pup in down again repeat "STAY" walk backwards to end of leash.
pup does NOT get praise or treat until he stays for 30 seconds, then a minute, then 5 minutes. move times up each week.
after he can do a 5 minute down/stay every time. move on to a sit/stay doing exactly what you did for down/stay.
Once on leash sit and down/stays are reliable for 5 minutes each. drop the leash and walk away from your pup, your back to the pup. about 10 feet away. wait 5 min. recall your dog. with dog sitting in front of you once he reaches you. treat and praise.

HEEL

Please do NOT train with a choke collar. i recommend martingayles .
with dog on a short leash exactly beside you on your left side say "HEEL" if the dog starts to pull give a correction snap with leash on collar. and recommend "HEEL" the second your dog complies praise with "GOOD HEEL" in happy voice. and continue to walk , correct, and praise for 30 minutes.


Always end training sessions on a positive note. Never get angry with your pup for not responding to a command. Praise lavishly every time pup responds to a command.

Answer 2

Keep him in a fenced area while outside. My Boxer is just 4 months old, but has mastered the "come" command pretty well. I started with the leash in the yard just walking him and getting him used to it with basic sit and stay commands, and a treat EVERY TIME he did as I said. After a while, I would get him to sit and drop the leash. I would walk about 5 feet away and say "OK, Waylon, come", and hold the treat in my hand and he would come. After about a week, he was doing it without the leash and I could walk further away. I'm working on it in the front yard now (not fenced, but not a bust street). There a more distractions (neighbors and kids, as well as other dogs), so it's more of a challenge for us both.

The key to him learning is consistency and him knowing that a reward is in store for him every time he does what is asked of him. Most of the time now, I don't give him a treat, just lavish petting and praise. He gets so excited when he knows he's done the right thing.

Also, Boxers tend to get bored with tedious exercises. Be sure to give him time for breaks and to just run off some of that energy Boxers are notorious for. If you keep it fun, he will keep learning.

Answer 3

Well, if you don't have a fenced-yard, you will have to do something about that for his safety aside from just teaching him recall. No dog recalls 100% of the time. But here's some tips for improving recall:

-Don't just recall when it means something bad is about to happen. A lot of dogs won't come when you call because the only time they are called is when they're being made to come back inside or stop playing or get crated. Do recalls all the time, and then let the dog go back to doing whatever fun thing he was doing.

-Treats. Seriously. Most dogs are in love with food and it's a quick easy way to communicate to your dog that he's done something good. Carry delectable treats in your pocket and do a recall. If he comes, he gets a treat. But continue to follow the above advice.

I have a breed of dog who requires a fence and is notoriously bad at recall. I'd never not have a fence for him, but every now and then when he's off leash at the dog park, I need him to return. He's excellent with the recall because he knows that when he comes back to me, every time he comes back to me, he gets a goodie. And most of the time when he comes back, he gets his treat and then is able to continue having fun. I've made returning to me = food and fun rather than no fun and nothing.

And now I have this little furry shadow that follows me everywhere! Definately no typical behavior for his breed, so it is all in the training.

Answer 4

I had the same problem with my Dalmatian. To get him in I'd use a key word such as IN or HERE. Whatever word you choose be sure to stick with only that word.
When I yelled the word I'd hold out a treat then when he was inside I'd make him sit before giving him the treat. After a short time as soon as I yelled IN he'd come in the house and sit. I continued to give a treat every third time then every 4th etc. Now he comes in and sits without a treat.

Answer 5

never use a retractable leash for training use a long line (a 15-20 ft. leash). hook the dog up to this then let him play call the dog and use the lone line to reinforce the comand. Praise and reward.
repeat this over and over and go to the park and practice this. Never yell at the dog or hit the dog when he comes to you this is counter productive

Answer 6

Get a long line. (Not retractable) When you take your dog outside keep him on the long line, even if you're not holding it. When you want him to come back to you, first try calling him. If he doesn't come, step on the long line or give it a quick jerk (Keep saying 'come here' or whatever command you use). If he STILL doesn't come, go TO him and scold him. DO NOT bring him to you to scold him, because this will associate coming to you with bad things. Be sure that after you scold him you give him lots of praise though, and when he comes on his own give him even more praise.

Answer 7

Try conditioning him, by giving him a treat (dog biscuit?), every time he comes to you. If you are consistent (by giving the treat every time, without exception), he should come to you each time you call. You may want to start him out with short distances, then gradually increase your distance from him.

Answer 8

Put him on a retractable leash. Let him go as far as he likes. Then call him. If he ignores you, tug on the leash, call again-retract, continue until he realizes who the boss is AND always have a treat in your pocket to reward his efforts.

Answer 9

Have some treats ready and when you call him.. hold a treat out and when he comes IN.. give him the treat.. After a while, he will respond automatically.

Answer 10

get a box of treats and shake it wen u want him in.. he will hear it and ciome running