How can i get my dog to come to call off lead?

Question

I have a 3 year old female lurcher-x who we recently rescued from the dogs home after our other dog passed away. Because of her frame, she can run incredibly fast and, unlike my other dog, i cannot always get her back when she finds another dog to play with on our walks. I have tried all the usual techniques but i am looking for a more effective, original way off getting her back. Because of her previous homes, she seems to answer better to angry tones but i know this isn't the correct way of training her.

Answer 1

The best way to do this is repetition, repetition, repetition.
Find out your dogs most favorite treat in the world, and then keep this treat only for the training of coming back when called. This means that she will really wish to be good so as to get that treat. And give the treat in tiny pieces so that she doesn't get full too quickly.

Keep training to a max. of 10 mins at a time so that she keeps her attention, and repeat up to 3 times a day if u have time.

Get a duck caller (those things you blow in that make a sound like a duck), this is better than shouting because she will hear it better, and better than a whistle cos someone else may use a whistle for their dog and she could run to them instead of you.

Do the training in the following places and with the equipment stated. Go to the next step only when she does each step perfectly and you have done at least 3 training sessions with no mistakes at all.

1.start in your house, with her on a short lead.
2.in the house on a long lead
3. in the house no lead
4. in the garden short lead
5. in the garden long lead
6. in the garden no lead
7. in the large space, but not too open (ie small dog walking field) on short lead
8. large, but not too open space on long lead
9. large but not too open space very very long rope
10. large but not too open space no lead
11. big open space long lead
12, big open space, very very long rope
13. big open space and free

I know this seems like a huge amount of work for such a small thing, but remember your dog is designed to run and chase! It will take a huge amount of repetition to ingrain the response you desire into her.

Don't try to use the command out of training until you have completely finished the training, and until then keep her on the lead.

Stick with it, and it will be completely worth it in the end. Any trouble and please do get in touch, always willing to help rescue dogs.

Have fun and good luck

Answer 2

while in the house ask dog to say her name first to get her attention and the say come (ask only once) You may show the dog the treat to encourage her to come. From there repeat the exercise 3-6 times and then give the dog a break of over an hour. If you feel she got it go into another room where she cannot see you and call her to come. reward with treat when she does it perfectly.... Eventually hide in the house call and treat. But call only once and treat if she responds as you wish if it is not good enough do not treat but tell her she was good and praise.
While you are walking her on a leash say her name if she looks at you treat her... then say her name and come while she is sniffing at something... when she comes to you be ecstatic... you can then do this with longer and longer leashes... Finally you will no longer need the leash.

Answer 3

Have you tried a long line? Go to an open space a field or patk when there aren't many distractions. Put her on the line You want it long 30 or 50 feet attatch one end to yourself and then walk and play with her. Be careful not to trip yourself up. Call her using the same word every time. If she doesn't come GENTLY draw her to you and make an enormous fuss of her--hugs treats whatever she likes. She needs to learn the command and know that she must come every time. Never punish her and praise her every time she comes. It can take a while so be patient. Don't let her run free until youre sure she's coming every time. When you do let her go keep a length of line on You can use it to catch her and she'll associate it with coming. Through time shorten the line.Some dogs will come with only a few inches left. If she's not coming just go back a stage and take it slowly. It needs lots of patience but its worth it n the end. We had similar trouble with a rescue Irish Setter.

Answer 4

Keep a bag of treats in you pocket - call her, praise and treat her when she comes.
If you find her running away call your other dog and walk in the oposite direction (taking care not to leave her behind and only where safe to do so)
Try taking her out with an extendable lead or long rope initially, that way she can't go far. Spend time calling and then treating her. If you call her then put the lead on and go home she won't to come back to you cos you are spoiling her fun. So call her praise her, treat her, then let her go off again. Peserverance is the key, keep going and going until eventually she catches on.

Answer 5

get a long lead and when out in the park when she is not engaged in something else. do this without allowing the lead to become tight. say come and chink your car keys once only - immediately praise and keep praising as you run the other way excitedly. when the dog catches up, play rough exciting and invigorating games for a few mins before sending off again. high silly voice praise, every bit of energy you can find in yourself, do this as many times as you can until you both are truly shattered, always give the signal, ...go on then off you go... relax and stroll a little, every once in a while chink and call in your dog. when you feel confident she will come back, take the bullet and take off the lead walk proud and confident, have a squeaky ball with you, throw and ask her to fetch then chink and call her in. it wouldn't be a bad idea to have a bit of cheese in your hand in case of emergencies.. use a field without too much distractions and take a friend, then build up both your confidence so that she finds you much more interesting than any dog, child, ball.. its exhausting, I'm doing it just now with my 5 month old beagle. but will be worth it for you both in the long run

Answer 6

I see three issues.
First your dog needs to be about 99% reliable without any distractions before they are added to the mix one by one.
Second the dog needs to spend some time on a "long lead" (20-50 foot rope) and when you give your recall command real the dog in like a fish.
Third never-ever give your dog a command that you can not enforce.

Answer 7

Start with a bit more disaplin on the lead make her heal in to you so the lead is slack - i did this with my dog by using the work 'heal in' and tapping the side of my leg and gently pulling her on the lead close to you! Ham is the best treat that works for my dog! Keeps a few slices that you can pick off of for treats! When she heals in praise praise praise! Like someone who has said before calling her when your at home and her coming to you is good practice! If you have an enclosed field near you practice in that! When you let her off of the lead hold her coller and start getting her to sit by your side intill you tell her to go! Give her a treat and get her attention then when she's finished eating let her go! Call her back when now and again letting her get furtehr away from you each time, when she comes back go down to her level and make a fuss of her giving her ham - then make her sit (when you have got the healing in to a tea on the lead, before letting her run around again make her heal in to your side and walk along off the lead but healed in for a few strides before letting her go)! This will take a lot of time and patience, even if she takes a while to come back praise her for coming back!
Do you have a whistle - i find they work brillinatly - you will stiill have to call her name and use the whistle to start with but you will be amazed at how quickly they will learn that that whistle is you!

I have trained all of my dogs tis way - and now when they are off teh lead and i see another dog i make them walk to heel - off the lead whilst we walk past!
Good luck

Answer 8

There are a bunch of things you should know about dog training but we are going to discuss what I feel are some the most important. Keep in mind that these are only some of the things you should know. Go here http://OnlineDogTraining.enle.info/?63y3

1. Repetition is the number 1 principle of dog training. Dogs just like humans learn by doing things over and over in order to get better.

2. Dog Training can and should be fun for both you and your new pet.

3. Training sessions should always be short but sweet. I never work a dog more than 15 minutes in a session to keep from losing the dog's attention. You should train you dog at least once a day but never more than three formal sessions a day.

4. Your goal should be that each training session is just a little bit better than the last one. You need to always strive to make the training better, slowly. I mention this because quite often I see people who do daily training sessions but the dog never gets better and it is not the dogs fault.

5. Having patients is very important in dog training. Losing your temper does not work with a canine it simply makes things worse.

6. Exercise is very important in the training process to get rid of all the dogs nervous energy.

7. Taking your pet for walks is very important because it develops serotonin which gives your dog a feeling of well being.

8. Always be sure to give your dog a bunch of praise in your training. It is your dog's paycheck for doing a great job.

9. Never hit your dog. I have heard people say I never hit my dog instead I roll up a magazine and swat it. It's the same thing... hitting is hitting.

10. After each training session be sure to do something that your dog will enjoy. Take it for a walk, throw the ball or maybe even rub its belly. Just do something that makes the dog look forward to the next training session.

These are things that I teach my dog training students as well as my dog training clients. I hope these things will give you something to think about when training your dog. Spend some time training your dog daily and you will both reap the benefits.

Answer 9

Im not sure what the usual methods are but I trained my dog to come off lead by rewarding her EVERYTIME she came back no matter how long it took and punishing her whenever I had to go get her myself. Or you could try giving her treats often on walks so she assosiates you and being close to you with yummy stuff

Answer 10

well get small treats KEEP calling your dog until she gets used to the treats, Then make her sit for the treat she will stop thinking you mean the lead start thinking YOU mean food
keep doing it.

Call her give her a treat send her away. every ten times put the lead on take it of send her away