Parson Russell Terrier, will not not come when called, what do i do?

Question

He is not very big on food and when he is free on the heath he is too busy to care about it anyway.

Answer 1

Work on recall with a 30 ft lead. Let him go to the end and call him.. Reel him in if you have to and telling him he is a gooooood booooy everytime and reward him with some 'real' food. He might find chunks of cheese or a sliced hot dogs more appealing.
Once he is coming each time on the lead, work with him in a fenced in area doing the same. Do recalls often! And reward with praise or something he finds delicious.
Never get mad and correct him for not coming. This is a mistake MANY people make. If the dog is going to get a beating once he finally comes... what is his motivation for EVER coming? My neighbor is an idiot and comes down here to retrieve his dogs with a stick! I'd run too!! Despite my telling him of this error he continues and the dogs continue to ignore him. A negative reaction will get you no where. No matter how ticked you are.. Act happy the dog came to you.
Trust me... I have praised my dogs numerous times when I felt like they should have been smacked! LOL Of course I never hit my dogs but there are times I have felt like it!

Answer 2

I used to have that problem with my dog, and we settled it with a STICK.. (a broom stick actually, because he was afraid of the broom... did you know brooms are scary???)

no I didn't hit him with it.. I would call him to come in, and he would run the other direction.. finally . when I went after him and he would run the other way.. I decided to put a stop to that real quick so I grabbed the Scary broom Stick and called him again of course he ran the opposite direction but this time I was ready.. I tossed the stick in front him of him to make him turn back toward me .. after several time of me saying "do you want the stick" and tossing it.. He made a be-line for the house on his own.

the next time all I had to say is "do you want the stick".. and came instantly.

now he comes when he's called right away..

I'm sure it's not the best way of training, but it worked.. and he comes when he's called first time, every time.

I can also stop him from barking just by pulling out the scary vacuum cleaner! :P

I still always praise and reward when I get the desired response, and never hit.. but sometimes it just takes FEAR of anything be it a scary broom or a vacuum cleaner to stop them.. I guess it's the same principle as a loud noise (a can with coins in it) to startle them, only when mine is barking.. he can't even hear the dang can.. but he can see that vacuum cleaner!!

Answer 3

make sure he is not fed before you take him out may help. Keep offering him food rewards small but special you may find something he really likes and remembers. My dog is a fussy eater but cannot resist the vet's dried liver treats. Keep practising at home and praise him very well when he responds. It may be that he is still young and not settled yet so keep trying to achieve a well behaved dog. May be enrol in dog obedience classes as they can be of great help even for older dogs. There are things you can and should do so good luck and persevere be kind but firm as you are the leader and have to be obeyed better for you and better for the dog.

Answer 4

If he's not big on food then you need to find his trigger. What gets him excited? Toys? Play? Maybe his special blanket?

For any kind of Terrier play is very very effective, since they are such high energy tenacious dogs.

Purchase a long lead, let him go out and wander around. After a few minutes and BEFORE the leash gets tight call his name to get his attention then tell him to come. No pause in between.

Then reel him in! Coax him and encourage him to come. As youre reeling him in, tell him good boy, come, say his name then tell him to come.

When he gets to you, put him in sit then give him reward, whether thats CHEESE, HOT DOGS, BOLOGNA, CHICKEN, play or his toy. Find something he is really really going to react to.

Do this exercise with over and over. He has to learn what the word means, the action to associate w/ that word, and then perform it.

Now whats really important is to release him after you reward him. You don't want him to associate come with confinement, or the fun/exploring is over. You want him to associate come w/ you, petting, food, play. He'll learn a lot faster that way.

Something you can do in the house away from other distractions. When he's doing his own thing tell him to come and reward him, then release him. If he's just looking away, call him and tell him to come. (You're having him become very familiar with the word, the meaning, and the expected action)

Good Luck

Answer 5

If your dog will not come when called he should never be off leash except in a secure fenced area. where you can "walk him down" which is a process that can take hours and much patience. So keep him on a long or fexi lead. When you call give a second for him to respond. No response give pop on lead toward you and praise the dog, as pop will have gotten his attention and jerked him in your direction. Release pressure on lead. if he takes a step toward you praise - praise with every step toward you. If he stops coming toward you starts to move away, give another quick pop. Praise for any progress toward you. When he gets to you praise and then reward with something that he enjoys. For some dogs this is food, for others a special toy. for others a belly rub.

Answer 6

Rename him. He probally doesn't like the name "Parson Russell Terrier" anyway. It should help. At least it worked on my dog.

Answer 7

reward him and pet him when he comes to you and my grandpa spanks his dogs on the bottom with a newspaper. They are spoiled, happy and well behaved.

Answer 8

Mabey you should bond with him more and then he will listen to you more!