I own a Cocker pup and he is 6 months old, whenever i let him outside it is so hard to get him back in. I found that if i squeek his toys he would come but latley he just looks at me and carries on to whatever he was doing. The backyard has a big down hill slope so he knows that when i go out to get him if he goes down at the bottom i can't get to him quick enough. I got to the point that i tried to bribe him with a treat but that diden't work either. What should i do?

Hi
Have you tried crouching down on the grass and pretending that you have found something really interesting and talking to it in a really silly voice..it works every time..they just can't resist the urge to see what you are doing...I've tried all the obedience things etc etc but this works quickly and effectively..for babies anyway.The neighbours will think you have gone mad..but who cares :)
Tracey

Cockers like most pups can become very stubborn and single minded when it suits;) You could try putting him on a very long line and pulling him back to you while you give the "come" command and reward when he is back with you.

I have two cockers - they win most of the time!!:rolleyes: Bribery is the only thing that works with mine.

Pam n the boys

I will have to try that with him- thanks

Are you planning to do any obedience with him? I'm not talking about competative obedience, just general?

That is really the only thing bad about him so i am deciding if i should to take him or not

Well I think that's the mis-conception people have about training their dogs. Obedience is not ONLY for "BAD" dogs. To be honest, classes aren't about sit/down/stys etc, its about getting an UNDERSTANDING with your dog. Plus there are lots of nice people you'll get to meet, and your pup will get good socialisation and make loads of doggie friends himself!!!!!
To be honest I wasn't expecting that answer ( PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DONT THINK THAT I'M JUDGING YOU!!!!! EACH TO THEIR OWN I SAY :).
IMHO I think that you should consider not only classes but getting a few books, maybe video's and train your dog yourself at home first. If you dont train your dog, today your problem is with "come" tomorrow something else. Train your dog, with loads of love and fun, and you'll find that you probably wont need to call the dog to you, because you'll have a dog who wont leave your side because he not only loves you but also respects you. There aren't any initial costs of training because the first stage is to train him at home, and it only takes about 5 minutes a day.
If you decide that you dont want to train your dog, I'm happy, and I'm sure there are others here too, to help you with the specific "COME" command, but when you do the come, the dog should know the sit/down and stay commands anyway!!
Goodluck
Josh_

My girls are generally good with 'come' but some days in the back garden they do get overly interested in a scent or barking at a passing dog or something. So I got mean and used the hose. Once they realised the hose could reach even where *I* couldn't they go running into the house when I just walk toward the hose.

Wendy

:) Well if you're happy with your dogs, thats all that matters!!!
There is a thread which a few of us posted on which dealt with the "come" you can try those methods. Otherswise, Go into a pet shop, and flick throught the dogs training books. Cos your only looking up a specific bit, it shouldn't take you long for you to read the section on the "COME" :) Naughty I know....but thats me I suppose!!!
Goodluck
Josh_

Hi Lilylyne.
One of the usual reasons for a puppy not coming, particulaly in the garden is that the command has got devalued. By that I mean calling the dog but not inforcing the command.

Sometimes even a puppy has something very important which really cannot wait! Sniffing that lovely tuft of grass where next doors cat has been for example! At times like that no amount of calling is going to do any good. Infact not only will it do no good but it will do no end of harm. No bolt of lightning has decended from the sky, no weighty hand has dropped on puppy's seat, in fact nothing at all has happened so it can't be a very important sound, that "Come here" sound!

Think about ALL commands you give your puppy. If you are not in with a very good chance of success it could be better not to give the command. Try to give the command when the puppy has nothing better to do! Think about what you are going to do if the command is ignored. If you are not in a position to enforce it then again it may be better not to give it.

If all this sounds negative, it's not. A command obeyed is something you can build on and a command enforced is a command your puppy will think twice about ignoring again!

My enforcement rarely gets past a firm talking to using the "Anglo Saxon" language because I say it as if I mean it!!!! You must never tell a dog off for coming but you can tell it off for NOT coming. Get your timing right, be ready to change the tone of your voice the very instant the puppy looks as if it is going to come. Never loose your temper of you wont be able to change your voice quick enough. Never nag, apd particulaly never nag AFTER your puppy has complied.

Cockers are working gundogs, they will train, they will accept orders so there is no excuses. ;)

Best wishes, John

You could also try a sneaky bit of reverse psychology, and if the pup ignores you when you have called, just go back in side and shut the door. (make sure he is safe and cannot get out of the garden).

A friend of mine did this, and went into the living room (which her pup could see) and began having a great time withthe otther dog indoors, playing games and generally being daft. In no time at all, the pup was at the back door yelping to be let in. She ignored him for a minute, then called him, opened the door and praised, and he was allowed in to play too. She only had to do this a few times and he became reliable, but all dogs may not respond the same of course.

If you haven't got another dog, maybe you could pretend to just be having such fun, and he may just feel he is missing out.

My bitch went through a similar phase, i had to use a long line for some of the time, but also practised about 10 times a day, calling her in and praising - in my case i used cheese too ;) I also let her go back with a release word (I use OK) so she didn't come to think that coming back was the end of all her fun. She now comes reliably (without cheese) even when there is a cat in the garden or the neighbours are next door in their garden. I still reward her with a good quality treat if she comes particulalry fast, or leaves something of particular interest to obey me.

Whatever you do, don't keep calling him as he will just learn to ignore you; ideally a command is used once.

I did the shutting the door thing the other day and he ran back sooooo fast :D

just get a 30 feet long leash anhd if he doesn't come correct
in a week he'll come every time

And when he does come back praise him LOTS !!!!
:)
Lel

yeah try to correct once and next time to encourage
we have a 6 month old lad and we just finished the obedience trainnin

hi
my sam was the worlds worst for not coming, it got to the stage where i did not want to take him out as it was so embarresing,when i called he only came back after i had shouted so much that every body looked .And then some one on this site said to ignore him so i did, it worked now all i say is bye sam and walk away and he soon comes, now i have only got to get him to stop pulling on the lead and i will be happy:)

I own a cav king charles pup and he is a stubborn little so and so when it comes to coming when called and what worked was holding a tidbit and saying his name then come without fail he always came to me once i touched his collar only then he could have the treat also i really recommend the clicker trainer works a treat