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Archived Message

ORIGINAL MESSAGE:
by Lisa

Please help...My six year old Maltese MOLLY refuses to come when I call her. I live on a large farm and I let her out to play but when I call her to come she just looks at me and continues to walk away. Any suggestions?

DISCUSSION:

Have you tried obedience training? I used to have the same problem with Avery, but since I really started working on making her mind, she comes much better. You'd be amazed at how much obedience training affects everything.
-Michelle

Have a treat in your hand when you call her. Bribery always works.
-Christina Norman

Next time you let her out put her on a long rope (clothes line works great). Call her and pull her in, do it again and again until she comes without pulling her in. Each time she comes in pulled or not let her know how good she is. We don't like to work for free and neither do the dogs. Pay them with praise. Good luck and let us know how it works.
-Shelley

My dog stands there and wants you to go out and play.SOLUTION- bribe him/her with toy or a treat.
-Sarah

I read a book, Smarter Than You Think, and while the author's views on housebreaking are too bizarre for me, I used his technique for getting your puppy to come when called. In brief, he recommends starting in a closed room. Walk away from the puppy, call him/her by name (I'll use Buddy) and say , "Buddy, come here." Give the puppy 6-10 seconds to respond (since it may take some time to get the message in their little brains and if Buddy doesn't respond then toss something at him/her -not to hurt - to get the attention. He suggests the leash or a beanbag or soft ball (not a softball). Then give the puppy another 6-10 seconds to respond. If Buddy still ignores you then, without saying a word to Buddy, walk over to where s/he is, grab them firmly by the harness or collar, drag/walk them to where you were standing, put them in the position you wanted them to be and then praise the heck out of them. If Buddy comes right away then praise highly using a phrase like, "Good, Buddy, you come when I call you." I forget how often he suggests doing this at one time, but I did it with my CJ for about 5 minutes at a time several times during her play and she actually comes pretty well. He wrote that after the puppy is coming to you inside then you can take him/her outside and work the same magic. In fact, he calls it the magic touch because when you hit them with the object (remember, softly) it is like you reached out to touch them with your hand. He doesn't bellieve in giving the dog a treat because someone will always have a better treat or you may find yourself without one to give. I do find that outside, as she has gotten older and more independent, that it takes a little longer and sometimes I have to go and get her. Last night she even tried to dodge me but I tossed something at her again and she came. My husband did not use this method and she doesn't listen much to him. Good luck. I would be interested to know if anyone else tries it and what your results are.
-Ginger