Someone said it earlier.. But yeah these are the exact same ones Petsmart
uses.. I took my older dog, a lab, their for basic obedience. Amazingly he
passed.. Lol.. He never wanted to do settle though and later we found out he
has hip dysplasia, so I never ever ask him to do it anymore.. He is more
than willing to model these behaviors for Tia, I was hoping to use him as
Cesar Milan does his one dog, as a model.. Tia could have cared less.. But
she also doesn't play with toys or anything like that.. Prefers being inside
to out. Has laid down in grass a whole two times I can count once was today.
I think coming from her background (rescued from a puppy mill at 7 MO) that
she is just different. I love her anyhow.. She is good girl and behaves well
Huggles
Pat in OK
-------Original Message-------
From: SharonK
Date: 8/22/2008 7:17:28 PM
To: Chihuahuas
Subject: [Chihuahuas] Come
Come
There is no other cue more important to dog owners than this one. Teaching
this, however, takes time and patience.
1. For this command, use different treats than your usual ones. Use some cat
food/treats or various types of real meats. (I use very small pieces of
boiled chicken.)
2. It is recommended you start teach this cue after the dog knows her name
well.
3. Start working on this cue at home where you are the most interesting
thing.
4. When your dog is not too busy with something else, call her. Say her name
followed by "come". Get on your knees and motivate the dog to come with
high pitched baby sounds and hand clapping if necessary.
6. When the dog starts to move toward you, excitedly say 'good dog!!' (or
good girl or good boy). This is important because you are reinforcing the
dog for leaving whatever she was doing and moving toward you. Keep saying
good dog' as the dog continues walking to you to get the treats.
a. The treating should be long and slow. It should take 15 to 20 seconds
of delivering one treat after another, accompanied with verbal praise. You
are telling the dog that being near you is always A LOT of fun.
b. Start doing this at a very short distance 5 feet or so. Increase
the distance gradually.
7. After the dog finishes her treats, let her get back to her business,
whatever it was.
8. Repeat this exercise 5 times a day for 2 days. Then start doing the
exercise while the dog is a bit busier with a favorite toy or something like
that.
9. After 2 more days, start doing this exercise when the dog is even busier
maybe while she's eating.
a. With this, you need to have low expectations. Start at about 3 feet,
say her name. If the dog looks at you, say come and show the treat. If the
dog starts moving toward you, praise and treat, and then let her go back to
eating.
b. If the dog fails to look at you when you call her, work on teaching
her name some more.
10. Add distractions gradually.
