My golden is named Cash and will be three years old in May. We have one BIG problem when playing outside. While playing ball over the last few weeks, he has decided that after playing for a while, he's not going to bring the ball back. When he does this, he completely ignores me, "NO!" becomes meaningless, and he runs the opposite direction. The biggest issue in he does not come when called.

I have tried to retrain the "Come" command. Starting on a leash with treats. But as soon as he is off leash, he retrieves for 10 minutes, the its "im outa here!!" He does this sometimes for 3 to 4 hours before he gives up and comes back. I have no choice but the stay near him as we have a green belt behind our house where we play fetch.

I have never used a shock collar, but am to the point of getting one just to get my point across, because he is NOT listening to me. We just had a two hour episode. What are your suggestions?

These are after tonights romp, a little scraggly looking!!!

If he runs away, do not let him loose. Keep him on a long line, so he can't run away. He has learned that 'come' is irrelevant, just a noise, when he is off leash. Pick a new word for recall, ie: here, and train it from 'scratch', train it at home to start with, then train it in a fenced area on a long line, until he 'aces' it. Then remove the long line, and work in that fenced area, until he 'aces' it. Make coming to you the best thing on the planet, every time you call him to you, have a party, feed lots of high value treats, tell him what an amazing dog he is. Give him a good reason to WANT to come to you.

I agree, you need a long line, not a shock collar! He looks mighty pleased with himself haha!

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-Valerie

Long line.

And my sympathies and encouragement - it does get better.

My Danny had two bad elbows and he could still fly like the wind and play keep away with the best of them. If he became border trained and trustworthy on our property (no fences), then your dog will get there. It may take a couple years though.

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Always loved, never forgotten, all our previous boys -

Really have no advice, but wanted to say that Cash is quite the handsome boy!

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Dave

You need a long line not a shock collar. I would use the advice posted above.

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U-CH, CGC, TDI Top Flights Reap What You Sow " BaWaaJige"

This would stop immediately with me. I do not tolerate that crap from a dog that knows what "come" means, its total disrespect.

Long line, and use a new word such as "here"

We had this problem once it took me 45 mins to leash up Gracie, then I tried this new method, and it never happened again.

Whenever u are outside with ur dog, u should be directly interacting with him/her. U can't just throw the ball or just stand around waiting for her to get tired. U have to be involved in the play. U have to be his #1 playmate. Run around with her, take the ball and give it black, take the ball and instead give him a treat, u keep the ball and let him try to get it from u, etc. and every time u say the word "come" u better have something amazing happen if he does come, otherwise come means "I'm going to leash u up" or "I'm going to take ur ball from you". Why would he come????

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this is a really good point! I would still use the long leash (as so many people mentioned).

Pixie listens pretty well, except when there are people or dogs coming our way. The other day a entire family "crossed our path" and oh boy... she just made a run for it! Full speed in the direction of the family (clearly to lick them in the face and be petted, but they did not know so I think they got a bit scared when they saw her coming). I immediately hold the leash and start telling her to stop and come back. she reached the end of the leash (by this point I heard the relief sights from the family :p) and then she listen and came back! If she would just go she would be recompensed by running and not listening and you never want that to happen!

I also recommend a long line. He shouldn't be off leash in a public area without a strong recall.

If you have someone else in the house, you can start to train recall as a game. You and the other person should be in different rooms or opposite ends of the house with lots of treats. One should call Cash to come or whatever term you use and when he comes, praise him and treat him, then the other person should call him, praise him and treat him. Do this back and forth so that Cash knows that coming when called is a positive experience and he gets rewarded. We did this as often as we could when our Toby was young and we used a long line when playing outside when we couldn't be in a totally fenced in and secure area.

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