My Pembroke welsh corgi (a purebred) is now 6 months old and won't come! We have tried everything, we get going with clicker training and he gets the hang of it but, sooner or later he doesn't want his hot dogs and stops to snorrfle on the ground. My brother and I unfortunately have taught him a tag game where we chase him and he loves it! But, now he won't come and we have had him for 3 months and we are at our wits end. When you call him he sits there and looks at you and tries to decide to come and if he decides yes, he stops and sniffs everything on the ground. He is really smart and looks to see if you have a treat in your hand. If he think you do he comes a little closer and sniffs. If he can't smell anything he runs away. Please help!!!!
COME!
By Sparky630 on 12/28/2007
Filed in - COME WHEN CALLED
Hi
I think you need to start all over again
First of all, find a new way to call him. If you used to call his name, from now on you use "come" instead - or you whistle - or shout banana - whatever, the dog do not understand English anyway, you will teach him this new word means come to me fast and now.
Ok, then you cut a selection of his favorite treats into peasize bites. Do not let him see them. Sit down next to him, say the new come-word and give him a treat. Repeat until he looks at you expectantly when he hears the word. Take a break.
a bit later sit down 3 feet from him and say the new word - click when he turns to you, or start walking to you. treat when he gets to you.
Gradually increase the distance you call him. Call him and give delicious treats and lots of praise at least 10 times a day. Call him for his dinner.
Never ever NEVER use the new call word if you can see that he is busy with something, if you know that right now it won't work any way or if something unpleasant for him is about to happen. He need to love that word above all else, That word is his cue to run to you as fast as he can for good things to happen.
When you can call him from one end of the house to the other, no matter what he is doing, you can go out into the fenced-in yard and try it there, start out with a short distance then increase the distance. Later on go to short distance, but with distraction (he is doing something else, like sniffing) Increase distractions slowly. Then you can take it on the road.
If you search this site you will find articles describing the process in more details.
Never treat him unless he is close enough that you can put your hand on his collar. Never show him the treats to make him come. Never sound angry. When you sound and act angry (or is just leaning forward) it will make him slow down, sit down or stop all together - that is because he is giving you calming signals, not because he is disobedient. Sit down and turn you back instead, sound happy and encouraging, maybe even run away from him, then lavish praise and treats when he follows.
best of luck
Christina