should I praise him or not?

[suzie]

hi
I have a 3 year old yorkie called ben. I go to dog obedience training and they told me that when doing a recall outside in a park or something you should praise the dog when he comes to you and not get him into trouble.
But everytime that i'm leaving the park when he is off the lead he runs pass the gate (still inside the park) because he doesn't want to leave. Anyway so I then have to try and run after him and it takes me at least 5 minutes to get him. But at that time he finally decides to come to me or to stay. So I don't know whether I should praise him because he did eventually come or stay or whether I should tell him off because it took him a while to decide to come?
any suggestions will be appreciated.
thanks in advance.

[JakodaCD OA]

I wholeheartedly agree in praising for GOOD behaviors and especially coming when called.
In your situation, it sounds like Ben is developing a pattern of knowing when it's time to go, so therefore doesn't want to. I would be leashing Ben prior to leaving the park, BEFORE you get to the point of heading for the gate, so he doesn't know it's coming or rather that your "going"..I do NOT run after my dogs if they do not come, Repeating commands become 'nagging' and well no one is going to listen to 'nagging'.
Call him once, if he doesn't respond, either quietly walk towards him, or go sit somewhere in a spot where he does respond to your command of come ..You also might want to have some REALLY yummy treats on you reserved for only the "come" command..Sounds like Ben is a smarty and knows when you are leaving, its up to you to outwit him and leash him until you have a reliable recall before he gets the idea that you are leaving..
Good luck
diane

[lou3]

Try using different parks as well - the vet school and garscube estate has a huge grounds that loads of people use to walk their dogs, there are any number of different ways you can walk so he'll never know where you are. Dont walk round there in the dark though or you might meet the drunken students . Oh and dont let him near the greyhounds (the ones with muzzles on anyway), they dont like other dogs.
If you put him on the lead in the middle of the walk and then let him off again five mins later he'll stop associating the recall with going home. I always call my dogs back to me every five minutes and make them sit before they continue so they never know when they will get a treat, when it is time to go home and when they will get to play again.
Lou

[suzie]

thanks alot for your replies. They are very helpful.

Thanks again. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[dog freak]

Yes,because he did actually come to you.Hopefully he will get the idea and come on the first time!

[Dax]

I had a shepard & rotti cross that use to love wandering away during our evening walks. What I did is I took them after dark and when they weren't looking - I hid. I whistled for them & called, etc. but they had a minute or so of panic when they couldn't see me. I did this a couple of times, since then I am always kept in sight and they respond to my departure by sticking close by. OR you can try a 50ft training leash that allows them a certain amount of freedom but a quick tug while calling their name brings the point across.

[Jeff Arnold]

I agree with the Check Cord or leash. Dogs learn by association and repatition. If the park is the safest place to walk your dog, every time you walk him, use the cord. Call him to you and give him a small tug. He should come. keep doing this every 10 minutes or so even if he is starting to come, keep giving tugs. you will be teaching a certain behavior by repatition. After a few days (depending on him) let him come without the tug. at any point he starts the bad behavior again, simply go back to the cord for a few days. i think this will help.