ROVER! COME!

Does your dog head for the hills when you call him? Can you rely on him to come back when called if you let him off the lead in the park?

One of the major complaints owners have about their dog.s lack of obedience is that the dog will not return when called.

There are always occasions when even trained dogs will not respond to their owner.s call and an understanding of the nature of dogs will give insight as to when, and why, a dog will be likely to disobey.

The domestic dog is descended from wolves and wild dogs which are pack animals and have a strictly structured social hierarchy. Dogs require company and it is this which has enabled the dog to be trained to serve man. By nature he desires to be close, to belong and to be praised. .Packs. in most wild dog and wolves species are not huge numbers of animals but more often family groups. In domestication the human family becomes the dog.s family.

The desire of a dog to be part of a family can be observed by walking away from a young puppy - it will almost invariably follow. It is at this early age that this instinct can be developed to teach the puppy to come when called.

Call the puppy, run backwards while looking at the puppy and call it in an encouraging voice. When the puppy catches up, stop and fondle and praise it effusively. The puppy must gain the impression that when it comes to the person calling it will receive an agreeable experience, i.e. patting and praise.

The puppy should never be scolded when it comes to the person calling it. Even if the puppy has destroyed the household it must never be called in and then scolded because the puppy then learns that to come is a disagreeable experience. How many times do owners say "come here Rover, you bad dog"? Is it any wonder that the dog becomes reluctant to return when called?

There are times when it is likely that a dog may ignore a call to return. Dogs by nature are hunting animals with an instinct to chase moving objects. Some breeds have this instinct more highly developed than others, in particular terriers, sight and scent hunting hounds and herding dogs.

If a dog is chasing a moving object, whether it is a rabbit, cat or car, it is less likely to respond to a call as it will be highly excited by the chase and the call may fall on deaf ears.

If a dog meets another dog in the park and they are both off lead neither will be anxious to respond to a call from the owner. Dogs meeting like this exhibit a slow moving, stiff legged gait as they circle and sniff each other. One dog will drop its eyes, lower its tail and move slowly away. If one dog makes a sudden or quick move it may precipitate an attack from the other dog who has interpreted the move as an indication of attack upon itself.

If an owner calls a dog under these circumstances and the dog quickly turns and runs to the owner it will very likely be pursued and attacked by the other dog. It is understandable why a dog is reluctant to answer a call in these circumstances!

The basis of training to gain a reliable response from a dog is to make compliance pleasurable and rewarding for the dog. Reward may be a treat, enthusiastic voice praise or a pat. Any disagreeable experience which the dog associates with an action is unlikely to achieve the dog repeating that action.

Author: Petcare Information & Advisory Service Australia Pty Ltd