September 24, 2002
Tuesday

Last, every time you saw Rover coming toward you, you gave that action a name, by saying 'Rover, come', and you made it a pleasurable experience by giving him praise and a treat when he got there 'Good Come, Rover'. And Rover was getting the hang of it.

Now step it up one notch. When you see him look at you, call him to you. Treat and verbal yummies when he gets there, Once he's consistent at that one, start seeing if you can call him

Buttercup & Gumpy Sitnews 2002 PAW Winner - Adult Category Digital photo by Cindy Rader ---

toward you, when he's turned away from you. Then when he's sniffing at something. Then when he's starting to move toward something else. You'll know you've got a strong 'Come' response when you can call him away from a new person, or, even better, another dog. Make sure when he does something wonderful like these tougher call-aways, that he gets a jackpot - a (small) handful of the yummy treats, belly rubs, the BEST verbal yummies you can come up with. When you can do that, you're ready for the Terrible Twos.

'Terrible Twos', you cry, 'what in heavens name is that? I haven't seen that in any of my training books?'

And you won't. It's just been my experience that almost every owner with whom I've worked has had a period - sometimes more than one, in the more stubborn breeds - where their pup just seems to have never been trained at all, like they haven't spent a minute working with him. I see it most around the twelve week mark.

These are the Terrible Twos.

And the place it's most noticeable is with the 'Come' command. I think it's just their period of adolescence, when they have to grow away from mom a little, and do a little discovering on their own. And when they start discovering what's out there in the Big Most Interesting World, all of a sudden it's a little harder to give up investigating what's in your neighbor's garbage pile, to come to boring old mom. They know mom. They don't know what that most compelling smell is, the one they just itch to roll in.

That's why it's super important to make coming to you a fun thing. This might be the time you want to introduce a few new spectacular treats into the equation, like dehydrated liver - my favorite for training - or something you've found that he just adores. Surprise him with unexpected bouts of play with his favorite toy, for a come-away from something especially intriguing. And if he won't come, run away from him. You'd be surprised how quickly a new smell loses its appeal, when mom's all of a sudden disappearing from sight.

Don't get discouraged when he's not as good this week as he was last week. It's OK.You're not a bad owner.You're just the owner of an adolescent. This too shall pass. Just grit your teeth and hold fast. You've laid the groundwork, and once he makes it through his adolescence, he'll settle down, and his 'Come' will be spectacular.

Hang tough.

Next : Desensitization

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