subject: Teaching Your Dog To "Come" With Dog Obedience Books [print this page] Teaching Your Dog To "Come" With Dog Obedience Books
One of the biggest obstacles we have today is getting across to our dogs so that they understand us. With dog obedience books, we can learn how to do this. We take for granted that all other animals are going to understand us when we speak to them. This is not true. Dogs must first learn to comprehend our language. I am going to give you such an example.
Lets say you have a dog named Scooter. Scooter is outside one day digging up your newly planted flower bed. You in turn yell to Scooter to "come here". When Scooter doesn't respond, you yell "SCOOTER I TOLD YOU TO COME HERE!" When Scooter doesn't come, you go over and grab him and say, " I told you to come!" and then you scold him, or worse yet give him a smack on the snout or butt.
Scooter, being the smart dog that he is, associates that the words "Come Here" to mean that he did something wrong and is about to be punished.
The next time that you call Scooter to "Come Here" for dinner, he runs away and you say "Dumb Dog". When you finally get him inside you look at him and say "Why don't you come when I say so?"
Well I'll tell you. This is Scooters thought process. The last that I recall, the words "Come Here" meant that I was in trouble. I'm bolting so I don't get your wrath again.
You see, many people make this mistake. You should NEVER use the word "Come" to discipline or correct your dog in any way. Dogs will associate this to a negative reaction on your part and you in turn will just become more frustrated with your dog.
