Illusion Japanese Chin Information Come

Rules for "COME"
Whenever the "COME" command is used (during the stage where the dog does not yet understand what
come means) a leash MUST always be attached to the dog, with YOU at the other end. NEVER give a
command you cannot follow through or control.

NEVER use your recall word ("COME", or whatever word you choose) to call your dog to discipline him,
correct him, tell him what a bad dog he is, or for any negative reason. Bad deeds MUST be caught IN THE
ACT in order to correct. If you still need your dog by you for a negative reason, give him a firm SIT
command and go get him. No matter how MAD you are, "COME" should ALWAYS end positively - with
happy praise, food or whatever. When my Golden, Bailey, was a puppy, I had a difficult time getting her to
come in from the yard. She had more fun out there than in the house. One particular rushed day, she
wouldn't come inside, and I was ANGRY. I brought my long line outside, IN MY NIGHTGOWN, and
hooked her to it. I practiced 5 or 10 recalls, with a positive tone in my voice, but the words I used were
NOT nice (remember, dogs don't understand English unless you teach them what the words mean - FIRST,
they understand tone). "Bailey, COME, you stupid idiot." "GOOD DOG, you JERK!" All were said happily,
and I was able to vent my anger and still teach her what was right. Wherever you want your dog to come
reliably, you should practice with your dog THERE. In the park with other dogs around. Down the street
where his favorite game of ball is being played with kids running around. EVERYWHERE. When you
practice recalls (COME) with your dog, keep the practice to 5 minimum, 10 maximum per practice session.
Too few and the dog won't learn the concept well. Too many and the dog will get VERY bored and tune you
out. Practice sessions should be done at least once daily - up to two or three sessions per day. Don't always
practice recalls with food as a reward. What if you are outside without your training clothing on - without
food in those pockets? Your dog has come to expect food.

Hmmm: don't think I'd come! If your dog gets out of your house, yard, or car without your control DO NOT
CHASE HIM! He will just think of it as a game and keep running. Instead, YELL his name to get his
attention and TAKE OFF in the OTHER DIRECTION! Then YOU are IT in the "game" and he will chase
after YOU instead. Then, pounce on him at the first opportunity. Don't bother to use COME either - you will
almost certainly be ignored by your dog then. You can practice this emergency exercise in the safety of
your backyard too.

Teaching, "COME" In order to teach the recall (COME), you need two very important pieces of equipment:
something around the dog's neck and something connecting you with the dog. I like to have any kind of
collar around the dog's neck - anything from the buckle collar you already have his ID attached to (you DO,
don't you?), to slip collars, martingales, and - in many cases - a prong collar. The line between you and your
dog may be as short as your 6-foot training leash or up to a 30-foot long line. You can incorporate a
"Flexi"-type lead into this, too. The only time this WON'T work is when you start dropping the long line to
test your dog's understanding of "COME". The "Flexi" will "chase" the dog and scare him! Practice first
with just the long line (NOT attached to the dog). The idea of the long line is to gather up the slack as the
puppy is running toward you WITHOUT "reeling" him in like a fish. Keep one arm straight out in front of
you, palm up. Run the long line over that palm. The other hand will grasp the end of the long line; give tugs
to the puppy and either toss the line out behind you or gather the line up as the puppy runs to you. This is
the guide that keeps the puppy on his way to you once you have called him. Clip the long line to Puppy's
collar and let him explore in your backyard, walking freely. You'll want to try this there first, so you won't
feel foolish if you don't look good! Have the other end of the line in your hand. Once Puppy gets interested
in something (tree, leaf, toy or other dog):
1.) CLEARLY call Puppy's name.
2.) Clearly call "COME" (or whatever word you want to mean, "Come to me" when you say it ("here",
"come", "by me", etc.). If you want "COME" to be your word, do not use "COME HERE". That is a
different word to Puppy and will confuse him.
3.) Give a tug on the on the line (which should, in turn, tug his collar). Puppy should turn to look at you and
start toward you.
4.) Back up and work the long line (as you have practiced above) and tell the Puppy what a great puppy he
is WHILE HE IS COMING TO YOU! Once he has reached you the praise will be too late to convey the
concept properly.
5.) If Puppy has not looked up at you and continues sniffing the tree, or whatever, give a firmer tug on the
line as you call again: "Puppy, COME!" Any time he slows down or appears distracted, give another tug
with cheerful encouragement.

Hints:
A moving target is much more interesting to Puppy than a stationary one. Standing in one place will look
very boring to your pup in the training stages. Once you call your puppy, back up quickly, creating a target.

Puppies love to chase! Two people can work this recall exercise as well. The Handler uses the long line (as
above). The other person (Holder) holds the puppy and releases when the Handler tugs the line after
"Puppy, COME!". After puppy reaches Handler, the end of the line can then be tossed to the Holder and
the recall can be reversed with the Handler now becoming the Holder.

Variations on a theme:
Restrained recall: This is worked with two people. The person holding the puppy continues to hold Puppy
even after Handler has called and tugged. After a couple more calls, Holder then releases Puppy. This
usually gets Puppy very excited, and anxious to run to Handler - and this is the response we want!

Turn and Run: remember when I told you if Puppy gets loose to call and then run? Well this can be done on
a long line too; with or without a Holder. This should be A LOT of fun for Puppy! Call "Puppy, COME!",
tug, then turn and run!

Dealing with Problems:
Even with line attached, Puppy veers right and left, etc. Turn to face the direction Puppy has taken, give
another tug on lead and back up while continuing verbal encouragement.

Puppy cringes and doesn't want to come to you. Use gentle leash tugs and crouch down. Use a high-pitched
voice in an encouraging tone and lots of praise words "Yes, that's it!" "Yay!" "Let's go, atta girl!"

Pup is in yard, not on a lead and won't come in. Get a huge biscuit, dangle it out the door and yell
"TREATS!" When puppy comes in the door, give him a tiny biscuit and put the huge "visual aid" biscuit on
top of the refrigerator until you need it next. Progress! The tug on the leash is the message to your dog that
tells him which direction you want him to move, and that you DO want him to move. Soon enough, if your
tug is good, puppy will be beating your tug after he hears the word "COME!" - THAT is when you know he
is starting to understand what "COME!" means!