I think you just need to start over with positive training. She's being reprimanded for not coming so she's associating that with your command of 'Ginger come'. This command should be seen as having a happy end result for the dog, not one that has a negative tone. I don't see a need for being alpha for this simple step in training. IOW's.......... she's confused.

Try a softer voice and reward her with praise or a treat when she comes. Always keep it positive and you'll be surprised at the results.

I just adopted a dog that would cower when I went to pet him and essentially paniced when I called him. After a week of 'positive training' he happily sits and lets me pet him and we're at 90% on the recall!

How about trying some positive training? Reward her every time she comes, for a week or so, and then fade the reward to every other time, then every third time, then randomly. If you need to, practice with another handler to hold her back, then use the command and initially let her see the treat. Dogs need training every single day, make it a game and a part of your routine. She has no idea why you're grabbing her scruff, would you like someone to do that to you?

Forgot the link........

Here is a link that might be useful: Recall

And I fogot to say ---> use a happy tone, not the 'stern voice.' Act excited and happy and she will be too!

My suggestion, is make things fun, use your fun and friendly voice to call your dog. You may want to use small treats as a reward for your dog to come. If you want to nail this right now, put treats in a ziplock baggie and while you are doing errands around the house, call her and give her a treat, do this unexpectedly, and when she turns to walk away cal her two or three times in a row...

You have taught her not to come to you by doing it this way. As one my obedience instructor's puts it when you call a dog to you, you want that dog to think you're the biggest party in town and they are missing out on something really great by not coming. As Mazer says start luring her with treats and make a huge fuss about how incredible it was that she came when you called. Once she is doing it well for the treat start to wean off them and just praise lavishly giving only an occasional, random treat.

Lisa

I forgot to say that I'm not stern when I call her the first time. I do use that happy tone of voice. I switch to the stern voice when she ignores me. And I do also use treats. She knows that if she listens she gets a milk bone.

And I do praise her when she comes right away.

And the point of the scruff thing is that her instincts tell her what it means. Since that's what the alpha dog would do.

But the scruffing thing is discipline. She came to you and you scruffed her... so what have you taught her? She is learning and hasnt' got a clue about the timing, all she knows it that she came to you and got scruffed.

Each times she comes to you, whether quickly or not, she should be praised. The faster she comes, the higher the praise. And after you have done this ten thousand times, she will get faster and faster at responding to you.

Discipline does not really work for the "come" command. (Unless done by someoene else, holding the end of long line.)

And you should never use the command, come, for things that your dog doesn't like, ie. a bath, ear drops, toenail clips et al. The command "come" should always end in a positive result for the dog.

How old is Ginger? Maybe she's having a problem hearing you sometimes and it's not a matter of ignoring you when you call her.

Well, how am I supposed to get her to come when I can't tell her to come when it's time for ear meds or something? She's not afraid of the scruff thing either because she just goes prancing around the house afterwards.

She's 6. Her hearing seems to be pretty good.

Well, how am I supposed to get her to come when I can't tell her to come when it's time for ear meds or something? She's not afraid of the scruff thing either because she just goes prancing around the house afterwards.

She's 6. Her hearing seems to be pretty good.

I also don't like training with food. I like using praise. That's how I got her to obey so well before. Actually... Come to think of it, ever since everybody started giving her a cookie to hurry up and go potty, she's hasn't been "recalling"! And she does listen to me the most when I call her. And I don't give her cookies everytime she goes potty like everyone else.

It's not that she doesn't want to come inside. I can't describe it.

What do you make of this?

Perhaps you both need to go to an obedience class. It will refresh your skills and you'll be working with her regularly with the support of a trainer once a week. I train my dogs daily and it's fun for all of us. You don't sound like you're having fun.

By the way, no one here suggested she be rewarded every time she does something right. But if she is not 'working' now, you need to incent her to do so, and treats (just kibble in your pocket) can help to get her back on track. If you read my original response, I discussed 'fading' the treat.

From a training book I recently read, it said that whenever you need to do something 'negative' such as meds, clipping nails, etc., to not call the dog............just go and get him/her and do whatever treatment/grooming is necessary.That way they don't relate the command 'come' to something they don't enjoy.

It also recommended using a new recall command if a dog shows signs of not wanting to respond due to an unpleasant experience. Use 'here' or some other phrase.

Everyone has given excellent suggestions, especially about going to dog obedience... my only comment is about this "I also don't like training with food. I like using praise.". It isn't about what YOU want, instead it is What works for the dog? My lab loves food, and has joyfully obeyed from day 1 with treats. I use "COME" even if he's just outside in our fenced yard for a pee, I know he's going to want to come back in, but the daily use of the command reinforces it.

You could go back to a long-line and reel you dog in (happy voice!) which may help.

I think the problem is that you have a very smart dog! She realizes that every time she comes to you, she gets scruffed, which she doesn't like. So when you call her, she hesitates because she wants to obey but doesn't want to be scruffed. Then when she finally decides to listen, sure enough, she gets punished. Now the smart girl who wants to avoid being punished refuses to do the thing that gets her scruffed- coming to you when you call her!

You see how this is a problem, right?

Scruffing is not really a way to show who's alpha, especially to a 6 year old dog. Dogs are only scruffed when they are puppies, and only when Mom has to move them more quickly than the pups can go. It isn't used in the dog world as a sign of dominance. So your dog has no "instictive" response to scruffing except that she hates it. Anything that causes a dog to stop doing a certain behavior is punishment, so scruffing your dog is punishing her for coming to you.

You shouldn't punish the dog for listening to you. Just start calling her and praising her when she gets there, no matter how long it takes. It is going to take a while for her to "unlearn" that she isn't going to be punished for listening any more, but she'll get it because she's a smart dog. To make things go a little quicker, sometimes call her for no reason at all and just praise her. That way, you aren't just calling her when she is going to get something unpleasant done like an ear cleaning. She's going to have to learn that listening to you is fun most of the time.

Lurking in here late Sat night and thought I'd throw in my two cents. Maybe go back to the good old training of putting her on a long leash or rope. Put her on a sit or down stay, and then walk away from her. Then when you are a bit away from her, say "Come Ginger" or whatever your phrase is, then gently reel her in, praising the heck out of her as she reaches you. She has no choice but to come, though you are not roughly pulling on her. I have seen the dog whisperer do many things with dogs using leashes. Good luck with whatever you decide to try.

I LOVE the dog whisperer! Just had to say that.

What am I supposed to do if I call her and she doesn't come so I have to go and get her. I mean if I really have to get her b/c I'm late for an appt. or something?

Also, I worked with her today and she responded really well and I was only using praise. I don't know why or how it makes a difference but I get a better result with that than the cookies.

But even if she's getting better, there's no way my family will listen and praise her instead of giving treats. Infact, my family still thinks that left over fat is good for her and greasy chicken and all kinds of garbage are okay because "she's a dog". She's not a sled dog, she gets the appropriate amount of fat from her food and I also got the vet to second this but I don't know whether they forget or just want to insist they're right.

Dad will just let her outside at night alone to go potty even though we have coyotes. And more annoying stuff.

I guess this is sounding like I'm frusterated with a lot more than the recall issue.

She may be a dog that works well with praise. But she must come every time you give the command. That's why I started with treats for my dog, then when the habit was ingained in him, I could reduce the treats. If you work with her and she isn't motivated enough by praise to come ALL the time, vary your reward.

It sounds like there are other problems in the household with consistency, so good luck with that. Coyotes won't bother her (or is she a small poodle?)... maybe you can do the night potty with her?

if you have to go get her then you do it without or praise or anger. Go get her and bring her where you need her. But you need to try to minimize this occurance.

If you haven't been to an obedience class, I highly recommended it, remember the training is more for the people than the dog.

Mouse, I am sorry you do not like giving treats. However, I am sure the dog loves it!

As others have stated, you have a very smart dog and it would be wonderful to take a dog class again. Obedience class is the best gift you can give to your dog.

Classes are much more effective than any amount of web-advice. Even mine.

She's a standard poodle. So I don't need to worry about coyote attacks?

I do like giving treats but I don't like doing it every time she goes to the bathroom. And she doesn't understand why she doesn't get one when she finally comes.

She will outweigh any coyote, so I don't think you have anything to worry about there. They are mostly after small mammals like mice & rabbits.

Have tiny little treats, not big MilkBones. Or even a different type of dog food so you could give her several a day with no impact on her diet. Or reduce her regular food accordingly. Also, you can get weiners & cut them up in little bits. I have this worked to a fine art! You want every occasion that she comes to you to be the Best Event Ever. I'm responding a lot to this thread, but partly because COME is the most important command! In addition to dog obedience, I suggest you check out your local library and get some dog books that explain dog psychology - I can't think of any specific authors off the top of my head, but most are pretty good, and if you read a selection, you can get benefit from many. Again, good luck!