Bribing and Treating - Need a bit of assistance

[mrose_s]

Harry is a difficult dog, he's true ACD attitude and very stubborn when he wants to be.

Today he was sitting outside mums bedroom door while she was asleep, I called him to come over because otherwise he'll scratch and bark and wake her up. But he doesn't always come if he does want to.

Sometimes i rub my fingers together like I have something for him and he come over thinking I have food. But this occurred to me I might be bribing him and I don't want to do that.

Thing is, he knows his recall, he's just too stubbron to do it.
How can I get him to come when called?

How do I increase his respect for him to want to do it?

 

[Rubylove]

So far you haven't provided enough motivation for him. If food is his motivator, keep giving him food until he knows that he'll get something good EVERY time he comes. Then and only then can you start randomly giving treats for coming. So his expectations will still be high.

It's not bribery - he would rather try and get in the door than come to you, so you need to make him want to come to you more. It's just a matter of rewarding him for doing what YOU want, rather than what HE wants.

I don't personally think you should ever stop treating your dogs. They like it, it works, it's great. But it is a tool and needs to be used wisely

 

[mrose_s]

I'll keep working on it, but he's compltly my mums dog, he just lives to love her.

 

[heartdogs]

Offer to feed him, take him out, and do all his favorite things for a couple of weeks while mom has a "vacation". You will become more important to him
Then, go here: www.clickerlessons.com and follow the directions. Be sure you start with yummy small treats and use them until he knows a behavior. As soon as he does, start spacing the treats out. One time you might treat, but the next he might get a pat, or a game of tug or something else he likes.

 

[ron]

When I receive a paycheck for working out in the brutal Texas sun, I don't consider it bribery. It is the compensation for my time and work. I earned it and it is worth earning, so I keep doing it.

Dogs do what works and it isn't bribery. And even if it was, it is, IMO, preferrable to other methods.