Dog runs from me in the mornings

daisychain

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#1
Hi,

I'm hoping someone has some helpful tips. I've looked at other threads but the problem doesn't seem the same all the time.

My dog comes to me 90% of the time I call her. If I have a treat it's almost 100%.

The only time she doesn't come is when she thinks I'm going to put her leash on her or put her in her crate in the mornings before I leave for work. She won't even come for a treat at this time. She goes into her crate on her own many times to sleep so she isn't afraid of her crate.

When I leave for work I usually put her in her crate until my boyfriend wakes up and lets her out. Or I'll put her leash on her and take her to daycare, which she likes. But she still won't come to me. I let her out in the mornings before work. She started not wanting to come in because she knew she would be put in her crate. Now she's started not even wanting to go out in the mornings and will hide from me when I try to get her to come out. So she keeps taking further steps back to avoid her crate in the mornings. She's really smart and doesn't do this on mornings when I'm not working so she must know my workday routines.

any suggestions? When I finally convince her to come in now, she darts under the bed. This is the ONLY time she does that. Normally she waits for a treat when she comes in.

Thanks. I appreciate any help.
 
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#2
she's obviously aware of the situation, so you have to break that. Lots of recalls in the morning with big payoffs and no opportunity to NOT comply with a command. Long lines always, never free.

Coming in results in payoff and more time out, not coming in results in being reeled in and absolutely nothing happens until she finally complies and she's freed (on a long line of course) for more fun. over and over and over. Every 10th time she goes to the crate. For a payoff and to get let back out for more fun after varying times inside, very short duration at first.

your morning routine has to change and eventually it will get better. If that doesn't work, have you tried brushing your teeth in the morning before calling her in?
 

hiero

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Don't know if you've made any progress. I imagine you might not find one particular "light bulb" idea that will fix things for you. The behavior sounds too complex for that.

But, this post might give you some ideas: the recall game

Or this one: Emergency recall

Past working the very basics with a new puppy, I've never had much luck with a long lead. If I have a reluctant dog, it ends up seeming like a negative reinforcement - and I don't think you want that. Sometimes, but infrequently, I have found behavior problems can be improved by small and judicious use of negative reinforcements. Like a sock ball thrown at them when they knowingly ignore a command. Or an underground fence containment. But it seems to me that the smarter the dog, the less effective these are. And if they have to be repeated, then the training is in fail mode.

Anyway, you have a negative response to a situation. You are trying different techniques, but you are not hitting on one that works. Of course, you can find several recommendations for training books that might give you insight, in the first post on this sticky training thread.

I'm having recall issues myself at this very time, with two adult rescues. I notice in particular both those two recall posts say:
Only train for recall when the dog is already coming. They both focus on setting things up so you are catching the dog doing something right.

The emergency recall has a good idea that might work for you and me both: change the words you use for recall. Don't use "come", which has the negative connotation. THEN, do the recall training correctly from the start.

The "Recall Game" post has this thought which might be useful to you:
2) NEVER call your dog to you for anything unpleasant. If you need to interrupt a play session, or you are going to trim nails, or if you are about to do anything to your dog that he does not enjoy, GO GET THE DOG. Do not call him to you.
I know I have a "polluted" "come" recall - that has many "ignores" associated with it. Not all my fault - somebody else worked with what training they had for two years before I got my chance! :D I often use "collar up" - which is what we do before we go out to walk - and they listen better.

Since this avoidance comes, apparently, in response to you leaving the house, perhaps you might benefit by applying separation anxiety correction work.
 

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