Consequence - the effect, result, or outcome of something occurring earlier.
You've called and called and called to no avail; your dog is not coming, face it. So what do you do if you call and they ignore?
The old way
The old way use to be to hook them up onto a long leash, call them and if they didn't come you angrily reeled them in like a big fish. The dog on the end of the leash usually put up a fight; of course they did you were pulling them closer and closer to an angry owner. What we were teaching our dogs was to run the other way when they heard the word "come."
The new way
This blog is very timely as Elsa got her first real "come consequence" last night. Sometimes consequences are not easily applied, depending on your location, the chance of being able to catch up with your dog etc etc. So last night she was outside in the fenced yard and I called her. She didn't come right away which is not usual although she has brushed me off a couple of times lately. So I thought to myself "a perfect time for some consequence." I puffed up and head out veering to the right side of her I got behind and clapped my hands angrily and told her to get going. She was quite surprised by this and ran for the door; looking over her shoulder I then told her that this was good.
She had been sniffing something out in the yard and pretty much ignored me, she had better things to do or so she thought. As you all know I am a positive trainer but that does not mean that I let my dogs get away with murder. Some trainers say that you should never do anything but wait and reward; not me. Some things are important to enforce and coming is one of those things. If a wolf pup was told to come and didn't; they would quickly understand by consequence that it is easier and wiser to come when called.
What we are teaching our dogs when we give consequence is that if you do not come; I am coming to get you. It becomes a choice for them and they usually learn quickly what the best choice is. My "come" consequence involves going around behind the dog and herding them back to wherever I called them from. You must judge how puffed up you can get per your own dog, your relationship and their reaction to your approach. Some dogs can handle and big bluster, some need a more gentler approach. You must master the approach and herd otherwise you may up just chasing your dog away further. This is why the fenced area was a good place to give Elsa her first real consequence for not coming. This will most definitely not be the last.