[Zumie05]

Physical discipline for teaching the command to "come" is one of the worst things to do, only because it will usually only make your dog want to avoid you and run away from you even more. When teaching your dog to come, you have to make them think that it is sooooo worth it to get over to you as fast as they can! Otherwise if you say come and then they later on get a spanking for it, they learn that coming to you when you say "come" usually is a scary and bad thing.

I agree with moondog that it really does take a big man to admit faults like this. It is definitely a good thing that you found this website!

To teach a good recall start all over again as if your pup was brand new. Start small and work your way big. Get a 20 or 30 ft training leash and use this to practice. Let your dog run out to the end, then call him back (I suggest using a different word than come now...try "here" instead). If dog isn't listening, use leash to reel him in while continuing to encourage him to move on his own. Even if you end up having to pull your dog the entire way back to you, still praise as if he ran to you with full energy. Give out multiple treats, pets, and praise. Practice in many different locations and work with a variety of distractions to proof this command. Pretty soon the dog will learn that it is a great thing to get over to you when you call him and you won't need that leash anymore to reel him in.