proofing commands

Question
My puppy has his commands down pretty well when he is in the house, but whenever we go outside or when there are lots of distractions he will not listen.

How can I proof these commands, especially come, so that my dog will obey me even in these situations?

Thanks!

Answer
Dogs don't generalize all that well. I would work on upping the distractions more gradually. And, when you raise one criteria (new environment) you need to lower the other criteria so that you are actually just teaching one new thing at a time in the more challenging situation. Have you looked into a good class, sometimes they can give you a fair amount of distraction along with going back to a level which is understandable for your dog. You will probably still get better compliance at home, but it does give you a way to add distractions, and a knowledgeable person to help you do it th right way. Sandy Case BFA, MEd, CPDT www.positivelycanine.com