Puppy Did Not Recall

[aussielover]

For the first time my 4 month old puppy did not come when called.

She literally just stared at me and then went back to sniffing

I know it was only the one time, but she clearly heard me, thought about it and then ignored

She has been very good previously, I have been able to call her away from other dogs, even when she is playing.

When this happened I walked up to her and put the leash on her for a few minutes as a punishment.

She then did this a few more times before leaving. It was only with sniffing that she would not come back, she still recalled well when I called her away from other dogs.

Anyone have any tips as to why this is happening and how we could work on it?

[4Kelpies]

Your puppy is only 4 months old and this is the first time that she has not come when called. Wow I'm impressed.

Your puppy didn't recall because she found a new and exciting scent more interesting than coming to you. It's normal for a puppy (or a dog any age) to do this sometimes. You did the right thing in going up to her and putting her on lead rather than continuing to call her and giving her practice in ignoring you. But don't think of it as a punishment - just intervention. If she is consistently recalling when called away from other dogs she is doing extremely well for her age. Try to up the rewards - whether it a special treat or toy, a very animated happy dance to make yourself more exciting than the scent. But don't stress if occasionally she is distracted by something new.

[aussielover]

Your puppy is only 4 months old and this is the first time that she has not come when called. Wow I'm impressed.

Your puppy didn't recall because she found a new and exciting scent more interesting than coming to you. It's normal for a puppy (or a dog any age) to do this sometimes. You did the right thing in going up to her and putting her on lead rather than continuing to call her and giving her practice in ignoring you. But don't think of it as a punishment - just intervention. If she is consistently recalling when called away from other dogs she is doing extremely well for her age. Try to up the rewards - whether it a special treat or toy, a very animated happy dance to make yourself more exciting than the scent. But don't stress if occasionally she is distracted by something new.

haha, will try that, may look ridiculous though. Oh well, at least will it will give others a laugh.

Yes, she is very good puppy She usually bounds up to you with her dumbo ears, she is extremely motivated by attention and food!

[Staranais]

Some of my best rewards are saved for recalls. I don't think it's possible to reinforce a recall too much. Make sure you call her regularly (not just when she's already found something interesting to do), & reward her big time, every time.

The training you put in now conditioning the recall will pay off big time in a few months, when your pup starts to be a bit more independent & less inclined to stick to you like glue.

[Tilly]

My GSD was 6 months when he decided he didn't want to recall ... so I got excited and ran off away from him. He then came running after me and got big reward but I also put him back on his lead and went back to doing recall on a long line.

Maybe look at the DVD "Really Reliable Recall" ...

[beagie]

For the first time my 4 month old puppy did not come when called.

She literally just stared at me and then went back to sniffing

I know it was only the one time, but she clearly heard me, thought about it and then ignored

She has been very good previously, I have been able to call her away from other dogs, even when she is playing.

When this happened I walked up to her and put the leash on her for a few minutes as a punishment.

She then did this a few more times before leaving. It was only with sniffing that she would not come back, she still recalled well when I called her away from other dogs.

Anyone have any tips as to why this is happening and how we could work on it?

It is quite normal for them to go through these times, when they start to think for themselves, at four months they are still regarding you as Mom as they get

older they will get a little more independant. I have found with my pup at six months he is realy clicking into what he has been taught, however I fully expect

lapses up to the age of twelve months at least. Beagie

[CareyJ]

Leila (GSP) is 18 months old and only now she is just starting to get better with her recalls and I work on it every time I go out - sit, stay, COME!. She is still mostly kept on a long line.

As stupid as it may feel at the time make sure the rewards are a jackpot! The best advice we got from here was to use chicken wings/chicken maryland/raw sausage. They just can't believe it when they come back and you produce something like that! Not all the time, just every so often so it is really exciting!

The raw sausage is particularly bad to be dishing out but it pretty much guarantees that Leila will come back to us.

Just wait until adolescence sets in - you wont even get a reaction!!!

[rastus_froggy]

I would be taking her into a dog free but full of lovely smells environment to do some training, I would have her on a long lead, have some super treats and not let her have the opportunity to ignore your request. Let her have time smelling but as soon as you want her to return to you call her, give her a second to start coming and if she does not respond pull her in.

Don't let her learn that it is ok to ignore your command, don't let her have the opportunity to do so either, keep her on a long line until her recalls are back to the way you want them to be and if later on she starts to not return again, put her straight back onto the long lead.

[mrs tornsocks]

Aussie, as much as she loves you, she is discovering there are other exciting things !

I was so impressed with her recall at the meet, but she's coming to the time of testing you.

Recall with plenty of distractions, and as others mentioned make yourself SO exciting, she has to come to you. Waving arms, happy high pitched voice, running slightly in the direction you want her to come (ie turn around and run so she follows).

good luck !

[Joan of Arc]

She's a lab, she loves to smell and follow things. You have to make yourself far more interesting than that smell. So how - I repeat she's a lab, use the most basic drive a lab has - food and rewards.

Keep those best bits of treats, that she's not normally allowed to have, in the back pocket or pouch etc and only bring them out for the recall. Call, bridge word, reward (treat) and a big fuss- lots of "good girl"s ( with pats, and the big dance or nice positive voice)