Puppy recalling

Hi,

Our Roxy who is about 3.5months has been coming along brilliantly with her training. She does still have the occasional accident in the house, but Im still working on that!.

When taking her out on walks, she is brilliant on the lead now, no problems there!. She is good off the lead, when meeting people & other dogs, and doesnt run far away and will return when called or whistled. The problem is, if the walk isnt long enough she is reluctant to come back close enough to be put on the lead, or as today she found a dropped chocolate bar and wouldnt return until she had ate it, and once eaten didnt want to come close as she knew she had done wrong (thats what I think).

My question is, how can I improve her behaviour to return to put the lead back on if on a short walk, or if she knows she has done wrong?. Up to now this is the only issue with her training I am having. If I take her on a 30min + walk I can get her back on the lead ok, but if its a short walk then she gets stubborn. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Hi and welcome Adie and Roxy.

It sounds like you are doing very well with this little pup.

I have by NO MEANS conquered the recalling thing with my own pup (1 year old tomorrow) - if he finds or sees anything more exciting than coming back to me he goes deaf!

But, for what it's worth and bearing in mind Roxy's reluctance to return to you if she doesn't feel that she has had enough walkies - keep calling her back to you with a valued treat (cooked liver works with my pup), tell her she's a good girl, fondle her around the neck/collar, and then let her go off again. Do this MANY times on your walks, both on lead and off. She will soon get to know that if she obeys your command to "come here" she will get a lovely treat, and that it won't mean the end to her fun and games - until you need it to!

good advice we are currently doing this with Miley and it does work, although she can still have her deaf moments when she wants though

ok, I dont want to come across as bigheaded but I have the solution for you .

Never ever tell the dog off when it eventually comes to you as it's already too late for whatever it is that happened before and it will go on to associate coming to you with a telling off. next play games in a small space where you shout and behave aggressively calling it then turn to putty and give treats as soon as the dog comes. equally make sure that once the leash is on the fun doesn't end.

I did this with all my dogs and they all learned that if I get mad at something they got up to all they have to do is come to me and I'm happy.

Totally agree with Lynda & CMR.

You could try putting the lead on then taking it off again when out on walks. Try doing this a few times during the walk so Roxy does not associate the lead going on with the walk ending. Give a small treat each time you put the lead on too, this may help.

That's good advice too, Kathy.