Bailey is almost 16 months old and up until the last 2-3 weeks has always been inside the house with me, usually lying at my feet wherever I am. When he's gone outside, he's come in when I've called. Recently, he's wanted to be outside all the time. He lies on the grass and will not come when called. If I go outside to encourage him in, he'll race round the garden. Is it his age? I've been off work on holiday for 6 weeks, until last week. Maybe he's got used to me being at home and now I'm back at work, he's playing up. Any suggestions on how to get him to come in when he's in a mad one? Is he entering the dog equivalent of the terrible twos?! I was going to have him neutered this summer, but I keep reading pros and cons and still haven't had him done. Would neutering help? He's also not that interested in his food at the moment. He is absolutely fine on walks and generally. I just don't know what's up with him at the moment.
LOL, I'm positive neutering won't help with that. Sex has nothing to do with recall. It is just his age, he's becoming more confident and has gotten used to being outside where, probably, more interesting and fun things happen. Whatever you do, be careful to not poison your recall word. If he doesn't come the first time you ask then you have to go and get him. Then you have to be careful not to let him make a chase game out of that. Oh, they can be so much fun (puppy sanity word for little devils) as they mature. Better yet, if you think he won't come then don't call him at all, just go get him. More training will help to teach him that coming to you is THE BEST thing in the world. Practice calling him and not going in, have a play instead. A rule of thumb I read one time is 75% of the time you call your dog to you it should be only to have some fun, some treats and then let him continue as he was. I confess I have cheated by making sure there is some nice little tidbit waiting in the food dish, though certainly not all the time. Yes I think this might be the equivalent of the terrible twos. If you think this is bad wait till he hits 9 months or so and wants to drive the car.
Snowshoe is right what she says great advice but I would say because he is reluctant to come in and gone off his food there is a bitch close by in season don't worry it's a man thing I would say in a couple of weeks he will return to normal old bailey
I hadn't thought of that. He just lies outside on the grass staring into the house from a distance. He's been out there for 2 hours without moving before coming in a few minutes ago. He's now lying in the kitchen, while I'm in the lounge. It just seems odd as he's always been in the same room.
Has it got hotter? Do you think he's lying outside because it's cooler? Is your kitchen cooler than your lounge? We have cooling gel mats that we keep in our bedroom for Snowie to lie on, otherwise there's nowhere cool for him to lie in the carpeted bedroom when we all go to sleep at night.
I don't think it's because it cooler outside. He's just acting very differently. He'll go outside and just stand for ages staring into the house without moving. If I go out, he'll race around, and he won't budge when I call him. He's still not eating properly, but is fine and lively as usual when someone comes or on our walks. He has the odd training treat on walks and always eats these, but will turn his nose up at food if I offer him one.
