All the sudden her recall is gone!

Discussion in 'Labrador Puppies' started by Maddison, Feb 15, 2017.

  1. Maddison

    Maddison Registered Users

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2016
    Messages:
    119
    Location:
    Indianapolis, IN
    Well, we have hit the 7 and 1/2 month mark with Larks.

    I was out in the garden with her last night (large yard in the US with no fence) and it was time to come in. So like usual, I gave her the command to "come" and she just looked at me, and then grabbed a stick and started bolting around the yard! I knew better then to try "come" again and have it fail so I just got a treat and distracted her with a sit command and then brought her in. I was hoping it was a fluke, but this morning when I brought her out she flat out ignored the "come" command. Is this the teenage stage I have been dreading? I was litterally in tears this morning because this puppy who I have worked SO hard training and has been so reliable suddenly seems to have forgotten everything.

    Do I need to train a new "come" command now that she has ignored this one? Or should I just work on reinforcing the one she already knows?
     
  2. Hollysdad

    Hollysdad Supporting Member Forum Supporter

    Joined:
    Oct 13, 2013
    Messages:
    3,331
    I think you have a teenager. Normal adorable behaviour will return in time.
     
    b&blabs likes this.
  3. snowbunny

    snowbunny Registered Users

    Joined:
    Aug 27, 2014
    Messages:
    15,785
    Location:
    Andorra and Spain
    You don't have to throw your cue away after a couple of failures, just go back a few steps in training each thing. You may even need to start at the beginning again. No need to despair, though, it should be quicker to work through it this time.

    Just try to keep in mind, she's not being stubborn or disobedient, she's just finding more reward from her environment than she used to. This means you have to up the ante in your training, that's all.

    Puppies generally have an innate desire to stick close to us. With adolescence comes independence, which means you need to start working harder on making her want to be with you.
     
    FayRose likes this.
  4. Maddison

    Maddison Registered Users

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2016
    Messages:
    119
    Location:
    Indianapolis, IN
    So do you think maybe bringing the training back in the house where there are less distractions is where I should start?
     
  5. snowbunny

    snowbunny Registered Users

    Joined:
    Aug 27, 2014
    Messages:
    15,785
    Location:
    Andorra and Spain
    It's a good place to start, yes. See how you get on and move on when she's consistently successful :)
     
  6. Joy

    Joy Registered Users

    Joined:
    Mar 22, 2014
    Messages:
    4,259
    When you call her, is it mostly to then go indoors? If so it might help to call her and then reward with an exciting game (tug for example) and then release her to go off and explore the garden again, so that 'come' doesn't mean the end of fun.
     
    Maddison likes this.
  7. Maddison

    Maddison Registered Users

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2016
    Messages:
    119
    Location:
    Indianapolis, IN
    That was my first thought, but we use it in a bunch of different situations so I don't think that is it. When we have gone out today though I have made more of a game of coming inside by having her sit and stay, and then releasing her once I open the door. So far so good with that.
     
  8. Jojo83

    Jojo83 Registered Users

    Joined:
    Feb 11, 2017
    Messages:
    1,605
    Location:
    UK
    It is good go mix up the 'come' just as you did in those early puppy days. Reinforce that 'come' just means to come to me and get a treat and sometimes we then go in or have a game. Practice your 'come' indoors though - if it's iffy then you stand even less chance of success outside.
     
    b&blabs likes this.
  9. b&blabs

    b&blabs Registered Users

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2016
    Messages:
    249
    She probably knew it was "come" to come inside and that's why she didn't obey. They get smart around this age, and willful. One of the biggest lessons I took from Control Unleashed was that for every 1 time you recall to you and put a leash on/go inside/stop play, you should have 9 times when you recall them, praise/treat, and then say, "Go play!" and release them again. So they come to you because coming means they get to go play!
     
    edzbird and selina27 like this.

Share This Page