Stubborn Puppy ignores me when called. Why?!?!

9798 Views 17 Replies 12 Participants Last post by eisel, Oct 18, 2011

caideN

Discussion Starter · Oct 11, 2011

I have had jobie for about 2 weeks. We got her when she was about 6 1/2 week old (yes I know too young, but its too late to go back) We have been training her to respond to her name since day one by calling her name and giving her treats (when she comes). She would do it a few times and then get inpatient and ignore us completely when called. We do this before we feed her, so I know she's hungry. She's a little over 8 weeks and now I'm starting to think that I am expecting too much. Am I? I'm patient But when she ignores me I feel like theres no hope. I also do the training with the leash but her attention towards me is easily distracted.

When we go for walks outside my house, she would lunge towards the strangers and attempt to play with them. She never wags her tail when she see me come home after I'm gone for a few hours too. I feel like I'm showing her that I'm a pack leader by always walking first and control her before she eats and drink.

How should I go about training her. How should I change my techniques? Any suggestion is welcomed!

Sorry for long post and rant but geez shes so stubborn!!!

1 - 18 of 18 Posts

Adara

· #2 · Oct 11, 2011

So she's 8.5 weeks and not coming when called and you think she is STUBBORN???? I think you should do a lot more research on puppyhood

How many sets of shots has she had after 6 weeks? Is she walking on safe non high dog traffic ground?

First rule of Come. Do not ask her to COME if she can ignore you PERIOD. Do not always lure her with food. Have you siged up for any puppy classes?

Reactions: 5

caideN

Discussion Starter · #3 · Oct 11, 2011

You answered my question. I guess I am expecting too much. Funny thing is my friend bought her brother. He comes whenever called and he was trained the same way. Our family have owned 3 dogs, one we still have and they were responding to their name at 9 weeks and we got them all at 8 weeks.

I am currently searching for a good puppy training class. Any one know any in San Francisco ? There's so many!

Adara

· #4 · Oct 11, 2011

Try this

Animal Care in San Francisco | Dog Training Classes | SF SPCA

When I get a puppy a few times a day I say NAME give treat. NAME give treat NAME give treat. Depending on the puppy by a few sessions when you say name you see them start to look atyou, expecting that treat. That's when you know they are learning the name. For my dogs NAME only means look at me, not come. So then I start by standing next to the when they are looking another direction and I say NAME, when they look at me I click my clicker/or say yes and give a treat.

Remember personalities vary across litters

Reactions: 2

sandy2233

· #5 · Oct 12, 2011

High expectations for such a young puppy. She's just learning to be a dog. Recalls take a long time, just work with her to make you the most important and fun thing in her life.

PatchworkRobot

· #6 · Oct 12, 2011

It sounds like you treat her when she comes to her name? I'd suggest starting by treating her for her attention (when her eyes are on you). Then, when she has that down, say her name as she's about to look at you and treat her when she looks at you. DO THIS A LOT! Reward her for attention when you call her name. After she has that you can start teaching come on a leash or long line so that you can reel her into you.

I work on recall with my boy more than any other trick/behavior/command. At 10months his recall is GREAT but it's still not 100%. Recall is always going to be a work in progress and every time you call and your dog comes there needs to be a HUGE party. NEVER CALL YOUR DOG TO YOU AND PUNISH HIM/HER.

Reactions: 2

MeadowCat

· #7 · Oct 12, 2011

I suggest trying some clicker training. Check out kikopup's youtube channel for very easy to follow videos on how to clicker training pretty much everything under the sun: kikopup's Channel - YouTube

Don't worry about being dominant or a pack leader. Build a great, loving bond with your puppy and you'll have a dog that is eager to work with you.

Reactions: 2

caideN

Discussion Starter · #8 · Oct 12, 2011

Its just so weird how she's not happy at all to see me. I've never disciplined her.

MeadowCat

· #9 · Oct 12, 2011

caideN said:
Its just so weird how she's not happy at all to see me. I've never disciplined her.

You might be accidentally doing things that are intimidating to young puppies. I highly suggest picking up a copy of Turid Rugaas's book "Calming Signals." You'll learn how to read your dog much better and understand when she's telling you that she's stressed. Things like looming over her and petting the top of her head can be very intimidating to any dog, and especially a young puppy, but it's a natural thing people do to dogs. I'd try to make every interaction with you very, very positive and fun. Get down on her level, play some low pressure games with her. Additionally, given the fact that you got her too young, you know she came from a less than ethical breeder. It's possible she's genetically on the shy, timid side. If that's the case you'll have to work extra hard to bolster her confidence and make her feel comfortable and safe.

Reactions: 5

Gia's Mom

· #10 · Oct 12, 2011

I hope that you Spend some bonding time with this pup. They grow way to quick.maybe start with teaching her name and just spending fun time with you. She needs to build trust with you. I have found that Trust to a Dobie is everything onve they hhave that training them is a 123 sort of thing. This breed needs a pack leader but more than that they need a fair fun person. Because as you will soon learn you Don't train them they train us. They are the best and yes my girl has trained me well. I trust her and she trusts me! Good luck and enjoy they grow up way too fast!

Reactions: 2

brw1982

· #11 · Oct 12, 2011

caideN said:
You answered my question. I guess I am expecting too much. Funny thing is my friend bought her brother. He comes whenever called and he was trained the same way. Our family have owned 3 dogs, one we still have and they were responding to their name at 9 weeks and we got them all at 8 weeks.

I am currently searching for a good puppy training class. Any one know any in San Francisco ? There's so many!

Stop this kind of thinking. No puppy is "trained" at 9 weeks old. They are itty-bitty babies yet and have soooo much to experience and figure out.

I'd recommend reading "The Power of Positive Dog Training" by Pat Miller and just for good measure, I'll also recommend "The Other End of the Leash" by Patricia B. McConnell.

You can look up AKC affiliated training facilities in your area here: Training Resources

Don't be afraid to ask for references from people who have trained at any facility in which you're interested. I'd also recommend observing a class before signing up your puppy and going. That way you get an idea of training styles, methods, and the club members you'll be working with.

Good luck!

Reactions: 3

Herb2relax

· #12 · Oct 13, 2011

Great advise already given. Wanted to add that she needs to be paying attention to you. When Kyrah was young I would just take off running away from her. She would of course give chase. When she reached me I gave her big praises, rolled her round to play or had a tug for tugging. You need to be more exciting than anything else. I also when inside or outside would hide from her kinda in sight to begin with. She would have to find me. The only problem with that one is that I have to let her know when I leave the house. Daughter told me the one time I didnt she was going crazy searching for me around the house. Another thing you can do is get down on the ground when getting her to come to you. And I agree if your not sure she is coming dont call her. Everytime you say come and she doesnt you are teaching her that come is optional.

Reactions: 2

Patches Mom

· #13 · Oct 13, 2011

Please remove the following words from your vocabulary " being dominant or a pack leader" that is something that happens over time with a kind owner a great bond. Look at it this way you are a baby you are taken away from your mom and siblings. There is a huge stranger in your world telling you to come,telling you all kinds of things you have no clue of what they are saying. Puppies do not know English or your language it takes a very long time for them to figure out what you want them to do.Take some training classes together so you both will learn together it is never a good idea to send them some where for training.The dog might be trained but you will not know how to handle your own dog do it together.Good Luck.

Reactions: 1

Beaumont67

· #14 · Oct 13, 2011 (Edited)

Great advise, from all.

I just wanted to share my favorite list of bonding & training exercises:
I train puppies with games & play first - sitting on the living room floor (lower eye level).
Fun stuff to get & keep the pups eyes constantly focused on the required task & YOU.
Plus, use my voice, in a controlled intensity of pitch, calmness and praise or disapproval tone for correction.
- fetch / "A" list
- tug of war / "A" list
- hide & seek
- gonna get you
- names applied to all the dog toys, and search when asked
- muzzle & soft bite control / "A" list

Good play and stimulating workouts...keeps the pups eyes glued to you...the caregiver:
- control the pups focus and interest, learning is much easier & swifter / with gained respect

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caideN

Discussion Starter · #15 · Oct 13, 2011

Thank you guys. I have noticed that she comes when called when I actually squat down. Shes getting better and better already. Ive been using the clicker technique and she's really good with sit already. However, when shes distracted it's a different story. I'm taking it slow and consistent and she's alreay showing signs of improvement.

Off topic. I took her to the beach today for more training and its about 80 degrees. She gets hot and exhausted pretty fast. Her mother is an albino dobe. Is that a possible reason for it? I understand most dobes are sensitive to heat.

PatchworkRobot

· #16 · Oct 13, 2011

Dobes are dark-colored, single-coated (is the the correct term?) dogs. Darker colors will attract more heat from the sun and since they have just the one layer of hair (as opposed to a double-coated breed like a GSD) they can't regulate temperature as well. Dobies don't do great in intense cold or heat. I don't know what the weather is like where you're from but if 80 is on the higher end of the temperature spectrum then perhaps she's just not used to it? With my boy, he had to get used to the hot summer weather before he could stand to be out in it for more than 5 minutes.

aussieln

· #17 · Oct 18, 2011

I am basically having to re-train my 9 mth old dobe. I have had her only 3 weeks and her previous owners kept her in a crate the majority of the time. I have been letting her get away with some behaviours since i feel like she never really got to be a puppy and socialize. she is still very much a young puppy in her ways of thinking. she reacts to different situations like i would expect a younger pup to react. I have started her with obedience but we only do short sessions approx 10-15 minutes at a time before we break for a play session. she really does want to please but she can get so side tracked, that i have a hard time getting her back in focus if there is anything going on around us. yesterday she saw a dragonfly and dropped everything we were doing to try and slay that dragon..lol. i called her continuously but she was on a mission to catch that darn bug. we are working on leash training also since like i said she wasnt handled alot at her previous home. I hope im doing everything right to help her through some of her issues. so far I think she is coming along fairly well. let me know if i can or should be doing something differently. Thanks Heather and Jazz

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eisel

· #18 · Oct 18, 2011

caideN said:
I have had jobie for about 2 weeks. We got her when she was about 6 1/2 week old (yes I know too young, but its too late to go back) We have been training her to respond to her name since day one by calling her name and giving her treats (when she comes). She would do it a few times and then get inpatient and ignore us completely when called. We do this before we feed her, so I know she's hungry. She's a little over 8 weeks and now I'm starting to think that I am expecting too much. Am I? I'm patient But when she ignores me I feel like theres no hope. I also do the training with the leash but her attention towards me is easily distracted.

When we go for walks outside my house, she would lunge towards the strangers and attempt to play with them. She never wags her tail when she see me come home after I'm gone for a few hours too. I feel like I'm showing her that I'm a pack leader by always walking first and control her before she eats and drink.

How should I go about training her. How should I change my techniques? Any suggestion is welcomed!

Sorry for long post and rant but geez shes so stubborn!!!

she is not 'stubborn' she is a young pup that needs leadership from you. she lost out on important social skills by being taken away from mom and litter mates too young. you need discipline(which is not punishment). become a leader with calm confidence. I suggest NILIF(google it). Do not worry about things so much and work on bonding with her. Oh, come when called is easy, Finn was taught by simple saying 'come on Finn' when he was making a move towards coming to me(rewards are food or affection or both). He just comes when called now. it takes time, patience and above all consistency.

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