Is Bentley ignoring me?

[Sabrina and Bentley]

It's always fun to try and figure out what Bentley is thinking or feeling, but I'm stuck on this one and hopefully ya'll can give me some insight.

I work from home, so Bentley is with me all day.  Alot of times he'll hang with me by my desk but other times he'll go play with his toys.  I'll play with him throughout the day and take him for walks and sometimes I'll call him over and pet him and give him some love and attention.

Well, he has his couch in the office that my fiance cleaned off for him recently. It seems that in the past couple of weeks, when I tell him to "come here", he's ignoring me.  He knows the command and follows it all the time.  But when he's close by and I say it, he just stares at me.  I'll keep calling him and he'll either jump on the couch and lay down and stare at me.  Or he'll start backing up and barking  and whining at me, but all the while wagging his tail.  So, me saying come here is getting a reaction from him, but once he's done with that, he just lays on the couch and ignores.

Of course, this hurts my feelings because my puppy won't come to me so that I can love on him, but then there's that frustrating part that he won't listen to me either.

I don't think this is major problem or anything, but moreso just curious since I don't know how to read body language.  Is he bored?  Is he mad at me? 

 

Thanks!

[Sabrina and Bentley]

Duh!  I should have been able to figure that out...that he just wants to play.  I feel much better knowing that he still loves me.  haha!  I tried it on him again and after a few times of him not coming to me, I sat on the floor with his toy and sure enough, he was ready to play.  Still learning the world of dogs!

 

Thanks for your wisdom! ;-)

[Jennifer and "Cooper"]

Ricki is probably correct.  He wants to play. She is also correct that he is learning that he only has to come when HE wants to not when you want him to.  When you say "I tried it on him again and after a few times of him not coming to me, I sat on the floor with his toy and sure enough, he was ready to play" this is what Bentley experienced...."She told me to come but I want to play so I'm not going to come.  She told me to come again but I still want to play.  She told me to come again but I don't want to, I want to play.  Oh goody!!!  I don't have to do what she tells me and now she's going to play with me."

A better solution would be to do as Ricki did and only give the command once and follow through if Bentley doesn't obey the first time.  If he does obey the first time, make a huge deal out of it with tons of praise AND some play time.  That way he gets what he wants BECAUSE he did what he was told to do not because he ignored you.

[Sabrina and Bentley]

That makes sense.  I just need to train myself on the follow through. :-)

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

I think dog training IS all about people training!!  The dogs don't really learn much in class. We are the ones that learn and then we teach them at home! The puppy training mantra: Patience and Consistency! LOL!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Yep, Ricki is right. Come is an All Important Command.  The most important.

Never give a command that you know he will fail ( in other words, don't set him up for failure)

So if you are busy, just say hi but don't give that command for awhile unless he is on a 6 foot leash that you have in your hand.  Give the command once, and reward always for the command come no matter how long it takes him to come to you.

Good luck with your handsome dog.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

I think it's a game and that's all. So cute!

[BG and Gavin]

I think its a game, but be careful as it can turn into a bad habit.  So here are my suggestions: (some are repeats of what others have said)

1) Never use come when you can't enforce it.  If I am in a situation where I am unsure and I don't have a lead on him I don't say "come."  I will say "whacha doin'" or "whats going on" and if he comes toward me I say "come" to make it a success.

2) Try playing hide and seek with him.  It is a great recall game and makes him pay attention to where you are.  In the house I toss the ball and then run and hide in another room and he has to find me.  This is hands down Gavin's favorite game both indoors and outdoors.

3) If I were you I would tether him to you for a few days and not use any commands or words at all.  Good exercise for him to watch you and follow and anticipate your movements.  Also good for establishing respect.

4) I know they are cute and its hard to resist them, but it is super important to be consistent and not let them get away with bad behaviour ever.  The work you do now will pay off 10 fold in the future.

Good luck with your cutie :)

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

My boys have gotten very lazy about coming when called - or coming quickly.  It is something I am going to work on - again!