Guinness Stopped Listening

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

For the first two weeks, our puppy was focused on making me happy, but he was beginning to get obsessive, crying whenever I left the house or even the room. So for the past few days we've been exposing him to lots of other people to play with. Today we took him to Daycare to play with the other dogs for a few hours. He's been loving all this attention, and it has helped him to get over following me everywhere. The problem is that now he is not responding to any of my commands the way he did. He always came running when I gave the "come" signal, but yesterday and today he is ignoring me. I'm thinking that as he is now becoming a little more independent he is less inclined to think he has to listen to me. Has anyone experienced this?

[Adina P]

No puppy really 'listens' well at this age. No puppy is truly interested in only pleasing humans...some seem that way more than others...but no matter how well a young puppy seems to 'listen' and 'obey' early on...it's only because they haven't had a chance to test things yet. Remember that obedience training has to continue through the teenage period (6-8 months) and into their first year to really 'stick' -- just keep at it and practice lots and practice in different places and take classes from excellent trainers and you'll come out with a very obedient dog.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Thanks, Adina. I'm glad to know this is "normal" puppy behavior. I guess what we experienced the first two weeks was just because he didn't have the confidence to do much testing. Now he does. I appreciate the great advice.

[LuvMyAbby&Kaela]

I second that! What Adina said. lol