I've had my dog for about 5 months now. Got him when he was 48 weeks old. I try to do multiple training sessions with him each day. But I keep running into the same problem. He seems to always be interested in everything else but me! It doesnt matter what treats or toys I have, or if I run around like an idiot, he still would rather go do his own thing. The only exception seems to be on recalls, or in the middle of the night. Ill walk my 30 paces away, and he cant wait to get to me. Or it will be 9pm and suddenly he goes nuts and wants to get out and play, he will even bite the puppy sleeve while it's on my arm or the bite pillow. Both of which are items I generally have problems getting him exited about. Any ideas about what could help me here?

You got him when he was 48 weeks old? Or 8 weeks old? If 48 weeks, thats almost 12 months, making him almost 17 months now........

So I am going to address this with the assumption that you meant 8 weeks

Which puts him at 7 months old. Which means: Welcome to puppyhood. All pups seem to go through a phase between 3 and 10 months old where you are suddenly not good enough for them anymore. It goes away between 10 and 14 months old. Don't let it get to you. This is one of the reasons why I do very little with a pup obedience-wise. The focus and desire isn't there.

Do you have a training club you visit? I would let them work your pup with the tug etc. At 7 months old I wouldn't even have this dog near a sleeve, especially on your arm. He is far from ready, especially since he is only barely interested in it to begin with.

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Or it will be 9pm and suddenly he goes nuts and wants to get out and play

For some reason puppies are born with this internal body clock that tells them that the evening is time for a "puppy witching hour." This goes away too. Eventually. Cujo used to sit in his crate yipping for hours when I wanted to go to sleep. When he was old enough to stay out of the crate at night he would sit at the foot of my bed and stare at me. The yipping drove me nuts :p

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For some reason puppies are born with this internal body clock that tells them that the evening is time for a "puppy witching hour." This goes away too. Eventually. Cujo used to sit in his crate yipping for hours when I wanted to go to sleep. When he was old enough to stay out of the crate at night he would sit at the foot of my bed and stare at me. The yipping drove me nuts :p

Question mike if you have your puppy on a set sheduale could this be back ward where they wake up at 6 a.m. ready to go.

All 3 of my dogs or 2 puppys and one older puppy.
Have been on a sheduale from day one consider we have had a set sheduale sence they where around.
MY question is the few days on the month that we get to sleep in they are up at 6 am which is the time we wake up.
Could the wake up at night be switched?
My 3 dogs work like clock work and what could I do to get them to sleep in and not be hungry. So we can sleep in
They have been on this sheduale from day one.
Sorry to hijack

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puppy witching hour

I like that. I used four letter words to describe it, but in retrospect, you're term for it fits.

 Quote: Stephanie St Julian

.... My 3 dogs work like clock work and what could I do to get them to sleep in and not be hungry. ... Sorry to hijack

It really is kind of a hijack.

If you go here
http://leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/ubb/postlist/Board/14/page/1
and start a new topic (subject maybe Puppy Schedules), you could copy and paste this one into the new one.

That'd be great. THANKS!

 Quote: matthew thurston

.... He seems to always be interested in everything else but me! It doesnt matter what treats or toys I have, or if I run around like an idiot, he still would rather go do his own thing. .....

Like when? Could you give us an example?

Maybe outdoors, with high distractions, trying to play something like fetch?

I love Mike's explanation of "a phase between 3 and 10 months old where you are suddenly not good enough for them anymore." Sounds like human kids from age 12 to age 17.

Matthew, here are a couple of things that work for me (and I still work at it)
Make sure your obedience sessions are really short, and that you are using high value rewards. It's amazing what focus a small piece of steak generates.

When you are walking your pup (on leash), take him someplace where there are minimal distractions (but not someplace that he's totally familiar with) Have some yummy treats with you. And just stop, and wait. Wait for as long as it takes for your pup to come back and look at you (without any prompting on your part).

When he gives you eye contact, mark and reward and make a big deal out of it. Continue on your walk and do the same thing again. I'll bet you he'll be giving you pretty good, spontaneous eye contact within a short time...

Thanks for the suggestions, I'm just now getting back to my computer! Oh, that should have actually been 4 months old! What was I thinking... I do have a club nearby, it's been about a month since I've been able to take him though. We do work him on a big jute tug. I'm trying to get him interested in the bite pillow, and as a matter of fact he did really well with it today. His grip is loose, but we will work on that more later. Outdoors with little to no distractions he will do it, Its not all the time, just here lately. That's a good analogy Mike, I guess I just did not think of it that way, but then again that's why I posted.

Matthew,

Are you using any food rewards? And, is out running around with no long line on?

I agree with Mike, but the more you jump around and act like an idiot (boy I know what that is like), and he does not come to you, the harder it may be in the long run.
I would start with a long line and give him the "come" command and then reel him in and when he gets there....BIG party with some yummy small soft treats. I use cheap cut up sirlion or any of the soft all natural treats that LB sells here).

If you are in a position where you know he is not going to come, walk away rather than call him multiple times first so that he learns to follow you. When he follows and gets to you....again...BIG party.

All my pups drag a short line in the house and buildings and a long line outside.

There was a thread awhile back about getting good eye contact as opposed to looking for the treat in your hand...can't remember who started it, but it was really good. My dog responded to it very quickly. Connie, do you remember that thread...that might help here, too.