Ambi has a new yard, and we've been enjoying it playing fetch and I've been working on some basic obediance while we play-I let her freestyle for a bit, then work on stay by throwing the ball and having her wait then go get it. Lately, the last few times she has started balking on the recall, will run to the ball, pick it up, then lie down and refuse to move. Won't come if I call her and normally she is reliable.
If I go to her and pick up the ball she will get up and prepare herself for another throw-I take the ball and go inside. Yesterday when she did it, I left her outside, and she just sat until I came and got her.
I'm wondering if she may have confused stay, or if she is just enjoying the yard so much wants to just chill. We're on a big lot but the road is busy, and I'm afraid if she saw a dog if I leave her out will go onto the road. I won't tie her because we do have alot of wild animal traffic and I don't want to risk a coyote encounter and her be trapped. Or at 2 yrs is she just testing? So I'm not sure how to deal with this balkiness. Suggestions, please.

Vigo used to do this occasionally. I'd let him out late at night and he'd know that his crate was coming next. He'd go find a spot and lay down, trying to look invisible. He wouldn't come when I called him...it wasn't because he confused "stay". He was just being a jerk.

We worked on it with markers and food rewards. This sequence: I call "come", dog turns to come, I mark "YES!", dog gets to me and gets a treat.

I had also realized that the word "come" was rather poisoned for Vigo. We switched to "cookie", since we already use "here" for agility. "Cookie" equals yummy treat in his mind.

I get the sense your yard is not fenced? I'd be working this on a long line if that's the case.

So possibly she is just stalling to come in? although she starts this pretty early in the game before I even think of going inside.
She pretends she is deaf and blind. should I go to her and call her and reward her paying attention ( I don't want to reinforce her ignoring me by my working on her terms), possibly throw a second ball to get her to move, or wait the little bugger out?
The house is set back a couple of acres from the road, and she has shown zero interest in going that way but I'm overprotective with dogs and roads.
I know she loves to be outside. But its cold out for humans!

Is it possible that she wants to keep playing fetch, and she's afraid that if she brings the ball back, the game will be over?

Did you backchain teaching the fetch command?

And how did you teach the recall?




"I get the sense your yard is not fenced? I'd be working this on a long line if that's the case."

Me too!

 Quote: Duane Hull

Is it possible that she wants to keep playing fetch, and she's afraid that if she brings the ball back, the game will be over?

I'd completely dissociate the release of the ball to you with ending the game.

I'd probably go to something else fun, then pick up the ball and head in.

Duane, I'd say the chance of that is 99%. She loves to be outside.

Connie, She taught herself to play fetch, from the time I've had her would run and catch and bring back.
Taught her to come using a long line, treats and positive reinforcement.
Not sure what backchain means-we're backyard obediance lol, not to the level of most of you.

 Quote: Jodi Moen

Duane, I'd say the chance of that is 99%. She loves to be outside.

Connie, She taught herself to play fetch, from the time I've had her would run and catch and bring back.
Taught her to come using a long line, treats and positive reinforcement.
Not sure what backchain means-we're backyard obediance lol, not to the level of most of you.

Welll then, there's a 99% chance that the advice would be to convince her that the game's not over. Get that fetch back, and then do what Connie suggested; find something else to end on. Two-ball should restore her desire to play fetch. Of course, if the retrieve is required, you could train a forced retrieve, but that doesn't seem to be your objective.

Backchain means that you teach the out first (to make sure you get your ball back), then do very short retrieves, then add distance. In essence you're training the retrieve from the end back to the beginning. It could help with this issue. I like two-ball.

I also haven't been doing our walks and i wonder if that could add into it? Maybe she feels she's in the house too much. Tomorrow I'll try 2 balls and see what she does, and also do some fun stuff with her, maybe work on reinforcing her basic commands.