When we first got Louie, we established that I would be the pack leader and my wife would be 2nd in command. I would train Louie first with a new command and my wife would follow up with that same command once he got it down with me (over many days of course). My wife and I switch in taking him out on walks and feeding him, although I have been doing more of the raw feedings this past week.

Now we're running into the problem of Louie not obeying my wife's commands, especially if I'm around. For example, my wife will say "come" and he'll either ignore it or sometimes look at me (I'm ignoring him).

So what do you think is happening here?

He simply doesn't understand what you want. If he did, he'd do it. Dogs are very specific. He may understand what to do when you say come, but when your wife says it, maybe it's a trick, since you're standing there. Who knows what he's thinking? Whatever it is, he doesn't understand. Bottom line is, to teach come, put the dog on a long lead, say come, then reel him in.

During training, I wouldn't put the dog in a position to ignore a command. If you say "come," be prepared to enforce it if necessary---hence the long line so your wife can reel him in and then treat.

With two people, I love playing "hide and seek" as a fun way of teaching "come." Each of you fill up your pockets with treats. Now one of you hold the dog and the other go into another room. The one in the other room calls "Louis, come!" and when he comes, give him a treat. Now the other person calls, "Louis, come!" and he runs to that command to get a treat. Back and forth. Keep moving around the house so he has to find you (don't make it too hard)--and always praise him and treat him for comimg, no matter who is calling. He'll quickly get the idea that no matter who calls him, it's in his best interest to come running. It's also a good way to wear him out!

Big ditto to Tracy, but just wanted to add that this "For example, my wife will say "come" and he'll either ignore it or sometimes look at me (I'm ignoring him)" says to me that the dog is looking to you for a clue as to what is desired. He is not clear at all.

Has your wife done any recall ground work with him? If not, then what he has learned is that the recall means for him to come to you.

Now someone else is saying it, and you, to add to the mystifying situation, are ignoring him.

Thanks Tracy and Connie! The hide and seek idea is a great one.

We have both done recall training with him over the past few weeks. He is really good with me usually. And my wife said that he's been pretty reliable when she's worked recall with him also.

That being said Louie has some quirky recall "techniques" that I've sort of dismissed thus far. Sometimes he will come to like a foot away and then turn around and walk away (right as we're starting to say "good boy"). And other times it will take him a second or 2 before he turns (if he's not facing us, usually on a leash out on a walk), and he'll walk a semi circle path back to me as opposed to a straight line. Perhaps I've been going too easy on him with these quirks. Although last week he didn't come out of his crate when I said "come" (a few times) and I walked up and gave his collar a pop and he freaked out and shut down. Thoughts?

Since Louie has been good with the housebreaking (no accidents/destroying stuff), we have graduated him to off the 20ft long line as it gets caught on stuff. What are your thoughts about reincorporating maybe a thinner/longer line on him to help work recall on a normal basis vs doing more "formal" training sessions attaching our existing line on him and letting him off line the rest of the time?

When you call come, try backing up away from him as he approaches you--to keep his momentum moving forward, rather than having him approach a stationary object. And use big gestures and baby voice to call him all the way in. If he's not getting it yet, then don't give up on the long line for training come. Just keep reeling him in and treating until he's convinced that every time he comes, he gets the good stuff. Come, IMO, is pretty much the most important command to teach. Always praise and treat for comming. Never call him to you for something he thinks is negative (bath, pill, scolding, whatever). Come is always followed by something good.

Also consider the value of the treats you might be using to reward him coming to you. Are the treats just a store-bought doggie biscuit? Or are they something really awesomely tasty and smelly, like bits of cheese or liver? The higher value the treat, the more enthusiastic the response, if they are food-drivy dogs.

And what Tracy said is great advice, as well. Use a higher-pitched, enthusiastic "baby" voice for the recall, and start to move away from him as you call him. Dogs are inclined to trigger on objects moving away from them rather than stationary objects or objects moving toward them.

 Quote: jessica foster

And what Tracy said is great advice, as well. Use a higher-pitched, enthusiastic "baby" voice for the recall, and start to move away from him as you call him. Dogs are inclined to trigger on objects moving away from them rather than stationary objects or objects moving toward them.

When you say to use a higher-pitched "baby" voice for the recall, do you mean giving the command "come" in that voice? Or do you mean something else? And I thought we're only supposed to give the command once. Should we be supplementing the initial "come" with other encouragements while he's on the way there?

And Louie is a picky picky treater so we already have to have high value treats (hot dog/bacon/chicken/steak) for him to be engaged.

Tracy, thanks for your input too!

No, I would just say "come" once. But there's no training harm IMO of saying his name several times if that's what it takes to get him jazzed up and eager to run towards you. "Loooouie! Louie-Louie-Louie...Come!"

But even the word "come" by itself can be said as a clipped, low-pitched, growled command...or as a happy, high-pitched, enthusiastic announcement. He's more likely to respond to the latter while he's learning.