This is weird

[ashleycat]

Whenever I make a duck sound. Charlie comes straight to me. But he doesn't come when I say "Charlie come"

Like if he's getting into some food my daughter just dropped from her chair. And I say Charlie come, he doesn't come. But if I make the duck sound he comes straight,and sits down no questions asked.

Why might this be?

I need to go find my belt. Last time I leashed him to my loop and the loop broke. lol

[shihtzulover850]

Maybe it's something with his breed. I don't know much about it but still....

[Vela]

Most likely he was trained to respond to that when he was younger. Many people use sounds for commands rather than words. From the sounds of it someone has trained the dog pretty well, but nobody else knows the commands he is used to so the dog is confused because he is getting mixed signals in his mind and doesn't really know what the words coming out of your mouth mean. Have you been consistent in treating and rewarding when he responds correctly? That is the only way he will put 2 and 2 together and understand. You have to remember he is just a dog..they aren't born knowing right from wrong and they certainly don't know the rules of the house when they get there and are quite confused.

[ashleycat]

I'm trying!! I usually don't have treat in my hand. But I will praise and stuff.

QUESTION about nilf... will he be on leash inside ALL the time, or when can he be off? For how long.. All his life or how do I know the right time?

[Vela]

if you take the time now, and are very consistent, he will learn and then not need to be leashed to you forever. They do learn, in all honsetly he sounds confused, probably because like you said yourself, it is hard to always be consistent because you are busy. Does he jump baby gates if you are in the room with him? If not you can gradute from the leash on you to a gated room you are in and just watch him closely. Try to make a schedule when you take him out to do his business and try not to vary it much, he will get the point but there is no quick fix, it does take time and patience, even though it's hard.

[shihtzulover850]

Yeah I think it was how he was trained to.