Greetings from Michigan!
We adopted a 4 month old Sheltie from a rescue league (about to be 'discarded' from an Amish Puppy Mill in Ohio, apparently), and have had her for 6 weeks now. She is very sweet and loving once she is in your lap or arms but we are having a very hard time teaching her to 'come' and to trust my husband. Having raised other dogs (going through obedience training twice!) we know never to scold her for darting away from us. We just retrieve her from her 'safe place,' pick her up and talk soothingly to her.
When we speak the command, 'come' she will show interest and come close but as soon as you extend a hand (even open palm up) or make the slightest move in her direction she scoots away. She's not motivated by food treats at all. Although she's bonded very well to me (follows me around, will jump into my lap on HER terms) she still won't come to me on command. She also seems to forget who my husband is with the start of each new day. Even though she might have spent the prior evening dozing in his lap or going on a walk the first glimpse that she has of him in the morning sends her into barking fits and she runs away to her safe place. She does not respond to his (very gentle) voice at all.
We are dealing with this with patience and good humor but would be most grateful if anyone can help with suggestions to correct these behaviors. Are we just expecting too much too soon (she's almost 6 months old now)?
Thank you very much!
