Uninterested Puppy

[mexifunk]

I recently bought a 10 week old rottweiler pup. We (my wife and I) have only had Isis for about a week, and she still acts disinterested with us unless we are feeding her. She will not come when called unless we have a treat for her, and even still it is reluctanlty at best. What are some suggestions for getting her to respond to us? She seems to enjoy the cats pretty well, and plays with the youngest one. She also will follow our other dog around everywhere. It just seems that she hasn't got much interest in us or learning comands.

[Judi W]

If she was raised prior to you getting her, in a place where she had little interaction with people you are going to have to make it a project. Start with little leash walks even if just down the sidewalk and back in front of your house. That is a big adventure and she should learn to look forward to that. Get her out of the house as often as possible. Try some round robin work with every one sitting in a circle, hold the puppy and have someone call her, when she arrives give a treat and throw a celebration party. Then the next person and so forth. If you can do this once a day it will be good. Try to make toys something interactive with you. Tugs, fetch balls, etc. If the only way is through her stomach at this time, then use that. Whatever has her looking to you for the best entertainment in town.

[rottcrazed]

She is 10 weeks old, keep that in mind too.

You likely are not going to get a puppy who comes when called for a while - that comes with training, not just entering your home.

Puppies should FOLLOW you though, if they are raised properly, although that being said, if they are VERY independent, it will take a little more work to get her interested in you.

I had my litter assessed so I knew who was independent and who wasn't before they were placed, that way I prepared the owners for the personality traits already appearing at 8 weeks. The most independent puppy in my litter (which is 4 months old today) is not so much anymore because they have worked with her, had her in classes already and have made certain things that are really fun (treats and her tennis ball) things that only come from humans. Worked like a charm.

Just find what she is most interested in and work with that!

Kristi