Al & Gwynn are each good at recall ...when they want to be.

If Gwynnie is really interested in a friend or an animal, she ignores me.
Al will often obey... on the third command, with that slow "I was gonna do this anyway" insolence of a teenager.

Particular problem:
We let them out one last time, briefly, before bedtime.
AL quickly learned that he does not, in fact, have to come in when called, and that I cannot catch him. He is awfully naughty. I am powerless. I'm reduced to putting him out on a long leash at this time.

I want them to obey, first time, almost instantly.

Suggestions?

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I think it might be a "Pack Leader" thing. Maximus used to ignore me too and the only reason he ignores me now is if things get too loud (I can't yell very loud).
I don't think its just coincidence that he doesn't bolt through the door or anything either. Once I got into the pack leader position with him he just hangs out around my ankles as we walk and pays attention when I change directions and comes back to me when i just pat my hand on my hip or thigh.

So I would suggest do all of the things to get into the pack leader position. Don't let him out the door first, you always eat first and then feed him, don't let him sleep on the bed, etc. No free roaming toys, etc.
And he'll get the hang out it :)
Hmmmmm. Can you give me a reference on this "pack leader" stuff? Perhaps I've been a bit too lenient with Al in some ways.

But there's no way I'll kick them of the bed, or out of my tent -- that's half the point of having a corgi! :-)
I recommend you read this article before deciding to use any "pack leader" tactics. Dogs are social animals, not pack animals.
Good article with lots of reference material for back up. Nothing in Life is Free is mentioned and that is the method I use with Leo. Randy is still young for a lot of it...still he and Leo both have to respond to commands for food, treats and such. To me "pack leader" means protector and provider, not dominater or bully.
Al is almost 3 y.o. now. His annoying game of not coming in at night, playing "Catch Me If You Can!" seems to have extinguished itself (crossing fingers). Perhaps he simply outgrew it.
Unfortunately, he still has the annoying behavior of recalling slowly, reluctantly, in his own good time.
I had this problem, but apparently I worked it out quickly as since 2 days ago he has been fine. We had this party type whistle thing and whenever it was blown he would get really excited and run to it. So I told him to come, blow it, congratulate him on coming. Did that for about 15 minutes, then I stopped using the whistle every time. Now he at least comes 75% of the time I ask him. Will be working on it a bit more ofcourse, but the prop is no longer necessary. A trigger may however aid in driving what you want them to do with the command home.
The obedience instructor we went to always does her recall training with multiple well trained dogs in all different parts of the arena. Your dog has to go to you across the arena and bypass everyone. If they go to another person or dog they will shoo them gently away with an Ach sound or by turning their back to him. She does it at the end of every class often with lots of commotion. She also for the last couple of sessions will have group recalls where several dogs are released at once and the handlers call from across the arena all at the same time. The handlers give lots of praise when their dog gets to them. (you have to have hold of the collar) It is pretty wild but my corgi that went to those classes comes very reliably when I give the COME command. Interesting but her method works. She said it was more similar to the situations you encounter in the real world.
Oliver is still young yet, so it's not a set-in-stone thing, but we have made great strides with the come command. As I talked about in another post, we recently moved, and the whole time he had run of both house and yard as we were moving boxes in. I quickly realized that I needed to work on the come command because there were so many new animals/smells/people to catch his attention that I was on the bottom of his list. I have taught Oliver come means to drop what he's doing, come to me and touch his nose to my hand (completely something I picked up off of animal planet). I started carrying bits of treats in my pocket, and randomly calling for him. When he did as he was supposed to, he got a treat. First I wouldn't let him get but a step or two before calling him, and gradually worked up to allowing him to become distracted before calling him. Oliver is exceptionally smart, and picks up things quicker than any dog I've had in the past. Though we still have moments when he is reluctant, for the most part he comes when called, in hopes that I have a treat (I try to rotate treats and praise, not keeping him solely dependent on food).
It is easier for me than most to train him, as I stay home, and therefore have more time to work with him/watch him. He definitely listens to me a million times better than my fiance, who is gone at work Monday through Friday.
Uh... he listens to you a million times better than he listens to your fiance'? Or was that a litttle Freudian slip? :-)
I must sound like a maniac to my neighbours, a few times LO has squeezed through the door I start yelling in a high pitch excited voice " come on come on Landy come on baby treat treats you wanna treat good boy good boy yeah treats treat good boy come on my baby treat treat you wanna treat etc....." works like a charm.
Wally is very selective of when he wants to come as well. He'll hide, he'll take off, he does the same thing where he'll let you get just close enough and take off. I've gotten to a point where I don't even chase him anymore, I turn around run away and eventually he follows. Completely different story at the dog park though....
Our obedience trainer gave a really good suggestion that I use, when Bear runs and won't come, I bend down and pick up the nearest dandelion or stick or large blade of grass and call his name - his curiosity gets the best of him and he comes running.

She also said, ALWAYS reward the dog for coming to you. If you're in the living room and he's in the kitchen and you call for him and he comes, praise him. If you're two steps away and he comes to you when you ask, praise him - then he learns that coming is a good thing.

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