My BT has always been pretty good on recall apart from the odd teenage deaf ear lately which seems to be getting worse, but this week she has been doing something a bit weird and i cant work out if she is just being stubborn or if she is confused by my commands. I had taken her for a nice long walk in the park and we had had a good kick around with the football etc. Then when I started heading for the gate to get in the car she sat down in the middle of the park and just watched me like she would if we were practising a 'wait'. I called her and she didnt budge, I rattled her treats nothing, so I headed out the gate still nothing. She was still sitting watching me, in the end I had to go back in and get her. I just cannot work out if she is telling me she doesn,t want to go home or she thinks we are playing some kind of wait game. All i know is it is really annoying, the 'come' command doesn't seem to be working anymore. Has anybody got any thoughts on her strange behaviour or advice on what to do when the word come does not work anymore.

It sounds like that teenage phase again I'm afraid - pushing the boundaries.  My boy went through a similar phase at about 12 - 18 months;  Try varying her walks....take her to new places where she isn't so sure of herself or aware of where the walk finishes.  Put her on the lead at different times and places - not just at the end of the walk.  Also, put her on the lead half way round, lead walk her for 5 mins and then let her free again.  Be unpredictable!  Try to make being on the lead fun........go and investigate some bunny holes together or whatever appeals to her!  Also, keep a special toy or VERY high value treat that only gets given at the end of the walk........with my adolescent I had to use Tescos hot roast chicken from the deli counter to motivate him!  :-) 

If all else fails, put her on a long line so that you can at least reinforce the recall.  They do get through it, but it is trying at the time.

Thanks thats excellent advice, I think you are right about her knowing that walk very well and knows where it ends, I think I will make it my new years resolution to seek out some new and exciting walks so things are not so predictable. Thanks again.

I don't think dogs actually mind predictable. For sure, they like familiar walks in a way that I suspect us humans would find boring after a while. However, when they get to this "whatever" age they tend to try the "when I'm ready" trick on and certainly, fooling them by not always putting the lead back on at the same place can be most effective. As can taking the lead on and off at unpredictable stages of the walk.