We have a 10 month old beagle (yes I know...) and have recently had a new issue with her when out that I am confused about.
We have done a lot of recall training and she comes to a whistle in return for a small piece of cheese. She has been pretty good - not 100% and sometimes not that quick in coming but has always come and been given lots of praise when she does come as well as a treat. I have also given small treats when she just comes up to me without being whistled so she will think being near is a good thing.
All going well until the last couple of weeks when she started deciding not to come. It's hard to explain but I whistle, she looks at me, then she goes in the opposite direction. She then will eventually follow me at a distance but won't actually get near enough to me for me to put her lead on - just keeps darting away - it sounds like she's being playful but that's not really how it seems. I have had two occassions where I have had to wait for someone else to come along and she has gone up to them and I have asked them to get hold of her. When she does this it's been half way round a walk when she has been successfully recalled two or three times already.
She has absolutely no reason to fear me and I cannot understand this but it has become such a problem I am now reluctant to let her off the lead at all. I have read a lot on here about recall training with a long lead but am reluctant to use one as she walks really close and nicely on the lead and doesn't pull and I don't really want to risk spoiling that by getting her used to being on the lead but further away from me.
She has plenty of exercise - two walks a day about 45 minutes each. These have been off the lead so plenty of running about. She is not left on her own much as I work from home and has plenty of stimulation and love.
Any words of wisdom?