just had to have a brag to someone! had my 5month old ridgie out for a walk just there, and we encountered 3 large dogs playing all of a sudden, they popped up from behind a small hill, about 20foot away, now usually my pup is off like a shot ( he loves other dogs, and has a habit of ignoring me if theres any around and wont come back) he took a few small steps towards them, and i about turned and started walking in opposite direction swinging his toy and calling "come" and he ran to me! im so chuffed, he kept looking back at the dogs, but continued to stay by my side! feel i made a wee break through tonight!

Fantastic well done. I have the same sort of problem with Louis, but its the people that interest him more !! Sure he wouldn't notice if I walked off sometimes

Great! Well done! It's a matter of you persevering, in the end he'll be at your side no matter what you come across on your walks. But the journey towards it can be long and sometimes tiresome
Good luck,
Karen

my pup is opposite, if theres people and dogs around he completely ignores people, he can appear rude! was at my friends last night, and he was playing with her staffy and her sister popped around to see my pup, and he totlly blanked her, had to seperate the dogs for her to get a look at him, and hes a really affectionate wee soul if no dogs about!
my pup didnt notice when i walked away one time, he started walking away home with some guy and his black lab, and i was told ridgebacks are loyal dogs haha!

Your boy sounds like a great little chap, confident and very typical for the breed in prefering dogs to humans. I'd be well pleased he's bold enough to forget about you at times. Unsecure RRs are much more difficult to own.
Karen

when you put it like that RRfriend, then yeah i suppose it is a lot better to have a confident pup than underconfident. he is a wee character, very clever and thinks things through, picks things up quick enough, but then decides if he'll choose to listen when you ask him at a later time!

Oh yes, confident dogs can be a pain, like my Henry, but I'd much rather have him like that than shy or fearful.

well done, it feels fantastic doesnt it when it all starts to pay off, look out thought! they can still surprise you sometimes!  xx