I really think it's a game to them. Gracie Ruth does this too. More to my DH then me, but then he's a sucker and falls for it every time.
He'll continue to try and get her to come to him, to reach out and pick her up, but I don't think that's
really what she wants. When she really wants picked up she won't run away. But more times then not, she wants to play, she loves the chase game.
If she comes to me, I go to pick her up and she backs away, I have to decide if I want to play with her at that moment. I don't always play when she asks, but will if what I'm doing can wait a few minute. I have no problem with her initiating play, but she doesn't always get her way either.
The challenge with Gracie is when it's
my idea for her to come to me. Little stinker knows what I want and sometimes will and sometimes won't. You can see her little mind working. I'll say Gracie come here, and she's all like Yeah ok Momma, then she'll take a step, pause then decide that, no, she's not going to do it, turn and walk away.
That's when the Mommy voice comes out and she knows I mean business. She'll hunker down all small and tiny and play the "I'm just a small little baby puppy and I don't know what to do" card.
Then other times she'll come right to me when called. Again, it's just the puppy thing with her, she's getting better as she gets older.