Need help for dealing with running away
We have a lovely 10 mo. old named Rufus. Though he's fairly well trained, he never quite got the concept of 'come when called'. He is also a BIG fan of the 'catch me if you can' game. Lately, our son, in rushing out of the house, has not been checking the door and---WHOOSH--out goes Rufus. I would love to hear some effective strategies for getting him back promptly. Obviously, this is a a potentially dangerous situation that we want to get under control ASAP. Thanks in advance for your help |
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| My first oes used to be awful for that... but she LOVED car rides, so I discovered that if she took off all I had to do was open and close the car door a couple of times and yell "Car ride!" LOL
She'd come running and jump in the car and then walk right back into the house with me. LOL |
| My Ben is smart enough to realize that if he doesn't have his leash on, he can go anywhere he wants. But once the leash is on, he behaves even when I am not holding it.
Try putting his leash on in the morning before your son leaves. Before your son goes out the door, tell Rufus it is time for his walk. Then take Rufus for a walk - even if it is only to the house next door and back. A treat when the walk is over. |
| Hi,
Good advice so far! I've had a number of rescued dogs and two in particular had this annoying habit. (All my 8 had at some point taken various obedience classes so I've been fortunate to view a number of tecniques) Shaggy my previous OES would bolt whenever the door opened. No amount of coaxing would get her back in and running after her made it worse. One smart trainer recommended I run the opposite way...made her come after me. It worked! I wouldn't get upset but instead took on a tone of come Shaggy! in a playful manner and run the opposite way. Another tecnique which is quite popular and used at a majority of obedience classes is to purchase a long training leash (usually 10 feet long) Teaches dogs to come when called . One person holds the dog...the owner holds a treat...calls dog. Show the treat...dogs 99% of the time will come running. Lots of praise..good boy!! good come!! Be consistent and try this a few times in your yard. Eventually you don't need the leash,nor the treat...praise is enough as he associates "come" in a positive way and not negative if he knows he's going to get scolded. So although tempting to get mad at your boy when he does this..try to view it from his perspective. Positive reinforcement works better than negative in many cases. Lastly Merlin (one of my "boys") often races out the door when I'm taking them out for walks. Since I have three - walks are a big deal and he gets overexcited. I don't chase him...or he'd just run farther. I sit and call him...he always comes back after he realizes I'm not coming. Those are two suggestions and I'm sure people will have others...as this is a friendly place Let us know how it works out for you! Marianne |
| Obedience classes would be a good first step, the sit command can avert a lot of situations if they learn to reliably sit on command. Making the dog sit before any door is opened may take his mind off taking off, at least long enough to grab his collar.
If you do take obedience classes, be sure to practice at home daily so he knows he doesn't just have to obey in class.  |
If Rufus is food motivated use that. Keep some treats in your pocket and call him when he's in the house or yard. Each time he comes to you give him a treat and lots of praise. When he gets out and you call him he knows he'll get a treat so he'll come back. In a way you're rewarding him for undesirable behavior but it's better than chasing him (which becomes a game) or him getting hit by a car  . This works for Rosco who will go whenever the opportunity presents itself. |
| similar to the car ride suggestion, you can find something he really likes ... maybe "do you want a treat?" or car ride, or whatever else gets your boy really excited. walter used to play dead in the backyard and id have to drag him in... but now all i have to ask is if he wants a jumbone and he comes running back in! |
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