Help--my dog is running away!

[Cindee56]

Hi, I need help from the dog behavior experts here!  Our dog is doing well with housebreaking, eating, sleeping and everything except one thing:  he runs!  We have only had Connor for about 2 months and he seems very happy and healthy, but about 4 times already he has gotten away either running out the door or slipping out of his leash and collar and then he takes off like a maniac and doesn't come when we call him.  

Yesterday was absolutely the WORST.  Hubby and I took Connor to a large wildlife park area, and we were all having a great time.  We sat on a bench for a minute and my husband was holding the leash and all of a sudden I saw Connor off the leash and heading into the wooded area.  We knew enough that if we immediately ran after him, he would run faster so we got up quietly and called him, but he kept going.  We spent about 1 1/2 hrs. traipsing through the woods, and the only reason we got him back was because he got distracted by a large dog and hubby was able to grab him as he ran RIGHT PAST US!  

We try to take Connor to the dog parks and areas where there aren't so many cars because he also will run right out in the street!  I am worried.  We got him the chip implanted so he can be identified if he's found, but of course, I don't want him getting lost in the first place.  

We have done everything the books say to teach STAY and to get him to COME when called, but he's not getting it.

[Tanner85]

Hi!!!  My fiance and I had the same problem with our dog.  Tanner was 2 months when we got him from the shelter.  He was good for a while.  But it seemed like when we let him outside, without his leash and such, he'd do his thing and come in.  After a while, when it was nice, he'd see people and run after them to go with them, or other things like rabbits or cats.  Sometimes, he would just take off!!!!  It takes a lot of training to do this, when he runs off, make sure he knows he's been a BAD dog, if he doesnt take off, praise him!!!  It does work.  Tanner is over little a year now and he hasn't ran off.  When he thinks about, I use his name in a very stern voice; this is to let him know that I'm going to get furious with him.  Everytime I would get him home, or my fiance, we would say bad dog, go to your room, which he knew then, that he was in a big trouble.  Your dog is still a pup, so they're going to try to test and run, just like any kid would test his limits with his parents.  Just make sure you say no, bad dog, or good dog, stay.  Just use the normal commands and make sure they're the same and repetative!!!!  Good luck and let me know how your progress goes!

[clairfisher]

i have 2 dalmation pups we went to dog training and the basic idea is dog treats they will do anything for a treat but they have to earn it first. try calling the dog to you and give him lots of praise and a treat for coming to you do this in the house and in the garden to start with. when i take my dogs out i let them no i have the treats and now i can let them off the lead and they will come back when called. all dogs need to know that you are the leader and when they accept that they will do what they are told. try the treats untill you can go to training school its the best thing to do because it helps teach you all about dogs and how they think. also get a harness that he cant slip out off.

[luvmydog2]

Not sure how you feel about electronic collars but they do solve the problem fast. I have hounds and as soon as they caught scent of ANYTHING they were gone. One day they were gone for an entire day and we were very concerned about them being hit by a car. We bought electronic collars which are run by a handheld remote and they learned very quickly to listen for that tone. These work very similiarly to the electric fences only the controller is handheld because we were concerned they would brave running thru the fence and then we would have no control. We also have them out in the woods alot.  It really became a safety issue for us. They are pricey, ours was about $300. But in our minds their safety was well worth the price. Just a thought...

[Cindee56]

Yes, we did buy one of those leashes.  I think you are correct, our dog loves us but does not respect us.  He just got out the door again, but this time I caught him.  He's a small dog, so he sneaks through when you think it's safe to open the door.

We are going to sign up for classes as soon as we get back from a trip we're taking.  We have to do something.

[Savas]

I had a similar problem with one of my dogs. He was fine with instruction until he got about 5-10 feet away, and then he was off to the races!

i talked to an expert who told me my dog didn't fully respect my authority. I should have taken him to one of those classes but...well, I was 17 and lacked the discipline to be bothered (probably why my dog didn't respect me. :)  )

I ended up getting a harness with a "fishing rod" leash, one of those types you can run some line out and pull it in?

It did help with training him out of the negative behavior...somewhat.