Run-Away Dog

[master_murf]

I have a dog that has just turned one, he is a great dog, loyal, friendly and always happy. I take him for long walks reuglarly but there is one problem, whenever he has the chance he runs away and it is a nightmare trying to get him to come back, he's trained and will come back when he's in the house or in the garden but if he's escaped nothing will lure him back. Does anyone know how to train him to come back? thanks in advance

[lankeela]

Depends a lot on the breed - hounds tend to follow their noses or eyes and will only return when they have finished scenting/chasing what they were after.

Make sure your dog is identified by either a tattoo or a microchip, and make sure your garden is secure. Keep him on a lead at all times in public places unless they are totally secure - get an extending lead if you are going to take him anywhere where he can have a run that is not secure.

This is not just advice to keep your dog safe - it is so he doesn't cause an accident and injure (or worse) someone else if he causes a road accident.

Get him to training classes to teach him to come back when called. Make sure you are 100% confident he will come back before letting him off in public.

[Metz]

Until you get the recall sorted i wouldn't let him off .. you could try using an extender lead :o)
Or you could try the run away option ,seen this on "it's me or the dog" .. run away shouting and he will follow ...

[meltoadhall]

we were told that our dog, 10 month red setter, may never be allowed off the lead until he is older, he goes on an extended lead and runs in the garden. while it would be nice to let him run i know that if he sees a bird he'll be off and not recall.
i would make your garden very secure

[wolf63]

if you are going to secure your garden so that he can't get out remember that they can scale great heights. I read somewhere that for a lab sized dog you need a 6 foot plus fence.

We lived with a 'Houdini' dog when I was a teenager (25 years ago alas) - he could scale anything if it meant that he could go play with the kiddies at the local Primary School at break times.

[JanineG]

Perhaps have "the op" - may calm him down. Otherwise I certainly wouldn't be letting him off the lead if he doesn't listen. I have two dogs - one is great off the lead, the other one has to stay on all the time. I agree its lovely to see them running around a field off the lead, but if you can't trust them, you must retain responsibility.

[camilly]

well, it does depend on the type of dog, jack russells for eg are renound for this kind of behavoiur, my advice to you is if he gets out of the house and it is not on a main road call him if he doesnt come back close the door, and wait, open again after a few mins if he has come nearer, crouch down call him again with a treat in your hand, if he still doesnt come close the door again but for a tad longer until eventually he comes then reward him, and try not to loose your rag. if it is unsafe then obv you can not do this so id go out with a tasty treat or ball and temp them back chucking a treat a bit closer to him then back away etc etc , on walks if he just disappears and goes off i would not let him off lead at all, but in garden call him offer treat reward him praise him, over and over again until you have got the recall, then always take treats on a walk, if all else fails, buy a collar with a zapper, after all a dog needs to run and the ext lead is not a run, treats and perservirance, if you practise daily in your garden i reckon after a week or two it will work.

[lankeela]

PLEASE tell me that by zapper you don't mean an electric collar! I won't even begin to explain.

[master_murf]

thanks all for your help, we've been practising the recall and i think we nearly have it mastered :o)