My Yorkie runs :(

[Bamboo15]

One of my Yorkies will run out the door and not stop if someone accidentally opens it without making sure he's behind a gate, picked up, etc. first. Everyone is my household is pretty good about this but I'm always worried when we have guests over. I always make sure to close the gate but they'll open the gate to get past it and then open the door without closing the gate. I literally have to make sure I have my eyes on him all the time when we have company. I always tell people who come over but sometimes they're just not thinking and accidentally don't watch out. My other Yorkie would never run. How can I stop this one from running?? I've tried to teach him to 'come' and it generally works (as does shaking the bag of treats) when he's INSIDE but if he gets out he just ignores 'come' and shaking of the treats and we have to run after and catch him. He has only got out twice (we've had him about a year) and both times it was when a guest opened the gate and then the door. I'm worried because this weekend we're going to have a lot of people over :/

[Lovetodream88]

Maybe for now you could put a sign on the door. But I would work on stay and then while on a leash work on stay while someone else opens the door. When my yorkie Callie was a puppy she ran out several times even when we were in a different state visiting family and it was so scary!

[Maximo]

Keep training, but also secure the dogs when you have visitors. Use xpens or baby gates to keep them away from the doors.

I thought my boys were trained not to bolt out the door, but Teddy bolted one day and chased the UPS truck down the street. My dad was the one who opened the door. He wasn't very good about giving the "stay" command. Luckily I was returning home at the same time and saw Teddy running after the truck. I got out of the car and knelt down while calling him to me.

I put up baby gates that day. They aren't ideal but great exercise stepping over them, and they give me peace of mind.

In terms of catching a loose dog, try not to chase. Keeping working on the commands come, stay, down, and stop. I used "stop" once when Max was headed for an open gate in our yard. I almost fell on top of him because I was surprised he obeyed.

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

Maybe for now you could put a sign on the door. But I would work on stay and then while on a leash work on stay while someone else opens the door. When my yorkie Callie was a puppy she ran out several times even when we were in a different state visiting family and it was so scary!

I like the sign on the door reminding visitors. Great idea.

[Parti Peanut]

Maybe it would be a good idea to put him in an x-pen or other secure location while you have company this weekend. You and he will have a less stressful holiday without the worry that one of your quests will let him out accidentally.

[Yorkiemom1]

If you have a lot of people around, rather than risking loosing your baby out the front door, put him in a back room or in a crate. The inside of my home is fenced and crossed fenced, with baby gates across openings/doors that allow access to the front door. My dogs do not go all over the entire house.....they are kept in the back part of the house in the sun room, dinette area, and the kitchen. Mine would have to go thru 3 gates to get out the front door.

As far as "guest" that are not attentive enough to ensure the safety of your precious little dog, I would have a REAL attitude problem. If you come to my home, you need to pay attention to MY HOUSE RULES....major rule is do NOT allow my dogs past 3 gates and out the front door....it will be a MAJOR expensive misadventure for you if you do!

If I had a bunch of people that I had no control over and that I could not trust explicitly with the safety of my dogs, I would secure my dog in a back room, out of harms way. People KNOW how crazy I am about these little dogs so I do not have these issues....but I also do not have a lot of visitors that do not understand the importance of keeping my "gates" closed on the way to the front door.....out of control kids or people that do not understand or appreciate what is important to me in my home, do not come here.

[Bamboo15]

Thanks everyone! We do have baby gates as well as dog gates to keep them away from doors. My dogs themselves can actually open the dog gates so that's why we ended up getting some baby gates. Everyone in my house steps over them but often guests won't and will actually open them (even the baby gates). I've thought about keeping them in a back room but they would literally bark/cry loudly all day. I have two and the one that would run goes crazy if there's people around and he can't get to them to say hello. The other one is more of a one person dog, I never had a problem with him running. Yorkiemom1, I know what you mean, we've actually yelled at close family member for not paying attention after we told them multiple times and they act like we are crazy. It's frustrating. I'm thinking I might just keep the one that runs on a long leash and tied to a chair or something this way he can still be around us but can't run. I like the sign on the door too as an extra precaution. I'm sure I'll get the one or two guests who thinks I'm crazy for doing that (I have two relatives who think it's annoying that I keep insisting they watch when they open a door) but I don't care, I would rather have them safe.

[Opium88]

At the dog parks here they have a set up that's perfect for that . The middle area is small enough between each gate that you can't help but notice the dog in there with you before you go through the second one.

[Jkpal]

Same thing with Piper--she'll come when called in the house, but the couple of times she dashed outside, I had to dash after her...Thank goodness her little beak caused her to stop and investigate some mysterious scent! Piper has learned that when someone comes to the door, it won't get opened until she's in my arms. It's funny and cute to watch her start to head for the door, but then come running back to me, bouncing and twirling--in a big hurry to be picked-up so we CAN OPEN THE DANG DOOR!!! I would do whatever it takes to ensure you little ones' safety; guests should respect and adhere to your instructions--whether or not they agree or understand. It's all about the pups and their well-being!

[Oddsock]

Can you put a child fence and gate around the outside of the front door, so you have a gate on both sides of the front door.

Something like this ...55517 Fire screen 300cm FIREGUARD Hearth Gate Child Fire Safety Guard fireplace | eBay

When training ours, we put a ferret line on them, that could be grabbed, stood on, if needed. It's lighter than a lead.

Don't give up on the training, it might just click in. When training, run away from your dog, if they look as if they are going to run off. Call him, sounding excited. Praise when he comes.

We had the same issues with some guests. Years ago, we had a GS pup, and my hubby's friends stayed over. Treated me like a nut job, because I kept asking them not to leave the front door open...ie I have young children and a pup! They knew better and wouldn't listen. The husband walked out, door left open, I run to the door in time to see my pup under the post vans front wheels, and to hear the screech of brakes being slammed on. Luckily the dog lay flat in fear and was between the two front tires. The postman nearly had a heart attack, poor man. (Those guests were never invited back by me, as they still acted like they'd done nothing wrong, and I was just a worry wart)

[Oddsock]

Originally Posted by Opium88

Attachment 409730At the dog parks here they have a set up that's perfect for that . The middle area is small enough between each gate that you can't help but notice the dog in there with you before you go through the second one.

This is a good idea.

[Bamboo15]

Thankfully yesterday went well and he didn't get out! I thought some relatives were staying over but they actually went home so I don't have to worry for the rest of the weekend as now we just have some responsible friends coming over that actually do listen.

Oddsock, that's insane! They didn't even apologize or even just realize you were right after that!?!?

[canana]

Originally Posted by Maximo

Keep training, but also secure the dogs when you have visitors. Use xpens or baby gates to keep them away from the doors.

I thought my boys were trained not to bolt out the door, but Teddy bolted one day and chased the UPS truck down the street. My dad was the one who opened the door. He wasn't very good about giving the "stay" command. Luckily I was returning home at the same time and saw Teddy running after the truck. I got out of the car and knelt down while calling him to me.

I put up baby gates that day. They aren't ideal but great exercise stepping over them, and they give me peace of mind.

In terms of catching a loose dog, try not to chase. Keeping working on the commands come, stay, down, and stop. I used "stop" once when Max was headed for an open gate in our yard. I almost fell on top of him because I was surprised he obeyed.

Great advice

Hehe...Maximo, you're so funny (about how Max actually stopped and you didn't expect it). My previous dog had somehow gotten out of her leash during a walk once and I nearly had a heart attack trying to chase her down many blocks. She ran like she never ran before. It was the scariest experience I've ever had! So I can definitely relate!

Scottie also darted out the door whenever it opened. It was a big safety problem so I worked hard to train him out of it. This might work for you?

Using a long leash, I tied him to something inside the house (like the railing of the staircase) so that he could reach the front door, but not go through the door. I trained him daily to "stay" with the door open. I'd walk around him with the front door open and praise 'n tossed treats at him. I'd walk outside with the door open and praise 'n tossed treats at him.

Then, I worked this on him at the back door. Every door's different, so you have to do this for every door.

In a matter of time, he knew he was a "good boy" if he stayed inside the house. If yours has always had the urge to run away, it might take you longer. But if you do this 5 min every day, eventually you won't need to tie him down and he'll stay when the door is open. Keep the daily training without the long leash. If there's other people in your house, I'd get them to train with him as well.

Also, whenever we go out, I always walk out the door first. He knows to always follow behind so he never darts ahead of me.

[Jkpal]

Great training suggestion, Canana! With nice weather now, I believe Piper and I might just give your idea(s) a try...