Running away...

[LoveMyMatix]

I have a male 2 year old Yorkie that is not fixed. When he was just a puppy, I would take him to the front yard to go to the bathroom, but as he got older, I've had to put him in the backyard because he would run down the street and not come back. He is potty trained, does simple tricks like sit, stay, shake, and listens most of the time...But, If the front door is open, he sprints out and runs and runs and wont listen when called for. Also he gets out of the fence and runs away. Any ideas of how to stop this???

[Britster]

My first suggestion -- NEVER let him off leash until he is more trustworthy. Also never let him off leash close to a road, it's asking for heartbreak. And since you have a fence for him to be in, puppy-proof it. Any areas where he can get out should be blocked off.

My other suggestion would be to buy him a REALLY long leash. I practice with Jackson on a 50 foot training lead that I found on eBay. I let him go out all the 50 feet, explore, sniff, etc, and then say "Jackson, come!" and I always give him a treat when he comes to me. Never punish them when you get them, even if you're mad that they just ran away.

It would also be good to take him to a large field, not close to a road, that's fenced in (dog park, baseball field, etc) and practice in an area where she's safe. Also, chasing them usually makes them run more. Typically running the opposite direction makes them be like "huh? where is she going?" or doing something odd, like you sitting on the ground, it makes you more appealing to them because you're doing something different. When you're chasing them, they think it's a game.

Another good thing to teach is the "stay" command. Practice having her stay at the door so every time that door is open, he doesn't bolt. Start with staying for 2 seconds with the door open, then move to 5 seconds, etc.

Also, an unaltered male is much more likely to run away than a neutered male. They can smell a female in heat miles away. It's just another reason why neutering is a positive thing, besides the health advantages.

I suggest watching It's Me or the Dog on Animal Planet or Dog Whisperer on National Geographic.

Good luck!

[Karrie]

Darting out the front door:

We trained Bailey to stay at the door every morning as I kissed hubby goodbye. We kept some treats near the door. First we said "stay" -then he'd go out the door and she got a treat for staying. It was easy to teach. Once Bailey was proficient - we weaned her off the treats. Now she stays at every door and does not go through until given permission.

Good luck.

[LoveMyMatix]

Thanks for the tips!

I want to add that we have taught him to "stay". when I come in and out, and tell him to stay, he does. but when people come over that don't know that he'll bolt and leave the door open, he runs out.
Also, when we are outside we put him on a really long leash on a stake and he does just fine, he lays in the grass and plays, and doesn't not attempt to run nor extent the leash all the way.

[Karrie]

The only thing I can add is to treat and praise every time he comes when called. Thats one treat we don't skip.

[LoveMyMatix]

has anyone used a wireless fence with collar to help with training?

[Ashley V]

I had the same problem with Smokey. He's also an escape artist. If he sees any inkling of an opportunity, he takes it and he's fast. Not just normal fast, like fast fast. I swear that dog is part greyhound sometimes. Anyways, I was really concerned for his safety. I bought a 20 foot lead (you can get them at Wal-Mar for about $5.00) and a small dog whistle (got on ebay for $2.00). I started inside the house at first and I could even be just sitting on the couch and he could be in another room doing whatever he was doing, then I'd blow the whistle and saw "Smokey, COME!" He came prancing right in to find out what that noise was. I'd then reward him with treats and praise. I actually didn't do much outside work with him, but whatever I did seemed to work for the most part. I still don't trust him off leash, but the other day he escaped out of my house because my husband left the front door cracked. I wasn't even home when this happened and my husband told me he found Smokey down the street near a busy street. He told Smokey to "Come" and he pranced right on over and walked beside him all the way to the house. Seriously, that was a first!

[megansmomma]

The long lead is exactly what I was going to suggests too! What I can add to this is my three are NEVER allowed out the front door. They were trained to only use the back to always. So when someone does come to the front door they do not bolt out.

What I did with the back door training is I made them sit and stay on command until I am read to let them go out. They all sit, stay and look at me no matter what until I tell them to go. They also do not run out the gate when we go in and out. It has never been allowed.

If you have a bolter you need to keep her on a leash at all times. If she starts to take off you can alwasy step on the end to stop her. But then tell her good girl and treat and praise.

A lot of this information is also in a book that I like to recommend.

Let the Dog Decide

It really is a great book and I only paid a few dollars for it on Amazon.

[Maddie23]

I think some dogs are just never to be trusted. With my Maddie, when we are going out a door for a walk or into the backyard to play, she will ALWAYS sit and stay until she is released to go. But... ALL bets are off if no one is around to give the commands. I had some work done on my house and twice workmen left a door open that we never go out, but she saw it open and off to the races!!! My only saving grace is that if I holler "wanna go for a ride" she turns tail and races back to me for a car ride. That girl loves a good car ride!

[ChristinaM]

I have a 10 yr old yorkie that also loves to bolt off at every opportunity. We have a long lead in the back yard, the yard is fenced in, but if he gets out the door, he is able to go under the fence.....I am scared he will get hit by a car or into a fight with another dog and/or other animal. Thanks for the tips, & I will be looking into the book "Let the Dog Decide".

[ziggy925]

With a Yorkie, I think most ideas to stop this will be a longshot, but IMO the trick is to get your dog to come. Start at short distances and use plenty of treats. Start to praise the dog as soon as he makes a move towards you -- don't wait till he's at your feet. I also got a dog whistle and taught both my girlfriend's dog and my dog to come to it. When they hear that whistle they know they will get a treat and come running, even if I can't see them.

This is an adjustable whistle that can be made loud or silent, and I have it adjusted so it can be heard but won't bother the neighbors. Supposedly, even when silent, a dog can hear it for miles. The dog has to believe that when you blow this whistle he will get a tasty treat, and this will be better than anything he is running after.

[DvlshAngel985]

What about getting him fixed. Most dogs that are intact run out the door in search of "booty". Sorry, I was trying to make this funny! But seriously, they will run out and can sniff a bitch in heat miles away. I use to think neutering wouldn't really help Kaji. He was a year old, had been at his breeders house all along so I know he knows what a bitch in heat smells like, yet, neutering in combination with training and now I have an angel. It's a lot of work but I think it can be done. To further test my theory, Kaji and I went to visit BF, and his little sis's Maltese mix was in heat. Kaji and I were in the other room and he didn't care for her. He did want to play with her at first (Kaji loves to play!) but when I said no he just came to me and let her be. He really had no urge distracting him from what he already learned.