He's a runner...and it has me worried.

[Winston08]

My oldest baby is almost two and has a horrible problem with bolting out the front door. He is fine when I just leave, he sits a distance away and just watches. But as soon as there are people or other dogs outside the door, either coming or going, he bolts out the door. He then runs as fast as he can on the route of our walk. It worries me because I live in the desert and there are wild animals that can hurt him not to mention the cars in the street. I need advice on how to stop this behavior because he is really going to get hurt. Thanks!

[diannenet]

I would like to see responses on this as well. Toby is getting better and I do have him trained to where if he does dart out the garage door and out to the driveway I say "Toby want a treat" and he comes running back. That's not a solution but if it keeps him away from the street and back into the house, I'll give him that treat. He has been doing a LOT better the past few months. But he does the same thing yours does. And usually when I open the garage door to come in the house, since he's RIGHT THERE, when I open the door he ends up behind it when I come in the house.

I guess they are just so attached to us they want to be with us 24/7. Toby used to be really bad when we first got him when I'd leave for work but now almost a year later, my husband said after I leave for work Toby goes up the doggy steps and gets back in bed with him. Sometimes he has to get him out of bed around 10:30 a.m. The little stinker won't stay in bed whenever I'm home. He's always on my heels!

[ladyjane]

I am sure others will give you some training tips. The only thing I can think to say at this moment is for you to put a gate up somewhere that will prevent him from running out the door! Prevention is worth a pound of cure.

[Sandysbabies]

Our little yorkies are good about staying back when you tell them. But when we first got Lexi (mini schanuzer) she ran out the front door. She ran next door and sit on the curb and would not come to us. I almost had a heartattack because I could just see her getting hit. We then put up a gate between the living room and den, so they are not allowed in the livingroom unless we let them. It has really been a help and I feel more comfortable.

[Deuce]

I agree with putting up a gate to keep him from having access to the door, and start doing recall exersizes (sp? it's early on Monday) where he would be able to see strange animals walking by, like at the park. This way, you can train him to focus on you when he sees a stranger, it'll take a while, so in the meantime take away his access to the door it's the safest and easiest way. Good luck!

[Darlene68]

Bailey will bolt out the door in a second given the opportunity, I have to really be careful because he takes off like he is in heaven when he gets a chance to run free outside, He just won't come when called no matter what I try, so I make sure he can't get out now. Jesse will not go out unless I go, and he stick by me..They are total opposites!

[Britster]

Coming when called is sooo super important and probably one of the hardest things to teach, to a terrier anyways. That's what I've found.

I am still working with Jackson continually. He used to be off leash a lot more, but once he turned 1 years old, he became a lot less reliable because I never formally taught a solid recall. We live on 3 acres with no fence. He has gotten out a few times when a door has been left open (grrrr... stepdad's doing!) He doesn't typically dart, he just kinda walks out like "oh, cool, a door is open" and goes exploring, lol. The last 3 times he's gotten out, he's come right back to me so I think our training has been working. However, for the last year, he hasn't really been allowed off leash at ALL outside of a fence, only the 50 foot line.

I try to use a REALLY rewarding treat like hot dog, cheese, chicken, steak, etc when practicing coming when called. I bought a 50foot training lead (Petsmart has these for around $10-$12) and I let him go all the way out 50 feet and then call him to me... so it's almost like he's off leash, but IF he happened to run off, he's still safe at the end of that 50 feet. I also found he responds better to "here" than "come". I don't know why. So you can try different words and phrases.

Also, I read once on here you should have ONE command that's an odd word not used in daily convo, like "Jackpot!" or something that means it's *really* important to come. Train it over and over but once learned, don't overuse it. A word that means he really MUST come.

I'm lucky that my dad has a big fenced in yard and we also have a nice dog park. Both are nice places to practice recall. I always keep a few treats in my pocket at the dog park and will randomly say "Jackson, here!" and he responds REALLY well most of the time now at the dog park (with lots of distractions). It's been a nice place to incorporate training. As well as our agility class.

Basically: Practice, practice, practice! Don't use the word "come" or "here" if you know they are NOT going to come. Set them up for success. If you overuse any word, they become 'immune' to it and don't really understand the meaning behind the word. If you keep saying "Come!" and they're not coming... that word is worthless. ONLY say 'come!' when you know they are going to, or after they do.

Here's a good article:
Dog Emergency Recall Command

This Youtube account has amazing videos and she is making a whole series about recall and coming when called. She's got around 10 videos right now of games you can play.
YouTube - pamelamarxsen's Channel

The key is making YOU be exciting. Make it so your dog wants to come to you, and has fun while doing it. There's also a few things you can do in emergency situations like get on the ground, so that your dog looks at you and is curious as to what you are doing and comes over to explore. I saw this on It's Me or the Dog.

As for the door darting, teaching a solid 'wait' command is essential. Watch kikopup's channel: YouTube - kikopup's Channel

[alishasmom]

Trixie used to do that a lot. When my husband came from afganistan, a simple "no" from him stopped her bad habit of running out of the door. Now that I think of it, many of her bad habits stopped when hubby came back.

[katy-yorkie]

I use a gate if I know someone is coming. That's about the only way I can be sure they aren't going out the door. It doesn't say much for my training ability but I would rather them be safe. They will come when I call them except for when they are excited and have run out the front door. I usually don't have a treat handy to entice them back. They are so quick, they can be at the end of the street in no time.

[AllDogBoots]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

I am sure others will give you some training tips. The only thing I can think to say at this moment is for you to put a gate up somewhere that will prevent him from running out the door! Prevention is worth a pound of cure.

I keep a gate blocking off our foyer. I've been working with Max on "stay". I thought we had it down pretty well. I opened the front door yesterday and he bolted! I literally dove on concrete to catch him. Boy did I get scratched up! I'm now putting another gate on the front door until the trainer can help us. I will definitely not risk this again.

[teacup0819]

I haven't had much luck with Trixie and the front door either. I did what others said and put up a gate-type enclosure (actually it is 4 pieces from her xpen extended into an L-shape enclosure near the front door. It is quite a bother for everyone to step over to come into out house, but better safe than sorry. Before the gate, bolted from the house two times and ran wild and into the street and she is sooo fast that I had to stand in the middle of our street and block traffic till she came back to me. I cannot stand that thought of anything happening to her...thus the very large front door enclosure

Good luck and I will keep watching for replies and will keep working on her training

[teacup0819]

Originally Posted by AllDogBoots

I keep a gate blocking off our foyer. I've been working with Max on "stay". I thought we had it down pretty well. I opened the front door yesterday and he bolted! I literally dove on concrete to catch him. Boy did I get scratched up! I'm now putting another gate on the front door until the trainer can help us. I will definitely not risk this again.

Let me know if you feel that the trainer helps....I will pay for one to come to our house if yours helps Max. Thanks and good luck....they are fast little buggers!! Hope you heal quickly...those concrete scrapes really hurt!

[Islandcanine]

Brittany has made very good points. Recall can save a dogs life so is of utmost importance that you teach your dog this if nothing else. It can be done, terrier or not.
My girl played the catch me if you can thing when I first got her. Running and it scared me major. I have had two other incidents since. One just last week.
The biggest thing I taught Roxy was Stay. When we are at the off leash parks and a big dog comes around that I don't know, I tell her stay. I crouch down beside her and wait for the other dog to approach so I am there for the introduction. My girl is small and can get hurt easily.
Stay is just as important as calling back but is much more easier to teach in my case.
What I did for recall was take a long 12 foot leash, some favorite cookies and went to an open park. If she started to take off and not come back I could easily grab the end of the lead.
I also play games with her where I have her outside in a field. I tell her stay. Then I walk away. I started this by facing her and walking backwards, continuing to give her the stay hand signal. Each time I go further away. I crouch down, still with the hand signal and then say come. She comes flying to me and she gets a verbal reward with a treat. I have started walking away with my back to her but then returning. If she remains in a hold position through out she gets her treat. She understands "cookies" and that is the ultimate "Must Come" word. Although stay is the emergency word.
She reacts to stay immediately. I suppose the reason is because she understand it is to keep her safe as we have had close calls. I can see when a dog is frightening her so I say stay so to pick her up and out of the threatening situation.
I started training her with the recall at 15 mnths. It is when I got her. She was a rescue (can U believe that??)
Work on the recall. Continue to. I have taught her but must constantly continue to practice.
Another thing I have taught me dog that helps with the problem of running, is teaching her leave it. That way I correct the problem before it occurs.
If I think she is going to fly after something, a cat or a bird or someone walking past the driveway I tell her leave it. She understands and is so eager to go. It is scary at times. Especially when there are cars so near.
A Gate is a wise idea I must say. I use cardboard that I put in front of the doorways in the summer time so to keep my dog in. Safe from predators and wandering too far away. When we go outside, my eyes are on her constant, otherwise she can't go out.

You tube has some great videos. Just search training dog recall or teach dog come. Remember what works good for one dog may not work for another. You must find what works for your dog.
I know the fear and I wish you & your Yorkie the best.

[Donnainohio63]

My Sophie was a door darter and that is the reason she is not with me today. Scooter started doing it to and it just so happens I was watching an episode of , Its me or the Dog, and this was a problem they were having with their dogs. In a matter of two hours Victoria taught these dogs to stay when the door is opened just by putting her hand, and if needed, body in front of them and telling them to stay. When they stayed she rewarded them with a treat so I thought what the heck and I tried it with Scooter and it worked. He and Sadie are no longer door darters. Thank you Victoria


My babies are spoiled


RIP Sophie Lynn Mommy loves and misses you