Run-away pup
 

I need some suggestions on how to get my 1 year old mini yorkie to stop running away. He will slip out of the door and will take off running and won't stop for anything! He won't come when called, he won't stop, he won't look back! We have had to chase him on the 4 wheeler, in the truck, and on foot several times. I'm afraid he will get hit by a car, or another animal will get him. We have thought about a shock collar, but I'm not sure if that would be safe. He is about 4 pounds. Help!

My pups did the running away thing even after being trained the best thing I ever did was get a gate in front of my door ! Im not talking about the old kind of gate Im talking about the new swing door gates they are a life saver! You dont want your baby to be hit by a car . :aimeeyork

If my front door is going to open then my dog is to be picked up. NO one is to open the door without picking her up first. If someone is coming in and she makes it to the door,the person coming in tells her NO and picks her up.
Baby gate is a great idea too,expecially if you cannt get others to help.

Yes, that is a good idea for our house. But he only slipped by at our house 1 time. It's my parents and in-laws house where he always escapes. I tell everyone constantly to watch out for him when coming in and out, but they so easily forget. I just wish I could find a way to break him from wanting to run wild. Or at least stop and come when told. I've tried training him. He does great inside. But, it's like he just cant contain himself outside. He goes crazy!

I trained my boys to sit when the door opened and I thought they were 100% trained. Unfortunately, the other human in the house was poorly trained and did not give the boys the sit command before opening the door.

My younger Yorkie sailed out the door and down the street chasing the UPS truck. Thankfully, I happened to be pulling up to the house at the same time and was able to call him to me.

After nearly losing my Teddy and reading the many sad stories here of Yorkies hit by cars, I installed baby gates to keep my boys away from the doors to the outside. Physical barriers are the only 100% effective way to prevent the dogs from getting out.

Shock collars can be ineffective in many ways. Dogs are often smart enough to know that the shock lasts only a second when crossing a line. They get outside the perimeter of the invisible fence and are at risk, and they don't want to come back into the yard.

Secondly, invisible fences and shock collars do not prevent predators from entering your yard and harming your dog. A chihuahua in my town was mauled and killed by 2 large dogs while the chi was in his front yard wearing a shock collar.

Shock collars rely on batteries and owners sometimes forget to test and replace them.

Lastly, I agree with Victoria Stilwell that they are a health hazard. Some studies have shown that the shock has a detrimental effect on the heart and nervous system.

If you can't install gates, use the spring type that are temporary ($10 -$15 at Walmart) or short xpens, the metal kind that can be set up in any shape you like. I buy my xpens at Tractor Supply for less than the pet stores.

If you are visiting family and they forget. Put him in a harness,on a leash and tie him to your beltloop. This is safer than chasing him down the street. I know it sounds like not much fun for him but you will know where he is.
If I take my baby somewhere she doesn't leave my hands or my husbands. Visiting my inlaws isnt an issue there is a larger dog there that would want to make a snack of her.

Thank you everyone for your feedback! I'm definitely going to look into the gates. And I wish I would have thought of tying him to my belt loop earlier! That is such a good idea. I keep him on his leash in the house sometimes, but as soon as I forget or take it off to give him a break, he's bustin loose! But he won't be able to if he's tied to me. Haha I love it!

How to Stop Bolting out the door

This is basically what we teach in puppy class. We call it Greeting. We encourage active learning. In other words get friends and family to help with the exercise lesson. It takes some effort to set this up but it is so worth it. Open your door to measure where it comes into the room. Make that your NO
DOG Boundary you may mark this area off with a rug, a line of masking tape or what ever is handy and works. The idea is to give your dog a visual and verbal clue. He/ she must sit and stay behind the NO DOG Boundary. Hang a leash on the door knob, so it is always there when you need it. Have your helper knock, or ring the bell three times. If your dog is barking more than three times to alert you, give the Enough cue . For them to stop barking. Don't rush to the door walk calmly. Puppy should be on leash. Chose a word you intended to use forever and every time, we use WAIT. (we also use Wait at curbs before crossing the street) When you get to the boundary, have the dog Sit. Now put your hand up like you are blocking traffic and say WAIT. At first you may have to keep facing the dog and back up to the door. Early on it is ok to repeat Wait and give the hand signal. Open the door a crack, if they bolt foreword, close the door. Walk them back to the Sit and Wait Spot. Give the cue Sit, Wait. Repeat this Greeting Exercise at least 10 times. Ideally it is most effective when repeated randomly over the period of two or three days. It may take about 50 repetitions for the cues to be understood and obeyed.

As an additional note to the training exercise above. The reward of bolting is excitment and fun. You must make staying behind the no dog area a good thing. Special rare tasty treats, praise and pets. It must become an automatic habit for the dog.
I Love useing a gate to block the no dog area. It only take one escape for them to be killed by a car.Please put a sign on the door that says BEWARE of Dog, to remind everyone you have dog inside. Hope this helps.