Running out the door
 

Lily (6 months) has been trying to run out the door lately. She has never been interested before, but last night when I was about to put her on the tie-out she took off. It scares me to death. I live in a townhouse, we have a parking lot out the front and a large back yard area, facing a park and pond with lots of free reign. She has run a couple times out the front door (into the parking lot!) and usually stops when she sees another person. When she ran out the back last night I didn't chase her, just stood at the door calling her name and keeping her in sight. She ran all around, stopped and pottied, then came right back. Is there anything I can do to keep her from running? Should I just let her go and stay calm? Helllllp!

in that event i would put a leash on her...and not let go...

also train her to stay by your side and not leave on command.

thats very scary, these little ones can run and run and run,.. be very careful,
keep an eye open in back of your head.. always put a harness on them before
they go out

I too suggest before you even open the door to have a leash on. What I would do is start training her to "WAIT" while you open the door, meaning she sits or lays or whatever while you open the door and when you give a key word she may approach the door and you will be ready for her. I do this usually a couple ways depending on the dog. I've attached a leash (shortened) and stepped on it as soon as the dog heads for the door ahead of me, they stop in their tracks and I have them sit and say Wait, open the door, if they stay sitting they get a treat. I've also just trained it from a sit position if your dog is already trained to sit, then move into the wait command. You should always go out the door B4 your dog as that is a sign of Alpha dog. If your dog runs out ahead of you then he/she thinks he/she is alpha in the house (not good). Your other option of course if to just put the leash on her before you open the door and walk her out thereby not giving her a chance to dash out on you and if by chance she did at least she has a longer leash on which makes it easier to catch her. Good luck but nip this behavior immediately, before she dashes out at the wrong time and wrong situation. Lily can do it!!!

I have a couple of expens so I use one to put around the front door so when it's opened they can't get out. Works great for us. :D Better safe than sorry.

I take mine out on leashes most of the time and I am teaching them to wait behind me until I go out first - pack leader thing..:D They are learning it really well. Now they will (usually -they're still learning) wait behind me till I open the door and step out and tell them OK. Coming in, I do the same thing. I tell them "wait", then I go in and they come charging after me. I also tell them that mommy goes first - kind of silly but they ARE learning it - pretty quickly too and I am teaching three of them.