FAQ!

Question:

I don't allow my dog to be off the leash outside but often she runs out the door and gets out. She seems to think that me trying to catch her is a game and runs away . I am worried because she is often crossing roads as I run after her and a few times has come very close to being hit by an on-coming car. She does not listen to the come command and usually only stops for me after I have cornered her is someone's backyard or to go to the washrrom. Is there anything I can do to train her differently. I try not to scold her or spank her after I have caught her cause I want her to think that coming to me is a good thing. Should I be punishing her after I catch her? Is there anything that I can do to train her differently other then reinforcing the come command within the house and when she is on her lead? Please respond ASAP because I am really worried about her getting hurt.

Thanks in advance and I hope to hear from you soon!
DG

Answer:

Hi,
Looks like your dog has discovered that four legs are faster than two and likes to play 'catch me if you can'.

The behavior is straight disobedience. I'm guessing that you have not done any obedience training with her as yet. If not, the sooner you get started, the better. In the meantime, you need to prevent her from escaping and reinforcing the behavior.

Begin to teach her not to go through the door until you give her permission. We might as well begin teaching her to come when called at the same time.

Drop by the local builder's supply and pick up 25 feet of light cotton awning cord and a small bolt snap. Tie the snap to one end of the cord. The type of collar will depend on what kind of dog you have. If it's a medium-sized or larger breed, a flat buckle or soft collar won't do. You'll need at least a choke-chain or, if the dog outweighs you, a pinch collar. attach the line to the dogs collar and let her drag it around the house. If you don't tie any knots or loops in the trailing end it won't likely get caught on anything but keep an eye on her anyway. Ignore her until she gets accustomed to having the line under-foot.

Now, as you put on your coat and gloves to let her know you are going out, casually pick up the very end of the light line. If you can manage this without her seeing you, so much the better. An even better method is to have another member of the family pick up the end of the line without the dog knowing it. Say nothing except 'WAIT'. Open the door just enough to let her attempt to rush out ahead of you. If she tries, quickly close the door. If you can, close the door so that her head is outside and her shoulders are still inside, but close the door under control, do not slam it shut on her neck. Breaking her neck may be one way to teach her but that's not our game plan.:-) When she realizes she is trapped by the door she will try to pull her head back inside. Put your toe against the door to keep her from getting her head back inside. Hold her captive for about ten seconds and then ease the door open just enough so she can get her head back inside but not enough for her to squeeze through and go outside.

You will see the dogs puzzled expression as she tries to figure out what is going on. Say nothing. We want her to get the answers herself. After a few seconds say 'WAIT' and repeat the whole procedure. Two or three trials like this and you should find her becoming reluctant to rush the door. She's hesitating because she's realized that rushing through the door gets her into trouble. Slowly open the door a little wider, tempting her to try to escape. Be ready and catch her again. When you can open the door wide without her rushing through it, count to ten and then step through the door yourself ( ahead of the dog ) and immediately call her outside using the command 'OUTSIDE'. Hold tight to your end of the cord to prevent her from dashing off. If she tries, brace yourself and let her hit the end of the line with a jolt. Say nothing. Your dog is trying to figure all this new stuff out. Don't interfere with her learning. Take her for a quick tour around the house and bring her back in.

Repeat the whole routine, three or four times a day, for as long as it takes to steady her at the door. To keep her from associating the light line with this new control, be sure to attach it to her collar about an hour before you start and leave it on for fifteen or twenty minutes after you've finished.

When you've got this working well, step outside but don't call her to come out. Be ready to catch her if she tries to follow you before you give her the 'OUTSIDE' command. When she has learned this new addition to the lesson, begin to build it up step by step ...

keep her in sight but back up a few steps before you call her out...
vary the routine by sometimes going back inside without calling her out...
increase the time she has to wait, a few seconds at a time, until you can be outside for one minute without her coming out...
any time she makes a mistake, cut the time in half and work it back up from there...

When you have reached the one-minute mark, try going out of sight. This is a whole new ball-game for the dog , so you need to start over. Stay out of sight for five seconds the first time and gradually build up to the one minute mark again. Either have some-one hold the end of the line or tie it to the door knob to prevent her escaping and setting your training back to square one. Now try going around the house when you go out of sight. Does she like to go in the car? Good. Try starting the car and backing down the driveway a few yards. When you can't tempt her with that, get one of the kids in the neighborhood to bounce a ball outside your door while you are out of sight. Be creative. Incidentally, if you're working the dog alone, a small mirror is a good way to see without being seen. Anytime she goes out without permission, descend on her like a freight-train and unceremoniously dump her back in the house, say 'WAIT' and immediately go out again.

Let her trail the long line whenever she is outside. At some point, pick up the 'end' of the line, unsnap the leash and release her with a pat on the shoulder and the command 'OK'. That's her cue that she can relax and wander around within the limit of the light line. If she tries to pull on the line, take a quick step towards her to get some slack in the line, give it a quick jerk, and say 'DON'T PULL'. Never let her lean or strain on the leash or line. Once or twice during this period of relaxation, call her to 'COME' and use the line to make sure she obeys. When she gets to you, even if you had to drag her in, give her a word of praise, and release her immediately with the familiar pat on the shoulder and 'OK'. When all the above is working for you, there is only one final step left...

Each day that she does well from now on, shorten the light line by one foot. If she messes up or tries to take advantage of you, don't shorten the line that day. his ensures that you are not proceeding too quickly. When you have just enough line left attached to her collar to barely touch the ground between her front feet, leave that attached for another month or so. Using a light line like this is the standard bridge between on-leash and off-leash control. Hopefully, you will have started regular obedience training by this time, so be sure to continue on with that.

Good luck with your training!
Neil