Labradoodle & Goldendoodle Forum
How do you handle this situation?
We have a double gate system when we let out the dogs. We do not have a fence.
1. The back door ( they sit )
2. Then out to the enclosed open patio that has a rod iron gate ( they sit )
Inside the patio is where we keep the leads/runs to let them out into the yard. This gate is always closed. Each dog is clipped, one at at time, and then let out. Many times only one can go out at a time. The other dog waits inside the gate until each is finished. Spud, the hyper one , goes out first. He knows what to do and comes right back. Mellow Starlit takes a good 10 minutes so she is last.
We always wait outside with them. We have a routine.
Since the winter weather Starlit has escaped 4 times. This a disaster. She is very shy and spooked. If something happens I truly believe this would not go well.
Yesterday the gate latch frooze in the open position. As I opened the back door, DH yells, " The Gate is Open" and they both took off jumping and running in free delight. Spud ( older dog ) came right back when I yelled Frisbee. Starlit on the other hand went into the woods and into another neighborhood ( each time she has gone further).
Now I have always understood to NEVER CORRECT THE COME COMMAND--no matter how long the " Come " takes. We also did not chase her but decided to engage in play with Spud hoping she wanted to join us all the time calling " Come, Cookie, Get Spud" etc......
DH finds her two blocks away in the woods and brings her home.
Starlit is a big greeter. Loving, excited, and happy to see you every moment. I calmly said, NO. No, No, No. Slowly. I immediatley placed the wet snow covered dog in her crate for 10 minutes. I said nothing. No happy greeting, no " good come", nothing. In this case I have always heard never to use the Crate as a punishment/time out/ you've done a bad thing.
My dogs have a relatively free area in the home when we leave so we have NOT been using the crates for the past 8 months. The crate was something new for her again. She cried.
Both have been to obedience. Yes, we are working on recall. All the Time!~!~ I value its importance. They are almost perfect when they know there is a lead attached. Once they know this does not exist--The joke is on me.
So my question:
What would you do to let your dog know that this was NOT ACCEPTABLE?
Did I handle this correctly?
p.s. The gate now has an added bungee cord until the thaw to ensure this does not happen again
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Boy, do I know how you feel & I'm trying to find a solution myself. I have considered getting a sharp whistle to attract the dog's attention for long distance recall. I'm hoping that a super-duper treat associated with the whistle may break the "woo-hoo!! free!!" thought that enters the dogs brain when they realize they aren't on a leash. My dogs aren't in danger but I still want a reliable long-distance recall (my other dog would stop mid-stride chasing a squirrel and come when I called!).
Don't know if this will help but I use the command "QUIT!" when I want my dogs to stop doing what they are doing. It is different than "NO!" because it isn't associated with "bad", just "stop". If we are walking on the leash and they start pulling, "quit!", playing too rough, "quit", etc. I started using "quit" when I was training my horses and "no!" sounded too much like "whoa". "Quit" sounds like "sit" so I think that it indicates to the dog to stop and calm down.
I'll be watching for other suggestions because this is something I plan to work aggressively on this spring!
The way you handled it sounds fine to me. I know people say not to use the crates for punishment but I do. When Calla has chewed on paper or Luca does not respond to "here" (an absolute form of come for him, they get reprimanded and put in their crate. I try to let them know and I think they are aware in these instances that they've done something wrong and what it is. They do not get a treat, which they do when they go on their crates, quite voluntarily, when I leave. Usually whichever dog is doing whatever they shouldn't be, a couple of repetitions of this stops the unwanted behavior for weeks on end or sometimes forever. My dogs always get praised when they come when called and generally they're pretty good about it.
The only foolproof way to get Luca home, when he's roaming, which is always late at night, in the frozen tundra aka my fenced in yard, is to go get him with a leash, which isn't happening right now because broken hips are no fun. So if I think this is likely to happen, I put on his electronic collar. Just on vibrate, to date, never on anything else. He really sees this as a hand from above or something and runs right home.
It is very difficult in our weather and yours without a fenced in yard.Look into deer fencing, which is much more affordable and can be put up by strong able bodied people, in the spring of course. It's also much less visually intrusive.
Fence.
It is the first thing on the list. Research has been done and is on going. The price lists have been printed and already have a folder. I see the Wall of China in our very near future.
My other dogs always came, never were on a lead, and stayed and played in the yard with my children. Running dogs were something I caught for someone else. Never had one :)
I did (Brittany). My only expectation of new puppy Murphy was that he come when I called him.
Many stories about Gumbo. He was terrified of thunder. We resorted to using firecrackers (from a long distance, be assured) to help get him home. Usually we couldn't even see him. Of course, this was usually when we were leaving for work and school...PLUS we had a truly obnoxious neighbor that called the pound every time he got out.
We had an invisible fence. He ran through it...really fast. It was worth the pain to get to those darn ducks and nutria and whatever else he was after.
DH has a bag a cookies in his coat pocket. I think the dogs think the treats are built in to the husband. Recall is practiced daily. Starlit is extremely food motivated. This is what disturbs me too. Why she would leave her most valued treat. Like you, we have geese, squirrels, other dogs, deer, and who knows what else in this border woods.
Recall we can constantly work on... I just don't know what to Say/Do when we finally have her back with us.
This is kind of off and on the topic. This is separate from recall...training..... and the issues I need to work on obviously. Spud's loyalty is strong and has strengthen with maturity. Starlit is still very young, was as rescue with trust issues, and even though her bonds are strengthening she can still be a little aloof at times.
For example: No matter where I go Spud will be there with either me or DH. His eyes are always following. I have not been the to basement alone since I've had him. He is loyal and sticks like glue. Starlit however goes off alone, can be found in the middle of the night sleeping on the living room floor rather than next to our bed, leaves the room when it is family time. I respect this in her but what I am thinking ( just a hunch ) that as bonds strengthen the less your dog will wander off. The less likely they will go beyond the sound of your voice.
Maybe ? Maybe not?
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