DoodleKisses.com

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

Facebook

Views: 54

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

I really think Luca can. When he returns after not having responded, he tries to sneak in the door and avoid me because he knows I'm going to grab him and that he's going in his crate, while Calla and I are going upstairs.

I don't have any words of wisdom on the recall issue.  I feel your frustration.  We have the same problem when ours are out somewhere off leash.  We are working on recall training one dog at a time.  We don't let them both off leash at the same time anymore.  We do have the occasional accident where they escape and Izzie runs and Max will follow her.

It is so frustrating when they do this.  I usually tell them "good come" even though I am a little angry with them.  They still don't get it.  They just know that it is fun to run.  We are continuing to work on the recall.

Good luck.

 

That's a hard question!  My feeling is--there's no way to tell Starlit that running away was not acceptable.  The best you can do is lavish praise and give the bestest treats when you get close enough to catch her.  I haven't had this problem (knock on wood) so I'm just guessing.  Trav comes very nicely when off-leash and I use the word COME.  When I put his name in front of the come command--TRAV--COME!!  He actually comes on a run.  I'd love to say this happens because of my excellent training techniques, but actually I don't know why he responds so well.  I'm definitely a mediocre trainer, at best!  He always gets a treat (if I have one) for this perfect COME, but he gets treats for other things too.  I've almost gotten superstitious about it, and never use his name before a command except for times when he's off-leash and I really want him to come fast. 

Good luck with this scary situation!  

I really agree that what you need is a solid recall, but then you know that.  As long as the dog comes back to me I would always praise.  If it's really true that they live in the moment, they would need to be rewarded for making the "right" decision (in spite of all those previous "wrong" decisions).  Here's something I learned from my trainer for a "recall emergency",  Play a game with them in the house where you run away with a treat in your hand and say something like "get me" or "run away", and then let them catch you and give them the treat.  It's a fun game for them, and it will usually get them back when they "bolt".  We play this every now and then, but I haven't had to use it yet with either of my guys in an "emergency".  I really think it probably would work, because they absolutely "love" it.

Jane:  Got it... sounds fun.

F. Parker: If it works for you that is a good start for me the next time.

Tomorrow--we are going for a long long run on the frozen lake.

Think Spring. Just think, I should have a fence in a few short months.  That of course will not cancel my recall training!

I am going to sound stern, mean even, but I really mean to prevent heartache.  I had huskies for forty years.  Only a few older huskies can be trusted off leash.  Every instinct in them says run.  I know about run away dogs.  Please read and know it comes from my heart.

 Always, always, always praise when your dog returns to you.  Always. Always. Always. Did I say always?  I meant every time, even after you have followed them three miles with your heart in your throat.  That is what you wanted, to come to you,  isn't it?  There is no way to let Starlit know that what she did is not acceptable. Dogs live in the moment - it has its pluses and its minuses, but when she returns to you be happy and grateful. A perfect recall, which is what you are asking for, takes an enormous amount of practice and truthfully some dogs will never have a perfect recall.

 

In the meantime leash them both up before you open the back door.  No one is coming to buy your home, no one is coming to tell you not to leave the dogs leash out.  You run a high risk of heartache, not to mention guilt,  unless you leash both up before you open the door.  Getting angry, putting her in a crate,  whatever is not as effective as a leash before the door opens.

Leash first, lots of practice and always (did I mention that) praise when your dog returns to you - even though you feel like grounding them for a week.

 

You do NOT sound mean.   I agree.  I am also a very strong believer in praise with the come command.  I did want the opinions on this because in the past I praised even though I was confused because she was so happy with her romp.  In my opening discussion I said I UNDERSTOOD--always praise a come!  Always. 

The leash--well as I wrote above, they are leashed inside a gate.   Both of them, even though only one can go out the gate at a time.  ALWAYS.   However, because of the snow, the gate frooze open.  We have/ Had a pretty fail safe system.  A double exit door.  If one failed the other would catch the.  Now we have reinforced the gate with a cord.

I do believe I confused many with this system.  It is  similar to  the dog park, double gate system.  That is where we got the idea.  Inside first, leash, then out the exit. 

Going back to praise, I agree, training is needed, continue praise, and make darn sure that we don't screw up again.   She was never scolded, however, I said NOTHING and had to calm myself down after running for a 1/2 hour.  Mom took the time out I suppose.   Next time I will think Praise and Happy as Heck I got her back. 

 

The catch to this whole situation--she never CAME.  We had to get her.  She was happy running in the snow.  She never came when called. 

Such a scary situation!  Sounds like you have a great gate system, and the truth is--accidents happen.  I don't check the gates every time I let Trav out--can't see one of them from the door, and I suppose somebody could open it or something could go wrong with the latch.  At least you know that for now you're just going to have to chase her down if she gets away.  So sorry this happened!

Thanks for saying I did not sound mean.  My Roo comes well, Tigger not so much.

 

Here is an alternative method for stopping a loose dog that an instructor taught me years ago and worked on all but one of my huskies.  It works fairly well on Tigger.

 

Teach the distance down.  After your dog understands down with you at his side or directly in front of her         Standing in front of dog, use a large (full arm) movement raising arm straight over head and pushing palm down until arm is by your side while saying "down".  Gradually increase distance and attach "wait" or "stay".  Always ( always) return to dog at the end of wait.  Never call him/her from this position.

 

Once Starlit has this really down pat - short time compared to recall - probably six weeks or less of 2-5 practices a day -  it will be useful for stopping a loose dog.  Without chasing, just following if necessary get attention of dog with a loud odd noise, throwing snow, cookies, etc.  As soon as Starlit looks at you use a big strong "down" with the large hand motion.  Don't move, add wait or stay, walk slowly toward her maintaining eye contact, no voice.  Voila !  hand on collar "Good dog" treat if possible, play a little with hand on collar before walking - otherwise she will get wise to the "down, wait".

 

 

 

 

The distance down sounds like a great insurance policy.  I'm going to start working on this, while hoping I never really, truly need it.  :) 

We have done the distance down, but I never thought about NOT releasing him until I returned. Excellent point. We will practice tomorrow.

I think you did fine = there just is no best or only way to let her know you aren't happy with her.  If she is managing to get free, I think I would snap her leash on at the first door and fasten her to something while in the patio area so she can't slip out.  Bummer, but at least she would be safe until she learns better.

We are doing training right now and my major purpose was for the off-leash and recall. I always worry about Ned and Clancy when we are in our RV. However, I am so loving the better behavior we have so far and we haven't even gotten to "down."

RSS

 

 Support Doodle Kisses 


 

DK - Amazon Search Widget

..

© 2025   Created by Adina P.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service