When people get hurt from Doodles' zoomies

[Km]

So, Ridley broke my mom's foot. :-(  

He was zooming around the yard with his other doodle buddy and wasn't looking where he was going.  He ran right into my mother, knocking her off her feet which resulted in a broken foot.  Quite frankly, even if he WAS looking where he was going he could have run her over... because he has no idea where his body is in space!  He has taken my feet out from underneath me, landing on my tush.  He will mow over the kids, who are admittedly more flexible and take bounce easier than myself and my 70 year old mother.... but still it's dangerous.  

This may be a dumb question but is there any type of training or certain things we can do with him to minimize this?  I know there are the obvious modifications like not being in physical proximity to him when his playmates are over (stay on the deck).  But, we like to all play in the yard together and don't wish to just have "ridley time in the yard" and then put him in the house when the kids play outside.  But when the mood strikes him and he takes off... he's not watching.  It's not malicious because he looks just as startled as the person who got mowed over.  

You should have seen how sorry he was when my mom first came back to the house in her boot and on cruthces!  He was licking her boot and sat right next to her saddled up to her leg so tight.  Poor mom and poor Ridley!

[F, Calla & Luca]

How old is Ridley? It is of course, worse when they are young in terms of running wild. But my two, at 4 and 5, could plow anyone down when they are chasing each other and play fighting. When that sort of activity breaks out I run for the nearest tree or big object to avoid accidental spills.

[Km]

Ridley is 12 months (70lbs... needing to get down to 65!).  So, I'm thinking we just have to head for the hills.  So, I'm thinking it's more of a training the humans issue than the dog.  LOL

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Well, I'm 66 and my DH is 70 and we have two Doods...one mini and one 3 yr old Standard (55 - 60 lbs) and full of energy.  That's why we trained them.  I knew that If they were not trained, this would never work.  They get to have "zoomies", but the second I give them the command to stop they do.  They are never allowed on the stairs at the same time that we are.  I give them a wait command, I walk down the stairs and then I "free them".  Doodles can be totally fine around kids and "older people" (and I use that term loosely...LOL)...but only if they are trained.  I'm guessing he wasn't "sorry" about your Mom...I really don't believe they are capable of this level of reasoning, but I'm sure he really does love her and would never want to hurt her (or anyone)...he just needs to learn how to behave around her....and that's what training is all about.

[F, Calla & Luca]

One thing I have trained them to do is o not do their rough housing in the house. That is a big help.

[a.k.a. Rodney]

Interesting comments....I've been on both sides recently. Nothing can compare to a doodle that is trained and a human in charge! I just am So happy my puppy got a strong start early with the "board & train" camp. She came back a totally better pup! And from the story above, I guess, I am a lot safer too

[Adina P]

I haven't figured out how to train my doodles to mind their space or other people's space when it comes to the kids.  They'll just whip around, spin around, or fly off from a dead stop.  I would have to micromanage their every move and I just can't.  Something I could work on, but haven't, is flying out the back door no matter who is standing in the doorway.  Too many people to manage.

[Ginny Nightingale]

I think that when my dogs do this, we all yell "watch out" and are more careful to keep an eye on the dog--bending the knees is really important as hitting the knee from the front can hyperextend it backwards and do some serious damage. We do NOT trust the dogs to look out for us. They do get better at this as they get older though--try putting some harmless obstacles around the yard, like a lightweight folding chair for example, so that Ridley gets some practice with looking where he is going. 

[Cathy, Fozzie & Shaggy]

I agree with Jane about training. Stairs and doorways are nonnegotiable, they wait until told "ok, come on"! When they run crazy outside, a friend told me just the other day, she tells her dogs to "pay attention" if they come too close while running and playing. She does this just to make them aware of where she is. She also stops them completly if they become too rowdy and do not pay attention. Teaching self control can be helpful at this time too.
Good luck and I hope your mom feels better very soon!!!