strange behavior.

[Anna and Achilles]

Lately, when asked if he wants to go for a walk, Achilles will get excited sit to put on the leash and then run like he** ! We have to chase him down to get the leash on him. He loves to go for walks. What could possibly cause this new and strange behavior? We have to basically tackle him to get the leash on him.  I am very confused.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Next time he runs away, without saying a word, take the leash and calmly go sit down somewhere in the house. I'm curious myself to hear what happens. Could he just be playing a "chase me" game out of excitement about going for a walk. Does he seem playful when he runs away, or really scared?
An alternative might be to just put down the leash and walk out the door by yourself. The other person will be able to observe Achilles reaction. I'll bet he'll be ready to go for his walk when you come back in a few minutes later.
This is strangeness worthy of JD!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I have to get L&S headed to the area where their leashes are and shut the gate before I say the walk word because they want to go, but they don't want their gentle leaders on. If I have a regular collar and leash they will come right to me, but if I have their gentle leaders they run from me. I do as Karen said, either just go sit down or go on out the door and they eventually come to me because they really want to go, just don't want their gentle leaders. I can also use treats to lure them in, but I always make sure they know that I have the gentle leader in my hand when doing it so it isn't a trick .... you want the treat, you know that means you are getting your gentle leader on! If you are chasing him though, even if it wasn't a game in the beginning it is now!

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

What is his demeanor when he is running? Is he acting scared or playful or some other way? Have you changed his collar or walking equipment in any way recently? How does he behave once you get the leash on-is he ready to go or reluctant?

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Peri has done this before. I stand at the door and say "okay, well I am going outside without you" and open the door. She runs to me and sits. This is a game to them...I admit I let her manipulate me.

[Lorraine Bromley]

Its fun to play chase. Alteast if I was a dog and I got to play chase I would do it if someone was ready to.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Daisy LOVES playing Chuck-it in the back yard - we use 2 balls, she runs and gets one and when she comes back she drops that one at our feet so we will "chuck" the next, as of the last 3 days she has been refusing the 2nd ball - it must always be the one she started with - doesn't matter which one she starts with for the day but always has to be the one that was first thrown.....it drives us nuts - but oh well, we still do it - she is so controlling (but we love her anyway). These doodles are so busy trying to make things more interesting then the same old same old.

:-)

[Christy and Yoda]

Yoda does the same thing! He never used to be particular about his tennis balls but now he will pick one from the yard and that is the ONLY one that he will play with. It could be a different one everyday but it us usually the dirtiest one. This summer I ran over a tennis ball with the lawn mower and mutilated it. That was the only "ball" he wanted to play with for a few days. I finally had to sneak into the yard and throw it away so that he couldn't pick that one anymore!

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Hilarious!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I have the same thing every day. JD is very picky about which tennis ball he will play with. Lately, he only fetches Penn brand tennis balls.

[Anna and Achilles]

Nothing has changed, collar, leash, the walk we take. Nothing has happened on our walk that would have scared him. I have tried to sit down and wait. He comes over,sits, and does the I need to go out bark, I gently reach over to him and off he goes again. Like a rocket. Once I get the leash on him he is his silly happy self ready to go. Tail wagging and all. I will try your idea Karen and have someone watch his behavior when I leave the house. I will keep you all posted. Thanks for the input guys.

[Christine & Shelby]

I had Shelby do this once or twice. Then one day when she ran away.... I took her leash and walked out the door. Stayed outside for a minute or two and came back in. She was ready to go - hasn't been a problem since! Good Luck.... let us know how it goes!

[Renata]

Our 1&1/2 yr. old doodle started doing this a couple of months ago. She will come to her regular choke collar but not her gentle lead. She runs around playing "catch me". I sit & wait until she comes over & then we go out. It certainly is a game for her.