I need help FAST with my Golden Retriever!!?

Question

Does anyone know how to make him listen when he is not on a leash? I have a two year old that keeps letting him out of the house and when he is loose he runs and thinks we are playing with him. The problem is he wont come when called. We did do training but that did not work. Even the trainer said he is a very stubborn dog. We did PetSmarts training. He did both puppy and basic but they will not allow him into advanced cause he will not listen. Just now he got out and nearly was hit. We do lock the doors so our son does not let him out as much but our son is learning how to un-lock the doors. Please anyone who has a dog who listens how did you do it? I don't want him to get hit! He is going to be two years old in December.

No we have gates on both porches that the dog can jump, but my two year old can not.

Answer 1

On occasion Petsmart can have good trainers, but usually they just have people watch a video and they they are considered professional trainers. I have heard of people who have never had a dog (even as a child) becoming a trainer at Petsmart. Definitely find another trainer. Any dog can be trained if you have someone who understands dogs and knows what they are doing showing you how. If your dog runs out and thinks you are playing, DON'T CHASE HIM. Teach him that you are in charge of any game--run around in a circle and then run inside, calling him so that he has to chase you. Keep some delicious, smelly treats near the door, and if he bolts, stay in the doorway and lure him with the treat, then give them to him once he is inside with the door closed. You can also use deadbolts--put them high enough that your son cannot reach them for a few more years. Good luck!

Answer 2

I have a dog (Golden Retriever) that doesn't listen either, he is only 7 months old. I don't like to keep him chained up. So the majority of the time I leave him loose. He also thinks we are playing with him when ever I try to get him to come inside the house. One day I was so frustrated and I had a whistle on the table and I blew it, he stopped and looked at me and started coming toward me. I went and got a treat for him. I now use this regular whistle that I blow and when he hears it he will come running. Then I give him a small treat. Now, when he hears the whistle he knows a treat is going to follow so he always comes running. (In the beginning you need to stand in front of him with the whistle and blow it. If he doesn't come, drop the treat on the floor so he can see it and he will go for it) Keep doing this until he comes to you and you hand him the treat. You can always then grab him and put him inside. This has been very successful for me. Hope it works for you. Good Luck.

Answer 3

I have 3 goldens and have gotten all to respond to their name and return to me. You need to find a small treat that the dog can't resist - for mine is was basically anything. Just be sure it's small, because the training is very repetitive. In a controlled environment, start by saying the dog's name. When he/she looks, give the treat. Keep doing this at random times when you are with the dog. Then, start doing it from a distance and add a command like "come here". When the dog comes to you, give the treat. It takes A LOT of repetition and patience - but it works eventually. In time, you should be able to replace the treat with a scratch behind the ear and a "good dog". Hope it helps.

Answer 4

Have you considered putting chain locks out of your son's reach so that he can't open them without supervision?

There is a much bigger problem here than a dog getting out. If the dog can get out of the house to go run in the street, so can the child.

Answer 5

Work HARD on teaching him to down from a distance from you and while moving (start by walking on leash & suddenly saying down) for some reason many dogs who will not come will down
Stops herding & hunting dogs in the middle of singleminded 'work"

Also work on a whistle trained come - blow a whistle sitting next to him , feed treats when he looks at you. when he starts drooling at the sound of the whistle, blow it with him just outta reach he'll come get his treat. gradually lenghten distance. This takes him interptating you desperate/ upset voice tone as a game or ominous sign

Answer 6

You can get this spray from petsmart now called Direct Stop Animal ditterent spray, which makes them stop.. and it is completely humane. you can also get an underground fence to put around the porch, so when your dog gets too close it'll shock it, we have tried this and it's worked for my dog, although it never got shocked, because we never really had to put the collar on, because we kept her on a lead, it works perfectly right now!

Answer 7

be patient. i know when he is running wild about to get hit you are panicing. probably yelling at him. Since he thinks you are playing with him...do. For example to get him to come back to you. get him to chase you. just start running away from him so he will come to you. and when he gets to you give him a treat. all while telling him to come to you.
Make sure you NEVER yell at him when if he does come to you. i know you are mad and want to get on to him for not listening. but the only part he remembers is he came to you and he got in trouble. as far as that goes.. anytime he does something wrong don't ever call him to you to get on to him. go to him.

Good Luck!!!

Answer 8

One of my rescues really liked that game, catch me if you can. She was quite an escape artist!
I just grabbed whatever meat was leftover in the fridge, went outside, and sat down on the ground. She'd run around me and dare me to catch her. Once she got a wiff of the meat, she'd coming running for it. Dog caught!