Annoying Habit?

Question

I have a perfect dog…well she is close to perfect. She is super intelligent and can usually out smart me. She is three years old and can learn new tricks within minutes of teaching her. She is an Australian Shepard mix, what she is mixed with I have no idea. I have only one small problem. When I am in a store, especially Wal-Mart where there are lots of smells, she jumps out of the car and runs around. This wouldn’t be such a big issue if she would come to me when I was ready to go. But instead she gets excited and runs around even more. When I walk up to her she starts jumping about like an idiot. I know that rolling up the windows would be the easy way out, but I want to correct this behavior. I’m not sure how I can discipline her when she does this. Currently I tell her “NO! Bad Girl,” then I roll up the window so she can’t have fun on the way home. Once we are home I usually tie her up outside; she typically runs free. Anyone have any suggestions on discipline and behavior correction that does not involve a shock collar. This is a really annoying habit and it could possibly get her killed.

I live in the country. Most people have their dogs in the back of trucks and not many people's dogs jump out. It's not illogical when it's hot outside. This is a new problem, she just started doing it. I know that rolling up the window will stop the problem, I want to fix the behavior issue of her not coming to me.

My dog being stolen is not really the issue. But thanks for the adivce. I can't really see myself using a choke chain.

Where I am from EVERYBODY takes their dogs with them. Not too many people own Pits around here. She is fine if she stays in the car. It’s not hurting her; she loves to be in the car. She thinks it’s her car and sleeps in there sometimes while at home. The windows are rolled down. She has plenty of air. No one will steal her because she doesn’t like strangers unless I am there. I take her with me because she enjoys going with me. I never leave her in the car alone for more than 5 minutes. If I know it’s going to be a long trip she doesn’t go. I am not endangering anyone or her. This is not Florida and it’s not 115 degrees outside at 8 o’clock at night.

THIS IS THE COUNTRY PEOPLE. She is a farm dog. She chases cows back in the fence. There are no leash laws here. Of course I have not been ticketed or fined. I know my dog, as I have said she is extremely intellegent. I made her that way. I've had her since she was 7 weeks old and she does not misbehave. That is except for this.

Teatotaller.

She used to sit in the car just fine without ever getting out. You're right though, she always wins this game. She is a very well behaved dog in all instances except this (which only happens sometimes). I want her to be able to go places without acting a fool. I suppose we just need to practice. Yes it is common practice to shoot dogs in the country. But she behaves at home, and while she is running free she is working. It keeps her busy so she doesn't go running around like crazy. Thanks!

Answer 1

you have to discipline her the moment that the bad action occurs or she won't understand what she's being punished for. She may think that by returning to you she's in trouble because now she can't have the windows down and she is going to be tied up at home. As soon as she goes to jump out you need to say No! like you would if you were disciplining her from taking food from the table - you have to mean it, then you can further the punishment by showing her you disapprove, to do this simply don't look at her for several minutes, if she tries to get in your face you have to look away and turn your head - I know it sounds silly but it works.

Answer 2

This is all a game for her.
By "punishing" her after you have got her back in the car and then chaining her up is useless. it is actually cruel. No matter how smart and intelligent your dog is, she wont connect the punishment to her jumping out of the car. They have such short memory spans.
The only way to stop her doing it is to put her in a harness that is attached to the seat belt (like what was previously said).
You are so right that she outsmarts you because she is getting away with misbehaving at Wal-Mart. To her you are not indicating her behavior is inapropriate, it is all a game. A game she wins at everytime.
If you think you will look a failure as a dog owner if you put a harnes on her (which you are if you cannot control her), you will have to spend time, at Wal-Mart grumping at her as she starts to jump out.
You are going to have your work cut out for you with her. She has already figured out she is smarter than you and she is higher up in the pack than you. That would be the first thing that would have to be addressed.
Just because you're in the country and "everybody" takes their dog and leaves them in the back of their trucks, doesnt mean you have to. All of the dogs who sit nicely have been TRAINED to do so.
There is nothing worse than an ill mannered dog running riot. She may well cause and accident or be in an accident.
And being country, isnt an accepted thing to for anyone to shoot nuisance dogs??

Answer 3

You are endangering this beloved pet, in or out of the car.
I can't believe no one has stolen her yet. She could be run over, abused by kids, stolen for pittbull bait, or else roast to death inside the car.

I don't know where you live, but if you leave a dog in a car with the windows rolled up here in Florida, you are going to have a dead dog when you come back out of the store. You could also be arrested, or get in a nasty confrontation with bystanders concerned about the dog. I've seen bystanders go crazy when finding a dog in a locked car and bash out the windows when the owner refused to respond to the store's page. Temps in the car can go up to 115 easily and kill a dog within minutes.

Why risk any of this? I don't understand why you are taking her along if it's nothing but a high risk situation. Am I understanding that you think it's okay if she runs around the parking lot while you are shopping??? If you love this dog, leave her at home. That won't kill her. Taking her with you easily could.

If you want to socialize her in a proper environment, take her to a PetSmart, PetCo or one of the other chain stores. Both of you can browse to your heart's content, but be advised, they are NOT going to let you let her run wild through the store.

Good luck to both of you, perhaps one of these days she'll get you trained :-)

Answer 4

I dont even know why you would think of leaving a window open in a car with a dog in it. No matter how perfectly trained a dog is, anything could happen that could catch the dogs attention and cause it to jump out. That in turn is endangering the animals life. Just roll up the window enough that she cant fit through. There is no training for keeping a dog in a car with the windows open. There are always "what if's" that cannot be avoided and they are not worth the risk just so you can have a window open all the way. It is illogical. There is no reason for you to have to keep it open fully. Close your window more, it will not harm anyone involved and may possibly save your pets life.

Answer 5

Someone has to be in the car with her. She needs a choke chain on and leash. As soon as the bad behavior starts. She needs to be corrected. She somehow has thought this is a game you play. She doesn't see it as a bad behavior. Also it is not wise to ever leave your dog alone in your car, for the reasons you listed but also so many dogs get stolen from cars, especially expensive breeds and resold to make money. I would highly recommend that you leave her at home. But if you just have to then do not leave her alone in the car. Have someone with her to make the proper correction. And praise her when she has shown you the behavior you are looking for. Good luck with the training. And remember your dogs safety comes first.

Answer 6

The simple solution is to have your dog on a leash(not a choke collar for they are considered cruel) most Counties have Leash Laws in place,always for dogs and a lot even have a leash law for cats. Its also your responsibility to keep your dog safe-not just from being run ove,but there are unscrupulous people who steal loose dogs and then sell to medical labs-get approx $30.per dog I'm suprised that you have not been ticketed yet and fined. Your dog is only doing what comes natural to her, doing what dogs do and you saying bad girl when you allow her to run around by not having control over her makes no sense not to her either. Dogs also live in the NOW and rolling the window up on her is mean for she does not make the connection-thereby she'll never correcct the behaviour. Tying her up is beyond mean but cruel again for you are not teaching her anything except to say bad girl and then punish her. By tying her up you are making her suffer for there is no lesson learned by her. You ned to either get a dog trainer to teach you-would not take more than 1 to 2 lessons to teach you what to do and to understand your dog,undertand dogs in general or get a BOOK on dogs -the Dog Whisperer has a training book out. Does not make sense you allow your dog to run free no leash,all the time but when she runs loose you do not teach-just punish. For the sake of your dog ,who I think you love please 1-get a leash and the best are those that go aroun d the chest and NO CHOKE collars and when you don't want her to run free put the leash on her-very simple solution You need to also watch the TV Program-the Dog Whisperer who is Ceasar Millan-great show and great tips and techniques on how to train dogs-he also has DVD. Good Luck

Answer 7

How about "don't bring her to the store - leave her at home"? Closing the window can be even more cruel because the temperatures in a closed car can kill a dog, even if it's only 75 degrees outside.

Would you leave your child alone in a car while you shopped?

Answer 8

If you want to take your dog shopping then I suggest you learn to cook and eat whatever you can get a PetSmart because that is the ONLY store a dog should be going to! Leave it at home.
Also, if you want to "fix" the problem...practice at home in the driveway!

Answer 9

They have harnesses now that are like seat belts for dogs. It fits around their body, and latches to the seat belt. They can move around enough to get comfortable, but it helps protect them in an accident, and should be able to prevent her from jumping out of the car.

Answer 10

you could get your dog a kennel then put water inside the kennel so that your dog does not dehiderate by the hotness in the car.