How can i deter my dog from running after other dogs when off the lead?

Question

My 1 yr old Border Terrier just legs it as soon as another dog comes into sight, and will not listen to any commands. He isnt a really bad dog, he usually does as he is told, but this is making life tough! He hasnt been neutered yet either...would this help?

Answer 1

The only way to stop your dog from running after other dogs is by making yourself more attractive that the other dogs!
In my experience, neutering does make other dogs less interesting, but it does not solve behaviour habits. ONly training does that so here are a few tips to help you out
1, You know hes not going to come back when he legs it so don't waste your breath calling for him. You are just reinforcing the point that even though you are calling him you don't really have control over him and he can do what ever he likes.
2. instead of yelling for him in vain, go and fetch him and put him back on the lead.
3. You have a height advantage over your border terrier and can spot dogs before he does so as soon as you do, put him on the lead. Allow him to meet other dogs while he is on the lead. Let him sniff around etc and don't talk to him because he'll ignore you.
4. At the sametime, when there are no other dogs around, let him off the lead and practice recall. Use food rewards when he responds even though he usually does it anyway. You are trying to establish that coming back when called is more interesting that he realised.
5. When you meet other dogs with him on the lead and hes had a chance to say hi etc, start making a move to leave and continue on your walk by calling him away. As soon as he glances at you give him a treat. This reinforces you as interesting over the other dog. Use gentle tugs on the lead to encourage him to follow and bribe him along with treats so that it is him moving away from the other dog.
6. Continue with this method for many weeks until you notice that he starts to respond to you more readily when he meets other dogs on the lead. When you feel confident with his reaction to other dogs on the lead and you find you have to use treats less often, start teaching him to behave off the lead. Approach the other dog with yours on the lead as usual but this time let him off when you get close while he is saying hi. Then after a few mins or as appropriate, call him to follow you away using treats as soon as he responds. Continue with this until you build up his response rate off the lead.

Finally, he sounds like lots of fun and the fact that he is sociable around other dogs is a definite bonus so don't fret and work steadily through this method and you''ll see resultssoon enough. Have fun!

Answer 2

Ok, its not actually too difficult this one, just needs a bit of work!

First of all, neutering would really help, it does make them much calmer and there are already thousands of unwanted dogs put down every year in the UK.

My last dog had the same problem as yours, and basically what you need to do is make yourself more interesting than the other dogs!

Start by moving your walks to a quiet time/place with little or no distractions, taking him out on a short lead. Try and get him to focus on you. This can be done by bringing lots of treats and rewarding him every time he looks at you. You could also play games with him, by bringing a tennis ball and some toys.

When you are confident that he is focusing on you and readily obeying commands on the short lead, move on to a longer lead (flexi or similar). Again, give him lots of treats when he sticks close with you and obeys commands, maybe a quick game with a favourite toy. Give him the full length of the flexi and practice recall (with lots of treats and praise) over a couple of weeks until you are confident that he will quickly come back when there are no other dogs around.

Next try the same, but with distractions around. Remember to try and make yourself as exciting as possible, and have really tasty treats! If you keep this up you should get to the stage where you are confident that (most of the time at least!) your dog will come back when you call him. Then you can try the same off the lead.

Even with a great deal of training, there are some dogs who will still run up to other animals, but if you are consistent and work hard he should at the very least still come back once he has said hello. This is not something which can be fixed overnight, but with perseverance you should get much better control.

Answer 3

You can't do it by standing there yelling at him.

Train him - and by the way, terriers are stubborn little devils so it will take time and persistance.

GET HIM ON A LONG LINE - he will think he is free (no leash) and you will be able to stop him at a distance when he ignores you 'no - come back'. He will get in the habit of thinking he can't get away from you.


Go to the hardware store. Get 3 lengths of ¼ inch to 3/8 inch soft nylon line – 20 foot, 50 foot and 100 foot. Get 3 snaps. Tie the snaps on one end and make a loop handle on the other.

Start with the 20 foot line. Use a slip collar that is fitted so there is 3 fingers of space between the dog’s neck and the collar.

Hook the line on the collar. Hopefully he knows sit and wait. If not, teach it to him. If he does know sit and wait, put him in a sit, step back 2 or 3 steps and call him. If he doesn’t come, haul him in with the line.

When he comes over a distance of 5-6 feet, move back to 10-12 feet and call her.

Repeat this process until he is working on the 100 foot line.


NEVER TAKE HIM OUTSIDE WITHOUT A LEASH (6 ft) OR ONE OF THE LONG LINES. NEVER TURN HIM LOOSE OFF LEAD AND CALL HIM UNTIL HE COMES 100% OF THE TIME ON THE 100 FOOT LINE WITH ALL KINDS OF DISTRACTIONS, IE: OTHER DOGS, KIDS PLAYING, TOYS BEING THROWN IN HIS PATH AS HE COMES, ETC.

When you say “come” and he doesn’t, haul his backside into you using the line repeating “come”, “come”.

When he gets to you – willingly or unwillingly, praise and pet and make a big fuss and tell him that he is such a good girl.


Never ever ever call a dog to you to punish them.

You can also teach the command "HOLD" by leting him romp ahead on the line and when you want him to stop, give the command and stop him with the line.

Using treats is silly because one day you will start to forget the treats or not have them or something, and the next time you call her, she'll remember not getting the treat and figure "why bother?"

Clickers are just flat stupid - they are for people who are too dumb to figure out how to quickly say "GOOD DOG" in a happy, excited voice.

You always have your hands and your voice. Use them


NOW - GET THEE AND HIM TO AN OBEDIENCE CLASS
You need control and he needs some manners.
More dogs are killed by cars chasing after other dogs or animals than by darting in front of the car for any other reason.

Answer 4

Neutering may help but its about him being in the most exciting situation, o other than the obvious 'mating reflex' you need to be having a great time with him when he is off the lead. Favourite toy or game, change from ball to frisbee (or one of the many other doggy things on the market these days) often to keep his interest. And if he still runs off try calling him excitedly rather than in a voice he knows means trouble.
Have fun, smiling and saying in a sweet voice' come on boy, I'm going to have you neutered if you don't stop doing this'
Really not trying to be clever here and apologise if you've tried these things already. I had the same problems with my first dog and it took a lot of hard work to sort him out. He always had a proximity threshold too, and I learnt that a dog could be only so close before he'd bolt towards it anyway!! Good luck!

Answer 5

you should neuter your dog whether it would help or not. my dog had the same problem but all you need to do is find a good trainer to fix it. most trainers are not drastically expensive and the crap that they will become your dogs "new best friend" isnt true. dont ignore this cause your dog running after other dogs could be dangerous. for example a lot of big dogs have been known to chew up little dogs like little toys when bothered or approached. (and border terriers can be small) im not saying you need to keep your dog on a leash all the time but until you get the problem fixed try to find a "small dog" park in your area where there wont be any hazards to your dog if he runs around.

Answer 6

here your first training tip.
does your dog pull on the lead or reacts then he see another dog?

if the answer yes the moment they react walk him away from the other dog without reacting, you don't want him to think he is getting prised. The times he doesn't react and obeys your commands prise him he'll soon get the message.
Then using a extending lead so he can get a bit of distance do the same. Then try off the lease but the moment he disobey back on the lease and away from the other DOg it will take at least 2 to 3 weeks of everyday training and both you and your brother have to give the same commands.

Answer 7

The only way initially is to keep the dog on the lead whilst away from your home. Also use a choker chain and practise commands using the choker chain as an aid. Whilst at home practise the commands with you dog utilising treats as rewards. When you are out with the dog and it is off the lead keep calling the dog back to you when it come back reward it. It may take a few weeks but it will work eventually. Also ensure that the dog does not think It is pack leader, stare it down whenever it look at you.

Answer 8

I'm told getting a dog neutered is supposed to quieten them down but it seems an expensive way to stop him chasing other dogs. If you can find a long peice of rope, about 20 feet long and tie it to his collar, whenever he runs off, just wait to the very second before the rope becomes tight and then give it a firm pull and shout NO! You should only have to do this around 3 times, your dog will then get the message. Don't pull the rope too hard, just enough to stop him dead in his tracks.

Answer 9

Well when my dog's used 2 do that i would tell them off and put them on lead and take them straight home i didn't talk 2 him only 2 tell him he's a naughty boy. After a few times of doing this he wouldn't run straight away but think about it and I'd say no be a good boy and he would just carry on walking with me.
This may seem really harsh but it's worked 4 me twice now.
Oh btw i only do this in a park NOT in the streat

Answer 10

First of all you dog should be leashed at all times, unless he is in a doggy park. Neutering, does help, but it doesn't do miracles. They do listen to you more, but still act like what they are, dogs. So just keep him on a leash when you go out. It is safer and can keep you out of trouble with the laws of your state, or country.