how do i stop my 8 month old lab from running away?

Question

I have a beautiful chocolate labrador retriever, she is very smart and listens to me, but she is always runnig away. I have a fenced in yard and she still jumps over the fences, including her kennel we have that is five feet high! What is the best way to stop that?

Answer 1

Routine and food; get her in strict routine that you need to keep to, and what we do is give two toots on a whistle before putting down the dogs food so he associates whistle with food, if he runs off toot toot dog thinks food I better get back there. Takes time but there is the reward

Answer 2

A leash.

If your dog cannot be trusted outside alone in your fenced yard, she should not be unsupervised. If she still climbs or jumps over the fence when someone is outside with her, it's time to invest in a long line and work on boundaries and recall training.

You can purchase 15ft, 30ft, and 50ft cotton long lines at pet stores or online, but you can also make your own from cotton laundry line or light rope. Don't use really thin rope as you need to be able to hold on to it without cutting your hands!

Attach one end of the long line to the dog's collar and hold on to the other. If she goes for the fence, pull the rope and tell her "NO!" Correct her every time she goes for the fence.

Also work on your recall. When you call her name, she needs to come to you right away. Use the long line for this as well. Have your dog outside on the long line and call her name. If she doesn't come right away, tug the line and reel her in, then praise her for coming. Repeat until the command is solid.

If you have her kenneled often and you have a chain link kennel that she has learned to climb (she wouldn't be the first!), install a roof over the kennel. She can't climb out if there's no way for her to get out at the top. You can get chain-link for the top (cover it with a tarp in summer for shade) or actually build a real roof.

Answer 3

It sounds like you will need to ataack a length or rope or chain to her collar and secure it somewhere.

Just make sure that it isn't long enough for her to still be able to jump at the fence or she'll hang herself.

The only other alternative is to change you fence so it slopes in a bit at the top and makes it harder for her to jump over.

I had a lab that had to be tied to a washing pole because she wandered, we had a huge garden so she had a good length of rope. We also had a westie that ran away frequently, mostly because the lab hated her and used to bite through the westies rope so she could get away.

:-) use a strong tether.

Answer 4

I know your pain ;) I have a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon here for training that I can put in a dog run (6' fencing) only to have her beat me to the back door of the house.
You should be able to find sun shade fabric at any fence material store, and just use wire ties to fasten it over your run. Makes great shade for the dog as well as being a roof. (for anything except a Griffon)

Answer 5

Well first of all if she does that you need to go outside with her and have a leach with you. So when she come up to the fence you just pull her away from it. She will learn that she can't jump over the fence.

Answer 6

Walks. Your dog is running away because she's bored with her surroundings and has lots of energy to get out. This can't be done at home. Dogs need daily walks to keep them stable, without that, they'll look for any way to get out and take one on their own. Labs, especially, are a highly active dog, meaning even with lots of walks, they still may have extra energy to burn, and walks alone may not be enough. First, I would try the walk, at least 45 minutes, twice a day. Be sure that You are leading at all times, from the moment you walk out the door, you should be leading the way and she should be following. During the walk, she should be either at your side or behind you, never in front of you! This is very important! If you walk her often and she still runs away, it may be that she needs to run rather than walk. If you don't prefer to take her for a run yourself, then training her to run with you while you ride your bike might be a good idea. This way she's able to get all that extra energy out and wont feel the need to get out and do it on her own. Best of luck!

Answer 7

First, get her spayed. If she is not spayed, she may be in heat and she may be trying to get out to mate. Get her spayed immediately. This will decrease her desire to roam (and prevent unwanted pups and future diseases).

If she is spayed, I recommend obedience training. You want her to view you as the "alpha" in the pack. This doesn't mean one or two token classes - this means real obedience training. If she views you as the leader, her desire to leave will be less. More importantly, if she does leave, you can call her back more easily.

Until she is spayed and properly trained, either don't leave her outside unsupervised or have her on a long chain. Also, take her for walks so she can explore the area.

Some trainers do state that some dogs are simply runners. But I feel that proper training will stop this. Years ago, my Dal (who has sadly since passed on) would pop free from his chain from time to time when he was outside. But when I came home, he was there waiting for me! Good boy! Training helped. As did extra long walks.

Good luck!

Answer 8

U gotta make it so the garden is more interesting so it stays. Have its own corner where it can did for burried treats and loads of toys. Also at least 2 walks aday to tire it out

Answer 9

My mother in law installed an invisible fence and it worked like a dream, she also has a chocolate lab. She also has a runner in her back yard.

Answer 10

my dog always jumps the fence to play with my neighbor's dog - but she always comes when she's called. At night we do put her on a chain though. Just really practice with your dog to come when she's called or get a chain, invisible fence, or a relly high privacy fence.