Runaway Dog?

Question

Hi can any one advise me? I have a 8yr old springer spaniel, who has to be taken out on a 20ft lead, she cannot be trusted off the lead as she runs away, for up to 7hrs at a time but does not come home we phone around to track her down and pick her up. I have tried the treats and rewards to no avail? Has any one got any suggestions for me. It is so frustrating and a bit antisocial having a dog at the end of a 20ft lead. But what is the answer?

Answer 1

Try underground electric fencing. We have this for our Jack russels. Get a shock collar with it and everytime he crosses the line it gives a shock, nothing harmful, just enough that he wont go past it again.

Answer 2

i would definitely crate her or shut her in a room when you have to open the door (and don't want her out) and leash her when you're going to take her out. since she is your mom's dog, she might be missing her, and thinking that waiting for to come back outside will make her come back quicker. sometimes, the best fix is prevention. if you want to re-train the dog you're going to have to devote time and effort to it. use her favorite thing (treat, toy) for a reward. and you will have to choose another word than "come", or whatever you have been using, because she hasn't been listening to that. you will need to start training her on-leash. train her the same way you would normally train come, but if she doesn't come, give her a leash correction. reward RICHLY when she listens. also, keep a cookie jar by the door and give the dog her favorite treat every time she walks inm, even if she's on leash and you're pulling her! this will make coming in the house a reward. also, when you come in, play with her for a bit. she knows that when she's out, she has your attention. then you come back in the house, and playtime's over. make it so that it's the opposite. take her out on leash. be all business, just potty, no play. as soon as she's in the house, make it treat time and play time. then she'll think "when i go in, it's fun too!" and she'll be more likely to come in on her own. this will take A LOT of practice!! you asked for realistic answers and then say you have tried them all. well shoot the dog then, because the things everyone's said are the answers. i train protection dogs, i have 6 currently, and have NEVER used any electric collars. dogs have suffered serious nerve damage as a result of the e-collars. in addition, the thing has to have half a brain in order to understand the training in the first place. what do you plan to do, shock it when it's running in the yard? it doesn't sound like the dog is trained enough to understand why it's receiving the stimulation! an e-collar is just a rolled up newspaper that can reach a long distance. first the dog has to UNDERSTAND the command, in order for you to CORRECT it for not obeying the command.

Answer 3

I know how you feel, I had a husky who would take off once in awhile, and I felt helpless.

Start back on Obedience training. Everytime (yes, everytime) your dog comes to you when you call, give a treat. Something fantastic, like a piece of turkey-hotdog. A quality treat that has a high reward value. This should be done for a week. But also start back on commands, like sit stay and down. Use the leash (20ft lead is great for stay, while you walk around the dog)...Use regular treats for these sessions.

And exercise, exercise and more exercise. A tired dog is a happy dog!

Answer 4

Well, first of all, I don't know why she needs to be out on a 20ft lead. Why can't you just take long walks on a regular 6 ft training lead? Then find an area that is completely fenced in like a baseball field or tennis court that isn't being used and take her in and let her run loose for a while.
Or, as was suggested before, take the financial plunge and have your own yard fenced in.

Answer 5

I'm missing something here. Are you saying where you live people walk their dogs without a leash? Anti-social?

Either way, at 8 years-old, I would think the window of opportunity might be gone. Maybe you can get another dog and hope the spaniel wants to be near the new dog.

Answer 6

I don't think it's antisocial at all. You are looking out for her welfare and safety. Where I live it's not permissable to take a dog off you property unless it is leashed.
Springers are wonderful--had one many years ago.

Answer 7

You need to teach her the come command now. When she is on her leash give her the come command ie:"Spot Come" as you reel the leash and her her into you.. be consistant evey time you call her you must reel her in and praise her as you do it, once she is in front of you praise her both verbally and physically. You want the dog to think that coming to you is the best thing ever so never call the dog to you and punish the dog. I would enroll in a Non Treat training class they are more reliable than treat classes, they will also be able to give you information on electronic collars . Our web site has information on trainersas well as e-collars around the states and elsewhere that can help. it's never to late to train a dog it may just take a little longer . Good Luck

Answer 8

their is no answer my dog is the same but thankfully we have an enclosed park not for kids near us with a gate on it and all the naughty disobediant or antisocial dogs go intheir one at a time if the gate is shut you walk up and down outside if its open its your turn we just have to live with it sorry to say....

Answer 9

20 ' lead is your problem. Giving your dog 20' of freedom leads to her unwillingness to listen to your commands. By giving her 20' of freedom you are not setting Rules, Boundaries, and Limitations. It's like telling your child to be home at 10 pm and you give them a leeway of and 1 hour that 1 hour becomes 2-3-4 before you know it your child is walking in the door when your leaving for work. You can teach "old" dogs knew tricks and your dog needs to learn how to (heal) ASAP. You need to be trained as to how to be the "Leader" and your dog needs to be rehabbed. If you are truly interested in rehabbing your ESS you can email me or whomever you choose as the best answer and try and find techniques that can help you. By the way I have a 11 month old ESS and he is a great dog.

Answer 10

have you tried a shorter leash and then train from there?

i've purchased a gentle leader and after a week, my puppy walks calmly. the gentle leader is pretty interesting, it rests around the dog's nose and jaw. when you walk, the dog walks with you. when he decides to run forward, the leader, which hangs below the jaw then gently pulls the jaw back to teach him that he cant walk/run ahead of you. and when he tries to jump on people, i tighten the leash so that it pulls him off people. the gentle leader is pretty good, it's not a muzzle at all. he still has free movements with his jaw and can bite if he needs to.

check it out. the one i bought came with a instructional dvd.