my dog doesn't listen?

Question

does any one know how i can get my dog to come to me when he darts off and runs away? i will take him out to use the bathroom and sometimes he gets loose and just keeps running up and down the street. when i call his name he just ignores me. the only way i can get him is to get in my car and drive to where he is then he will just jump in the window. i dont really have the time to take him to obedience school. he is a 3 year old lab/chow mix--thanks

Answer 1

Make the time. How can he learn anything if you don't teach him? They don't pick this stuff up by osmosis.

Dog ownership is a time-consuming endeavor.

Answer 2

Although I agree obedience classes are really beneficial to your dog, you should be able to teach him yourself. But it will take time, and consistency. Probably as much time if not more, than taking him to obedience class. You need to do this on lead, a long enough one. Keep plenty of treats with you. Start inside where there aren't too many distractions. Let him go to the end of the lead, then say really happily "Fido Come", being inside he probably will, then treat and praise like crazy. If he does not come, pull the lead towards you, when he gets to you treat and praise like crazy. Once he masters this inside the house, do the same outside, always keep the lead on him. Gradually move up to areas that have more distractions. Never shout the command to your dog, because you'll end up always having to shout, and he will learn to ignore you. Once he does it perfectly, take him to a fenced in area, and remove the lead, and than do just as you did on leash. This as you can tell is really a process. Even more so because your dog is an adult, and a runaway. My Yorkie was too, and I had to do this. But it works.

P.S. You are not supposed to yank or jerk on a prong collar. If the dog pulls, you are supposed to simply stop walking. When he reaches the end of the lead he will then get pinched. Then you simply take a step forward, to loosen the collar, and then gently take a step or two back to guide the dog to where he should be.

Answer 3

Use a leash and a well-fitting buckle collar. This will prevent him from getting loose.

Attending a training class is your best bet for training your dog. If you really can't find the time to do that, I wonder if you have the time to do any training with your dog.

To teach him to come, practice with him on leash. Call him to you - sound fun! Run backwards a few steps to get his attention if you need to. When he comes to you, praise him and give him a treat. Practice over and over. When he is doing well, practice around minor distractions, then more distractions, and using a long leash so you are calling him from further away. Don't practice this with him off-leash unless you are in a securely confined area.

I would also use a different word than you have been using. By now he knows that the word is meaningless. Start fresh with a word that he doesn't know.

Answer 4

Obedience training will help, so even if you claim you don't have the time, do you really have the time to go chasing after your dog? Or do you have the $$ to pay for any injury he suffers once he's free? It's amazing how we find the time and $$ for things when we really examine our lives more closely.

But if you are adamant about not using obedience training, then I recommend walking him with a leash. Use a prong collar (learn how to put it on him by asking). When your dog starts to pull, give him a tug on the leash. This will contract the collar and give him a "nip" on his neck. This is the same type of "nip" an alpha dog gives to members in his/her pack. It's telling him that you are in charge and he better listen. You'll be surprised at how quickly his attitude starts to turn once he realizes you mean business and demand perfection. But do be careful - don't yank on the leash so hard that you actually hurt your dog. Nor should you tug too lightly that you come across as more of a nuisance. You have to give him a "nip", but only after he shows resistance to doing your command, which, is "heel". Once he learns to walk by your side, and that you are in charge (i.e., you've become the alpha), he will be less likely to run off.

Use treats as necessary, especially as praise. For everything he does "wrong", don't scream or yell, simply correct then offer praise at the right behavior. This correction/praise attitude gets spectacular results.

After you perfect heel, you need to work on other issues, such as "come", sit, down, etc. The "come" command is big for you as clearly this is your problem. You will need to spend time with him on this. The best way is to get a long leash - say 30 feet. Get yourself some gloves. Attach the leash to his prong collar and let him go. Give the come command. If he keeps running, yank the leash hard. Again, this will be like a nip on the neck and he will learn that "come" means come to you. Praise him and give a treat as needed.

Some don't like rewarding with treats, but dogs, like people, are easily bribed with food - so have some kibble nearby. You'll be amazed what a little tiny bit of kibble can do. I've even helped calm down strange dogs and gotten them to sit with a bit of kibble! LOL!

Bottom line, whether you are with a trainer in classes or by yourself, you will have to spend time training your dog. Right now, he sounds wild. If you really don't have time to train, then you have to question if having a dog is right for you. I hate to see an animal in a shelter, but I also hate seeing a wild dog run free on the streets, where he could get hurt.

Good luck!

Answer 5

Do NOT use a shock collar these are cruel and painfull!
have you tried a whistle with him? i was recently having recall problems with my lab and bought a whistle which has worked wonders. within only a few days i saw a big difference! start using it in the house and make a big deal when he comes when u whistle (treats help) when he is coming no problem in the house try it outdoors, just whistle him back a few times during your walk, reward him (treats again) and let him off to play again, soon he will see coming to you as something good and not meaning the end of the walk and time to go home. if you dont want to use treats you could also try a game with his favorite toy when he returns. good luck

Answer 6

You really need to take him to obedience school. It will make everything easier on you . labs love to run. Train at home. Put him on a chain in the house first. Have him sit stay with you still holding on to the chain. walk as far as you can go still telling him to stay then have him come. give him lots of love and a treat for coming to you . Make this a game with him so that he thinks if i come i get something out of it. keep doing with slowly don't hold the chain and walk away with him staying and then have him come to you . If he knows he will get something when he comes then he will be more likely to come when he gets out. Also make sure he gets to run alot.. This will help him to not have to run away. hope that helps.

Answer 7

You could put him on a leash when you take him out, but let him choose a place to go to the bathroom that dosen't bother you, or him. And if that dosen't work, try to get a book at a local library to see how you could train him to obey your commands

Here's a tip: When training a dog, don't get mad at him when he does something wrong, just reward him when he does something right.

Answer 8

Start by putting him on a long leash, call him and when he doesn't come gently pull him to you with the leash, keep telling him to come as you pull, then reward him for coming. Work with him everyday and eventually you can lose the leash, but keep up the praise.

Answer 9

take his treats along with you on walks and if he gets loose you will get him back by giving him a treat, but also you don't want him to think that its okay to run because your giving him a treat, once you have him in your possession tell him to sit and then give him the treat. Good Luck

Answer 10

How does he get loose? You have him on a leash, don't you? HOLD ONTO IT!

If you can afford a dog trainer, I would recommend it. The dog, and YOU both need some leash training.