Lately I have been so pleased with how Teddi's training has been going. She has been really quite good. Walks on her leash like a pro, when we take her to the park and let her off leash she comes and sits when she is called. Last weekend we allowed her loose in the front yard while DH and I cleaned our cars, she was on a leash but that was not attached to any thing or anyone. Then we had yesterday....
DH and I got home from a bank errand, I have friends who come over Thurs PM to practice agility on our equipment so I proceeded to the back yard to set some sort of course. We had a bad accident on the "main" road near our house you could see the emergency vehicles from our house, and all the neighbors were out watching. I opened the gate to get some of our equipment out of the garage, told Teddi (Max and Belle) to STAY! and walked into the garage. Good Stay Teddi! Then another neighbor came home and was telling me about the accident, Teddi left the yard out the gate. I said "Teddi NO! Come!" and like a good dog she returned. I pushed the gate closed but did not latch it since I was going to go through it again in just a moment. Teddi pushed it open, and again went out. I called her again only this time she saw all the neighbors out gawking at the accident and she TOOK OFF AT A DEAD RUN across the street and down the block to go say hi! The little S#*+! I chase after her of course I am not nearly as fast, and she has no collar on. Next thing I know Belle is chasing after me. I turn around and tell Belle "WAIT!" down! and she stops and lays down. The neighbors who Teddi be-lined for have caught her.
I was so pissed. I couldn't really punish her, but I grabbed her scruff and started leading her home. DH got Belle. Max, my perfect dog is still in the back yard. Then annoying neighbor stupid boy, says "does she run away a lot? You really shouldn't let her do that she could be hurt." DOES IT LOOK LIKE I LET HER!? I said (rudely) "DUH! I do not need your training advice!" Then we get the dogs all back in the yard, and DH goes to put them in the house. Teddi and Max go in, we turn to tell Belle to go inside and Teddi comes running out. DH caught her picked her up by her scruff put her back in the house and said "I said stay inside!" Of course none of this phased her.
I am frustrated because she is so good until that unsuspecting moment and then she just snaps and loses any focus or thought process. I am tempted to find someone with an E collar I can borrow. Then let her take off and try that as an attention getter. I have never had a dog with this issue before. All my dogs have always come when called no matter what. Yes I work with a long leash, and we practice recalls all the time. I just don't know how to get Teddi's attention when she becomes so obsessed. It does not happen often, but she ran right across the street, that only needs to be the wrong time once. I have always said people are her weakness. I seem to be able to call her off dogs, but humans.... I have been working on proofing and having some one come around and her needing to stay on a command. That is extremely difficult too. It also doesn't help she is cute people want to come and gush over her. I try to make her sit and stay when they come up. It works for a while but then she can't contain herself. She is still and adolescent. I know I need patience, but when I see her dart especilally across a road, it scares the heebie jeebies out of me. She needs to learn to respect commands and the wrath if she doesn't do as she is told. Spoiled rotten brat dog if you ask me, and I am sure I created her.